American English is the form of English used in the United States. It includes all English dialects used within the United States of America. British English is the form of English used in the United Kingdom. It includes all English dialects used within the United Kingdom. Differences between American and British English include pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, idioms and formatting of dates and numbers. The English language was introduced to the Americans through British colonization in the early 17th century and it spread to many parts of the world because of the strength of the British empire. Over the years, English spoken in the United States and in Britain started diverging from each other in various aspects. This led to two dialects in the form of the American English and the British English.
But here is a table with several words in the British English and their corresponding American English words that can be useful to know during your travel to the United Kingdom:
British English |
American English |
Biscuits | Cookies |
CV (curriculum vitae) | Resume |
Car park | Parking lot |
Chemist’s shop | Drugstore, pharmacy |
Film | Movie |
Caravan | Trailer |
Wardrobe | Closet |
Parcel | Package |
Lorry | Truck |
Flat | Apartment |
Petrol Station | Gas Station |
Trousers | Pants |
Queue | Line |
Lift | Elevator |
Rubber | Eraser |
Mobile | Cellphone |
Crisps | Potato Chips |
Holiday | Vacation |
Ill | Sick |
Jumper/pullover | Sweater |
Luggage | Baggage |
Main road | Highway |
Motorbike | Motorcycle |
Motorway | highway, freeway, expressway, interstate highway, interstate |
Pavement | Sidewalk |
Postman | Mailman/mail carrier |
Postcode | Zip code |
Pub | Bar |
Rubber | Eraser |
Rubbish bin | Garbage can, trashcan |
Toilet | Restroom |
Queue | Line |
Railway | Railroad |
Shop | Store |
Timetable | Schedule |
Taxi | Cab |
Torch | Flashlight |
Underground railroad/underground railway | Subway |
Vest | Undershirt |
Waistcoat | vest |
Zip | Zipper |