Common Words in American

and
British English
Here are a few of the more common words which are different in American and British
English. This is only meant to highlight some of the variety which exists within English,
and is not a complete list by any means. It also does not address different vocabulary
which is used in Australia, Canada, South Africa and India as well as the Caribbean,
Africa, and the many other places in the world which use English as the language of
commerce or government.

American

British

apartment

flat

argument

row

baby carriage

pram

band-aid

plaster

bathroom

loo or WC

can

tin

chopped beef

mince

cookie

biscuit

corn

maize

diaper

nappy

elevator

lift

eraser

rubber

flashlight

torch

fries

chips

gas

petrol

guy

bloke, chap

highway

motorway

hood (car)

bonnet

jello

jelly

jelly

jam

kerosene

paraffin

lawyer

solicitor

license plate

number plate

line

queue

mail

post

motor home

caravan

movie theater

cinema

muffler

silencer

napkin

serviette

nothing

nought

overpass

flyover

pacifier

dummy

pants

trousers

parking lot

car park

period

full stop

pharmacist

chemist

potato chips

crisps

rent

hire

sausage

banger

sidewalk

pavement

soccer

football

sweater

jumper

trash can

bin

truck

lorry

trunk (car)

boot

vacation

holiday

vest

waistcoat

windshield (car)

windscreen

zip code

postal code

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