Differences in the English Language - American English + British English

[Lappy]

Hi everyone! 

Seeing as we have a lot of English speakers here, I would like to ask all of you for your input on this topic.

Which words have different pronunciations when comparing American English and British English?  And which objects are termed differently?

An example would be the letters H and Z in the alphabet.

       AE (American English) - H is pronounced as AITCH /eɪtʃ/

       BE (British English) - H is pronouned as HAITCH /heɪtʃ/

       AE (American English) - Z is pronounced as ZEE /ziː/

       BE (British English) - Z is pronouned as ZED /zɛd/


And here's an example of an object that is termed differently:

       AE (American English) - Wrench

       BE (British English) - Spanner

Do you know of any other words that are pronounced or termed differently?     We can probably use your input to create separate categories for AE and BE for Little Reader, slideshows and other free downloads.

[KL]

I'll start!

For differences in terms:

US vs UK

Sweater vs Jumper
Wrench vs Spanner
Sneakers vs Trainers
Chips vs Crisps
Fries vs Chips

Just off the top of my head! There are plenty more! 

[Nikita]

I was taught british English, and it was aitch, but in Australia it's Haitch. In australia, nappy not diaper, dummy not pacifier, cot not crib (I think UK is the same), pram and stroller not pushchair (UK), mum not mom, and colour not color, neighbour not neighbor. Bathers, swimmers, togs, bathing costume... runners, trainers, sneakers...panties vs knickers/undies (my kids have a giggle when they hear panties), aussie is jumper not sweater. Thongs not zandals (I think they are in NZ) or flip-flops (in Vanuatu where I grew up). Marker pens (US), aussie Textas, Vanuatu (felts)

Pronunciation is different.  I say Dahnce, not DANce (the British way), but most Aussies say DANce, fRANce, adVANtage (I say adVAHNtage, circumSTAHNcE)..to rhyme with aunt, the way aussies would say it (ahnt) not the US way (ant).

I've got some kids story ideas, but this issue is a problem!! Especially in rhyming, you cant just substitute dummy for pacifier, it doesnt rhyme with mummy!!

[Nikita]

Thanks for the tipper on crisps though... I always have a problem when I talk about chips with the kids, and have to say "hot chips" to differentiate them from the cold crunchy packet ones.

Star jumps, jumping jacks(US)
See-saw (Aussie) (as in see-saw, margery-daw, johnny shall have a new master.. the nursery rhyme)..teeter-totter (US)

Eggplant-aubergine(US)
Zucchini-courgettte(US)
abseiling (southern hemisphere)  -rapelling(northern hemisphere)

[Nikita]

Vacuuming (aussie) - hoovering (UK)

Fridge (aussie) -refridgerator (US) (Aussies like to abbreviate... washer is starting to replace washing machine)

Aussie (going to the toilet)  (US..going to the bathroom) (we have a separate bathroom without a toilet)

Using the toilet/dunny/loo (aussie), US.. Lavatory

Aussie Laboratory (lab-oh-rah-tri) US lab-rah-tor-ree

UK etc Primarily (prime-rilly), US Prime-air-illy

[Nikita]

US and UK i think...kiwi > that's a NZ bird, so down here we use Kiwifruit... they probably do in NZ too!

Kiwifruit/kiwi..some people somewhere call them Chinese Gooseberries.

[nhockaday]

This is why I won't buy Babybit. There were several differences in words on the lesson that I saw. I don't want to confuse Gabriel.

[Nikita]

You'd be just adding to his knowledge. Which could be confusing or beneficial... especially if he travels later on.  We have a lot of US shows so we have no choice but to be familiar with US dialect. 

I found the remote control and got babybit working a little, then the remote died, but Train was Metro, and an exercise book was a notebook, but the picture had a spanish word on the book. Not that I mind, I have the Spanish babybit too. It's all very repetitive. 

Aust... drawing pin.  US Thumb Tack

Aust... bucket and spade....US pail and shovel

[Nikita]

truck (aust)..lorry (UK)

gumboots (aust)....UK..wellingtons, galoshes

[KL]

Well done, Nikita, you're coming up with many good ones!

We'll compile one big 'master list' later for quick and easy reference!

[carpe_diem]

There are lots of differences in pronunciation in the UK according to region -
In the north which is where I come from (Yorkshire)  we say bath - path with a short 'a' whereas in the south of England (London) they elongate the 'a' so that bath sounds like 'barth', and path like 'parth' 

Local dialect can be so strong that it sometimes makes it difficult for people from different regions to be able to understand each other! Dialect is more noticeable in rural areas and used by older people.

I can think of one or two words for the list of US /UK differences: Correct me if I am wrong on these 
       
Vehicles            US  hood      UK  bonnet
                       US  trunk     UK  boot

Baby                US pacifier    UK dummy      (I think they say that in US anyway)
                       US diaper      UK nappy - same as in Australia

Food                US cookies    UK biscuits   

Gardening          US yard         UK garden
                       US dirt          UK soil

Kitchen             US dish-soap  UK washing up liquid

[Nikita]

aust garage sale.... us..yard sale

aust...caravan  us...trailer(in aust a trailer is the thing u hitch up to back of car to put rubbish in to take to tip)

(so concept "trailer trash" is confusing!)

aust.. rubbish bin   Us...garbage can/trash can

aust... shopping trolley   Us.. grocery cart

[Nikita]

Schooling.... Aust...Primary school, high school, university

US elementary, junior high, high, college.

Aust cleaner....US..janitor

[carpe_diem]

US... Santa .....Santa Claus       
UK Father Christmas.....and also Santa Claus
I think some places they call him Saint Nicholas....does anyone know where....(is it Holland) ?

US and most places that I can think of have New Year.....in Scotland its Hogmanay

[carpe_diem]

tomato   pronounced tomarto...(UK)
tomato   pronounced tomayto...(US

mobile  or  mobile phone  ....    (UK)
cell phone                     ...     (US)

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