Differences in the English Language - American English + British English

[nhockaday]

yes, in America jam and jelly are the same as you described. At least that's how they're packaged. Everyone I know just says jelly.

[Nikita]

aust jam for stuff in jars to spread on bread, jelly is wobbly gelatinous stuff

spelling.... check and checkerboard US
cheque chequerboard ...

Aust... true..is... fair dinkum

[Nikita]

Aust...porch/verandah   US/UK patio
Aust...aeroplane     US...airplane
Aust...fan      US...ventilator
Aust..wardrobe    US...closet
Aust...postage    US...shipping
Aust...chest of drawers   US or UK...bureau
Aust...barracking    US..rooting

Spelling...Aust...pyjamas, tyre, centre
US..pajamas, tire, centre

[Nikita]

Aust.. tomato sauce  US..ketchup  UK..catsup

[kimbosan]

Wow this thread is great. Cant wait for the list.
I live and work in Japan which teaches American English. But I was born and then grew up in South Africa and then Australia.
Thanks Nikita for making me home sick 
Seriously this is great and I am going to rack my brain for some more

[Nikita]

US period   AUST full stop

[kimbosan]

Aus        servo/ service station
South Africa     petrol station/ garage
US ???

[lawrence]

US      gas station/ garage

Aus        servo/ service station
South Africa     petrol station/ garage
US ???

[carpe_diem]

Aus        servo/ service station
South Africa     petrol station/ garage
US ???

UK - garage/filling station/petrol station/motorway services (fuel, food,etc)

UK - tomato sauce or ketchup
UK - bureau often refers to a 'writing desk' - for clothes we call it a chest of drawers
UK - patio is usually a flat paved area outside the house for seating, BBQ etc.
UK - Veranda is covered (roof) and has sidewalls.
UK - full stop - also period.
UK - Porch is usually joined to the house outside the front / back door. Can be open at the front or closed in.

spelling:- tyre - pyjamas - centre - programme - also program (computing )

[Kimba15]

My Favourite is this one,

My mum worked for an American company called Boston Scientific and she had an American boss around the time I was doing year 12 (senior year) Anyhoo to cut a long story short he said he was rooting for me and my mouth dropped he asked me what he had said. i explained that in Australia Root = intercourse (sex). Looking very embarressed he explained that Root in US meant cheering.    HAHAHAHAHAHA You could imagine the looks from all the Australians at the dinner table when he said that luckily it was all explained.

[nhockaday]

  

[happymummy]

aust..footpath  US..sidewalk

UK .. pavement. A footpath here is a little track only accessible on foot, usually not surfaced with tarmac, and often with weeds growing along the edges. They are used by ramblers and so forth who are walking for pleasure, or by pedestrians who are using the footpath as a shortcut. The tarmac or stone area for pedestrians at the side of a road used by cars is definitely a pavement.

[KL]

@ Kimba... I'll be careful not to use "root" when in Australia! (that definitely developed locally and didn't come from the UK!)

[THen]

Today I was laughing at the
loo - bathroom difference.

My boy was learning to play the guitar and was singing Skip to My Lou.  However, remembering the words wrong, he was singing, "Skip to the loo, my darling."   

[KL]

 

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