Differences in Vocabulary between British and American English

3. SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRITISH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH

3.1 Differences in Vocabulary between British and American English

There are some differences vocabulary between British and American English, but has similar meaning. Example:

3.1.1. Cars and driving American

British Antenna “aerial” used regionally in the past but has faded from use Aerial Hood Bonnet Trunk Boot Parking lot Car park muffler Car silencer Reflectors embedded in road Cats eyes Median Central reservation Odometer Clock Detour Diversion Drunk driving Drink-driving Driver’s license Driving license Divided highway Dual carriageway Dump truck Dumper truck Dead battery Flat battery Overpass Flyover Crossroads Fourway High beams Full lights Gear shift Gear lever Rental car Hire car Turn signals Indicators Low beams Lights dipped Freeway Motorway beltway Orbital Gasoline Gas Petrol Universitas Sumatera Utara Drive shaft Propeller shaft Towing Recovery Circle Rotary Roundabout Straightaway as at a race track Straight Fill up Top off Top up Power train Transmission Left turn Turning left Right turn Turning right Tire Tyre Dirt road, unpaved road Unmade road Windshield Windscreen Defroster Defogger Window heater Fender Wing Transmission Gear box

3.1.2 Food American

British Eggplant Aubergine Cookie Biscuit Cotton candy Candy floss French fries Chips cornstarch Corn flour Zucchini Zucchini squash Courgettes Potato chips Crisps Fish sticks Fish fingers Jelly Jam Jello Jelly Universitas Sumatera Utara

3.1.3 Others American

British Prenatal Antenatal Counterclockwise Anticlockwise Fall “autumn” is used, but only in formal or poetic language Autumn Baggage claim Baggage reclaim airport Bicentennial Bicentenary Check restaurant Bill Trash bag Bin liner Reservations verb-to reserve as in restaurant, hotel Bookings verb-to book Botanical garden Botanic garden Suspenders Braces Rebate, cash back Cash back noun Non-profit organization Non-for-profit Charity Inexpensive not necessarily in a negative light Cheap Pharmacy, drug store Chemists Movie theater, theater Cinema “clued in” “clued up” Bus Coach Car railroad Coach railway “for that matter” “come to that” Crib for a baby Cot Clippings as in news clippings Cuttings Do it yourself DIY Trash bin Dustbin Busy Engaged as in telephone Tuition Fee for schooling Equip, fit out Fit verb Fixtures Fittings Set Fix verb-as in “fix a date” Apartment Flat Universitas Sumatera Utara Soccer Football Toll-free Free phone Business reply mail no stamp needed Freepost Dress noun Frock Period Full stop punctuation Men’s room Gents principal headmaster Blind noun-as in duck blind Hide noun Rent rent a car Hire hire a car Stove, stovetop Hob Vacation Holiday Homey pleasant In the U.S., “homely” describes a person as plain or unattractive Homely Sick Ill “from now on” “in future” “get on the train” “join the train” Sweater Jumper Sleep in Lie in Elevator Lift Laundromat Launderette Truck Lorry Tent Marquee Math Maths Cell phone Mobilephone For a short time but not “in a second” Momentarily Mom Mum Diapers Nappies Nothing, zero Nil Bill currency Note On line On stream Open house Open day Field Pitch for playing sports Turtle neck Polo neck, roll neck Mail Post Stroller Pram Line noun as in “bus queue” Queue Universitas Sumatera Utara and verb as in “queue up” Railroad Railway Study Read verb-“read a subject in college” Layoff verb-to lay off Redundancy Moving Removal as in removal van Round trip as in round trip ticket Return Collect call Reverse charge call Raise Rise noun in salary Eraser in U.S., rubber is slang for condom Rubber Backpack Rucksack Fire Sack verb-from employment Pruners or clippers Secateurs Cheap Shoddy Shopping cart Shopping trolley Sports Sport Lawyer, attorney Solicitor “excuse me”, “pardon me” “sorry” Wrench noun Spanner Run for election Stand for election Appetizers Starters Garter Suspenders Curse word Swear word Underpass Subway Faucet Tap Rates, prices Tarrifs Asphalt tarmac is used in U.S. only in airport context Tarmac Dish towel Dish cloth Tea towel Telephone both Telephone box Bid as in bid for building contract Tender noun or verb For rent To let By trade To trade Restroom Toilet Flashlight Torch Universitas Sumatera Utara Sneakers Trainers Triple Treble Transportation Transport noun Pants Trousers Cart Trolley Subway Tube Tucked in Tucked up as in “the baby was tucked up for the night Study of Tuition for noun as in “tuition for the flute” Subway Underground Upscale Up market Vacuum tube Valve Undershirt Vest Walker device to assist the elderly Walking frame Doing the dishes Washing up Vest Waistcoat

3.2 Differences in Grammar between British and American English