British and American English often spell the same word differently, for example: labour/labor, enthrall/enthral, or centre/center. You can find out more about these differences here.
同一个单词在英式英语和美式英语中往往有不同的拼法,例如:labour/labor, enthrall/enthral, or centre/center。
There are also many cases in which the two varieties of English use different terms to describe the same thing. Here’s a list of various British words and expressions together with their American equivalents.
还有许多时候,同一件事物在英式和美式英语中有不同的词语来描述。请看下面的列表。
British English | American English |
accommodation | accommodations |
action replay | instant replay |
aerofoil | airfoil |
aeroplane | airplane |
agony aunt | advice columnist |
Allen key | Allen wrench |
aluminium | aluminum |
aniseed | anise |
anticlockwise | counterclockwise |
articulated lorry | tractor-trailer |
asymmetric bars | uneven bars |
aubergine | eggplant |
baking tray | cookie sheet |
bank holiday | legal holiday |
beetroot | beet(s) |
bill | check |
biscuit | cookie; cracker |
black economy | underground economy |
blanket bath | sponge bath |
blind | (window) shade |
block of flats | apartment building |
boiler suit | coveralls |
bonnet (of a car) | hood |
boob tube | tube top |
boot (of a car) | trunk |
bottom drawer | hope chest |
bowls | lawn bowling |
braces | suspenders |
brawn (the food) | headcheese |
breakdown van | tow truck |
breeze block | cinder block |
bridging loan | bridge loan |
bumbag | fanny pack |
candyfloss | cotton candy |
car park | parking lot |
casualty | emergency room |
catapult | slingshot |
central reservation | median strip |
chemist | drugstore |
chips | French fries |
cinema | movie theater; the movies |
cling film | plastic wrap |
common seal | harbor seal |
consumer durables | durable goods |
cornflour | cornstarch |
cos (lettuce) | Romaine |
cot | crib |
cot death | crib death |
cotton bud | cotton swab |
cotton wool | absorbent cotton |
council estate | (housing) project |
courgette | zucchini |
court card | face card |
crash barrier | guardrail |
crisps | chips; potato chips |
crocodile clip | alligator clip |
cross-ply | bias-ply |
crotchet (music) | quarter note |
current account | checking account |
danger money | hazard pay |
demister (in a car) | defroster |
dialling tone | dial tone |
diamante | rhinestone |
double cream | heavy cream |
draughts (game) | checkers |
drawing pin | thumbtack |
dressing gown | robe; bathrobe |
drink-driving | drunk driving |
drinks cupboard | liquor cabinet |
drinks party | cocktail party |
driving licence | driver’s license |
dual carriageway | divided highway |
dummy (for a baby) | pacifier |
dust sheet | drop cloth |
dustbin | garbage can |
earth (electrical) | ground |
engaged (of a phone) | busy |
estate agent | real estate agent, realtor (trademark) |
estate car | station wagon |
ex-directory | unlisted |
faith school | parochial school |
financial year | fiscal year |
fire brigade/service | fire company/department |
first floor | second floor |
fish finger | fish stick |
fitted carpet | wall-to-wall carpeting |
flannel | washcloth |
flat | apartment |
flexitime | flextime |
flick knife | switchblade |
flyover | overpass |
football | soccer |
footway | sidewalk |
fringe (hair) | bangs |
full board (in hotels) | American plan |
full stop (punctuation) | period |
garden | yard; lawn |
gearing (finance) | leverage |
gear lever | gearshift |
British English | American English |
goods train | freight train |
greaseproof paper | wax paper/waxed paper |
green fingers | green thumb |
grill (noun) | broiler |
grill (verb) | broil |
ground floor | first floor |
groundsman | groundskeeper |
hairslide | barrette |
hatstand | hatrack |
hen night | bachelorette party |
hire purchase | installment plan |
hoarding | billboard |
hob | stovetop |
holdall | carryall |
holiday | vacation |
holidaymaker | vacationer |
homely | homey |
hosepipe | (garden) hose |
in hospital | in the hospital |
hot flush | hot flash |
housing estate | housing development |
hundreds and thousands | sprinkles (for ice cream) |
ice lolly | Popsicle (trademark) |
icing sugar | confectioners’ sugar |
indicator (on a car) | turn signal |
inside leg | inseam |
jelly babies | jelly beans |
Joe Bloggs | Joe Blow |
Joe Public | John Q. Public |
jumble sale | rummage sale |
jump lead | jumper cable |
jumper | sweater |
junior school | elementary school |
kennel | doghouse |
ladybird | ladybug |
a lettuce | a head of lettuce |
level crossing | grade crossing |
lift | elevator |
lolly | Popsicle (trademark) |
lollipop lady (or man) | crossing guard |
loo (toilet) | john |
loose cover | slipcover |
lorry | truck |
loudhailer | bullhorn |
low loader | flatbed truck |
lucky dip | grab bag |
luggage van | baggage car |
maize | corn |
mangetout | snow pea |
market garden | truck farm |
marshalling yard | railroad yard |
maths | math |
metalled road | paved road |
milometer | odometer |
minim (music) | half note |
mobile phone | cell phone |
monkey tricks | monkeyshines |
motorway | expressway; highway |
mum/mummy | mom/mommy |
nappy | diaper |
needlecord | pinwale |
newsreader | newscaster |
noughts and crosses | tic-tac-toe |
number plate | license plate |
off-licence | liquor store; package store |
opencast mining | open-pit mining |
ordinary share | common stock |
oven glove | oven mitt |
paddling pool | wading pool |
paracetamol | acetaminophen |
parting (in hair) | part |
patience | solitaire |
pavement | sidewalk |
pay packet | pay envelope |
pedestrian crossing | crosswalk |
peg | clothespin |
pelmet | valance |
petrol | gas; gasoline |
physiotherapy | physical therapy |
pinafore dress | jumper |
plain chocolate | dark chocolate |
plain flour | all-purpose flour |
polo neck | turtleneck |
positive discrimination | reverse discrimination |
postal vote | absentee ballot |
postbox | mailbox |
postcode | zip code |
potato crisp | potato chip |
power point | electrical outlet |
pram | baby carriage; stroller |
press stud | snap |
press-up | pushup |
private soldier | GI |
public school | private school |
public transport | public transportation |
punchbag | punching bag |
pushchair | stroller |
pylon | utility pole |
quantity surveyor | estimator |
quaver (music) | eighth note |
British English | American English |
queue | line |
racing car | race car |
railway | railroad |
real tennis | court tennis |
recorded delivery | certified mail |
registration plate | license plate |
remould (tyre) | retread |
reverse the charges | call collect |
reversing lights | back-up lights |
right-angled triangle | right triangle |
ring road | beltway |
room only | European plan |
roundabout (at a fair) | carousel |
roundabout (in road) | traffic circle |
rowing boat | rowboat |
sailing boat | sailboat |
saloon (car) | sedan |
sandpit | sandbox |
sandwich cake | layer cake |
sanitary towel | sanitary napkin |
self-raising flour | self-rising flour |
semibreve (music) | whole note |
semitone (music) | half step |
share option | stock option |
shopping trolley | shopping cart |
show house/home | model home |
silencer (on a car) | muffler |
silverside | rump roast |
skeleton in the cupboard | skeleton in the closet |
skimmed milk | skim milk |
skipping rope | jump rope |
skirting board | baseboard |
sledge | sled |
sleeper | railroad tie |
sleeping partner | silent partner |
slowcoach | slowpoke |
snakes and ladders | chutes and ladders |
solicitor | lawyer |
soya/soya bean | soy/soybean |
splashback | backsplash |
spring onion | green onion |
stag night | bachelor party |
Stanley knife | utility knife |
starter | appetizer |
state school | public school |
storm in a teacup | tempest in a teapot |
surtitle | supertitle |
swede | rutabaga |
sweet(s) | candy |
takeaway (food) | takeout; to go |
taxi rank | taxi stand |
tea towel | dish towel |
terrace house | row house |
tick | check mark |
ticket tout | scalper |
tights | pantyhose |
timber | lumber |
titbit | tidbit |
toffee apple | candy apple |
touch wood | knock on wood |
trade union | labor union |
trading estate | industrial park |
trainers | sneakers |
tram | streetcar; cable car |
transport cafe | truck stop |
trolley | shopping cart |
twelve-bore | twelve-gauge |
unalike | unlike |
underground | subway |
vacuum flask | thermos bottle |
verge (of a road) | shoulder |
vest | undershirt |
veterinary surgeon | veterinarian |
wagon (on a train) | car |
waistcoat | vest |
walking frame | walker |
wardrobe | closet |
water ice | Italian ice |
weatherboard | clapboard |
white coffee | coffee with cream |
white spirit | mineral spirits |
wholemeal bread | wholewheat bread |
windcheater | windbreaker |
windscreen | windshield |
wing (of a car) | fender |
worktop | countertop |
Yale lock | cylinder lock |
zebra crossing | crosswalk |
zed (letter Z) | zee |
zip | zipper |