Yes the U.K. and U.S. really do have different languages! Here's a translation of some common U.K. words and phrases:
Updated 28 September 2009
U.K. | U.S. |
Advanced Level [during optional final 2 yrs: yrs 12 & 13] | |
Aluminum | Aluminium |
Answer up (New) | Comment |
Aubergine | Eggplant |
Bangers | Sausages |
Bank holiday | (National) holiday |
Excellent | |
Best mate | Best friend |
Bin [n., v.] | Trash |
Biscuit | Cookie |
Blimey | Express surprise |
block of flats | Apartment building |
Bloke | Guy |
Policeman | |
Automobile hood | |
Automobile trunk | |
Umbrella | |
Bungalow | Ranch [single level house] |
Butty [e.g. bacon butty] | Sandwich |
Car park | Parking lot |
Carrier bag (New) | Plastic bag |
Certificate 12A (New) | PG or PG-13 |
Certificate 15 (New) | PG-13 or R |
Certificate 18 (New) | R or X |
Cheers | Thanks / goodbye |
Chemist | Pharmacy |
Chips | French fries |
Cinema | Movie theater |
the city | Square mile financial district in London |
Competition (New) | Sweepstakes / contest |
Cooker (New) | Stove |
Courgette | Zucchini |
Cracking | Excellent |
Crisps | (Potato) chips |
Cross (New) | Mad |
CV (New) | Résumé |
Foolish | |
Eggy bread (New) | French toast |
Engineering works (New) | Construction |
Equally (New) | At the same time |
Estate | Station wagon |
Fag [slang] | Cigarette |
Farside (lane) | Outside (lane) |
Fitted (New) | Installed |
Fiver | Five pounds [monetary] |
Flat | Apartment |
Football | Soccer |
Footie (New) | Soccer (slang) |
Like high school (diploma) yrs 10 & 11, ages 14-16 | |
Gherkins (New) | Pickles |
Give way | Yield |
Ground floor | First floor |
Having a laugh (New) | Joking |
Headmaster / headmistress | Principal |
Holiday | Vacation |
Hoover | Vacuum |
Hospital | "the" hospital |
Item (New) | Part |
Jam | Jam, jelly |
Jelly | Jell-o |
Knackered | Exhausted |
Lads | Boys |
Lift | Elevator |
Loads (New) | Lots |
Loft | Attic |
Loo (New) | Bathroom |
Truck or van | |
Maplin (New) | Radio Shack |
Mash | Mashed (potatoes) |
Mate | Friend |
Maths | Math |
Midday | Noon |
Mind the gap (New) | Watch your step |
Mobile (phone) | Cell (phone) |
MOT | Motor vehicle inspection |
Motorway (New) | Highway |
MP | Member of Parliament [like senator or congressman] |
Mum | Mom |
Nan | Grandma |
Nappies | Diapers |
Naught | Zero |
Nearside (lane) | Inside (lane) |
Nick | To steal |
No worries (New) | No problem |
Nutter | insane |
Off Licence | Liquor store |
PA (New) | Secretary |
Fiasco | |
Pants | 1. Underpants; underwear 2. Poor quality |
Pay rise | (Pay) raise |
Petrol | Gas; gasoline |
Plaster (New) | Band-aid |
Porridge (New) | Oatmeal |
Posh (New) | Classy |
Profit | Net profit |
Pudding | Dessert |
Queue [n.] | Line |
Quid | Pound [monetary] |
Quite (New) | Exactly |
Redundant | Laid off |
Rough (New) | Under the weather / unwell |
Rounders | Baseball (similar) |
Dispute | |
Saloon [auto body style] | Sedan |
Solicitor | Attorney |
Sorted | Fixed |
Starter | Appetizer |
Straightaway | Right away |
Surgery | Doctor's office |
Ta [slang] | Thanks |
Takeaway | Takeout |
Taking the mickey (New) | Teasing |
Tenner | Ten pounds [monetary] |
Tick | Check |
Till | (Cash) register |
Told off (tell off) (New) | Scolded, yelled, disciplined |
Tourer [auto body style] | (Station) wagon |
Turnover | (Gross) Revenue |
Underground | Subway |
Uni (New) | College or University |
Rubber boots | |
What are you like (New) | |
Whilst | While |
Windscreen | Windshield |
Yob [slang] | Hooligan |
Zimmer frame (New) | Walking frame |
-Krip
Categories: UK_, US_, Languages_
