More Related Content
Viewers also liked
Viewers also liked (20)
Similar to Common american english words used in daily life vs british english equivalents
Similar to Common american english words used in daily life vs british english equivalents (14)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
Common american english words used in daily life vs british english equivalents
- 1. Common words in Daily routine/ activities American British Explanation and usage. Gas Petrol In US, you would say, I need to fill gas in my car before it I run out of fuel. Gas means liquid petroleum and NOT natural LPG Gas Trash, Rubbish, dirt Garbage Trash is used in different ways like: Pick up the garbage and put it in the trash can. Do not trash the place. Trash Can Dustbin No dustbin word used here…Just trash can or Shredder for disposing the paper Rest room Toilet Instead of saying, I want to go to toilet, you would say: “I would like to use the rest room”. Bath room is also used, but means Shower Bath Lets say if you want to take bath, people say: I need to shower. Also like, I was taking shower when you called me. ‘I need to quickly jump in the shower before I take off to meeting’. Bag (plastic Cover (plastic) Usually in India, we say ‘can I get my stuff in a plastic cover’. Here in US, people say “Can I get a bag for the or paper) stuff?” . It is used for both plastic and paper. When you do shopping, here the cashier would ask “Receipt with you or in the bag”. People say, ‘in the bag please J or no’ Bike Bicycle We often get confused when Americans use bike. It means bicycle Motorcycle Motorbike or The name says it. bike Zip code Pin code Postal pin code in other countries vs Zip code in US for postal purposes. 1 ECT 2012
- 2. Check Bill Typically in restaurant after you are done with meal, you ask for check in US from the waiter. Elevator Lift No one uses lift, it is elevator in US Football American Foot Americans consider football means by default as ball Soccer American football Football People say Soccer when they refer to actual football. In Europe and everywhere we call football, but here in US they say it soccer. Glasses Specs or Eye glasses used for faulty vision Spectacles Cookies Biscuits Cookie means just biscuit and usually very sweet biscuit Garage Place where you park your car in apartment complex or your dedicated place to park car Store Shop Any shop is called store Flashlight Torch Torch light that we use in darkness Flat tire Tire puncture Usually when the tire gets puncture by any metal or thorns Vacation Holiday When someone has taken a holiday, people usually say he is on vacation. Bill Note 100 dollar bill vs 100 rupee notes when dealing with cash Cheese It is understood that it is a Beef burger with cheese on Burger it and not just Cheese between bun ! Cologne It is Men’s fragrance. In India, people use Perfume for both male and female. When you say perfume, it is only for women in US or any part of the world. Just a common mistake in usage of words. Creamer When mixing coffee, people in USA use creamer, which is equivalent of milk. 2 ECT 2012
- 3. Yogurt Curd We use the word Curd a lot. You have to specifically say Yogurt. Butter Milk is common though. It is same. Flour is One of my friends had a bad experience in Walmart pronounced and had to literally write it on paper. So make sure you as Flower pronounce it right, otherwise you get wrong product J . Listen to pronunciation to clarify.http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/flour Meat or Red Non- We are used to saying I am a non-vegetarian, in US meat, people might get lost. You have to say, I eat meat or Vegetarian Chicken chicken. When you go to a restaurant, if you are a vegetarian, you should say “NO Meat or Chicken” otherwise, you may find interesting stuff as a vegetarian in your food J Truck Lorry We use lorry a lot in daily life, but here in US, people call by truck. The trucks are huge here Mailbox Mail / Postbox / Post In US, usage: “I have to mail this package today. Let me dropt it off at the nearest mailbox.” 3 ECT 2012
- 4. Common words in Daily routine/ activities American Cilantro British Coriander Explanation and usage. When you go to buy vegetables, you have to look for cilantro leaves Grocery Store Super Market You find vegetables and all the house supplies in a typical grocery store. It can be used synonymous with super market. Cross Walk Zebra Crossing The path for crossing roads at Traffic lights Traffic Lights Traffic Signal In US, they use the word Traffic lights or Just the word Lights to refer to Traffic Signal Soda Cold Drink Soda refers to anything like Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, etc Okra Lady Finger Typically you look for Okra in a Grocery store. Egg plant Brinjal If you use brinjal, people in US do not understand. So, use Egg plant Peanuts Ground nuts Peanuts are common snack and it is also used in phrases too. Like “that income is just peanuts”. It means very less. Grade/ Marks Percent Sidewalk You do not see professors using the word Marks at all. They use either percent or grade. Pavement / Foot You walk to home on sidewalk in American English. path Battery Cell / Cells You use batteries for charging. In US, they do not understand if you refer cell. They think cell phone. Eraser Rubber To erase stuff written by pencil you use Eraser in US. Rubber means Condom in America. Do not ask someone in class, “I need rubber”. People will look at you and say What? Mixer/ Blender Mixi or Mixie You use the word mixer or Blender in US to refer to mixi. It is used for mixing flour, blending, etc 4 ECT 2012
- 5. Refrigerator I have never seen anyone use Fridge. They use Freezer or Fridge Refrigerator to store vegetables and freezer to make ice or store frozen vegetables. Bell pepper Capsicum The big green pepper / chili you cook ! In US, Chili is a dish made of ground beef, chili powder, Chili tomatoes and beans. Be careful about the context of usage. Jalapenos Green Chili Green Chili are referred to as Jalapenos. They are a little bigger than regular green chili. Sneakers Tennis Shoe / Sneakers are often used to refer to running shoes in US. Sports Shoe It is like chapatti made of wheat or corn flour, but primarily of Tortilla Mexican origin. Pronounced as Tortia. Bubbler Drinker Fountain Water Bubbler is a just a water fountain that provides drinking water in public places. You do not use Glass or anything. You just drink off the fountain. Pills Tablets in US, you take pills if you are sick. It could be for common cold or allergies, etc Pants Trousers You buy a pair of pants in US. There is no Jeans pant, you just refer as Jeans Clippers Nail Cutter You cut your nails by clippers in US 5 ECT 2012