Here are a few linguistic differences between American English and British English
1- Spelling Rules
British English
|
American English
|
Examples
|
words ending in -re
|
change to -er
|
centre - center
|
metre - meter
| ||
words ending in -our
|
change to -or
|
colour - color
|
words ending in -ogue
|
change to -og
|
catalogue - catalog
|
words ending in -ise/ize
|
ending only in -ize
|
realise/realize - realize
|
final -l doubled after short vowel
|
- l not always doubled after a short vowel
|
travelled - traveled
|
modelling - modeling
| ||
words ending in -ence
|
change to -ense
|
defence - defense
|
licence - license
|
2-Vocabulary
British English
|
American English
|
A
| |
accelerator
|
gas pedal, accelerator
|
aerial (TV, radio)
|
antenna, aerial
|
Alsatian
|
German shepherd
|
American Indian
|
Native American
|
anorak
|
jacket, parka
|
at the weekend
|
on the weekend
|
aubergine
|
eggplant
|
B
| |
bank holiday
|
national holiday, federal holiday
|
barrister, solicitor
|
lawyer, attorney
|
base rate
|
prime rate
|
to bath
|
to bathe
|
beetroot
|
beet
|
bill
|
check
|
bin, dustbin
|
garbage can/trash can
|
biro
|
ball-point pen
|
biscuit
|
cookie
|
bonnet
|
hood
|
boot
|
trunk
|
braces
|
suspenders
|
(round) brackets
|
parentheses
|
C
| |
candy floss
|
cotton candy
|
car park
|
parking lot
|
caravan
|
trailer
|
caretaker
|
janitor
|
catalogue
|
catalog
|
centre
|
center
|
chemist's shop
|
drugstore, pharmacy
|
chips
|
French fries
|
city centre
|
downtown, city center
|
cloakroom
|
checkroom, coatroom
|
clothes peg
|
clothespin
|
colour
|
color
|
cooker
|
stove
|
(bathing) costume
|
swimsuit
|
cosy
|
cozy
|
cot (Baby)
|
crib
|
cotton wool
|
cotton ball
|
courgette
|
zucchini
|
crisps
|
potato chips
|
crossroads
|
crossroad (in the country)
|
intersection (town and country)
| |
curriculum vitae (CV)
|
résumé
|
curriculum vitae
| |
D
| |
dinner jacket
|
tux, tuxedo
|
directory enquiries
|
directory assistance
|
diversion
|
detour
|
double cream
|
heavy cream
|
draught
|
draft
|
draughts
|
checkers
|
drawing pin
|
thumbtack
|
dressing gown
|
(bath) robe
|
drink driving
|
drunk driving
|
driving licence
|
driver's license
|
dummy
|
pacifier
|
duvet
|
comforter
|
E
| |
earth wire
|
ground wire
|
engaged
|
busy
|
enquiry
|
inquiry
|
everywhere
|
everyplace, everywhere
|
expiry date
|
expiration date
|
F
| |
fancy dress
|
costumes
|
Father Christmas
|
Santa Claus
|
favourite
|
favorite
|
to fill in
|
to fill out
|
film
|
film, movie
|
fire brigade
|
fire department
|
first floor
|
second floor
|
fish-fingers
|
fish-sticks
|
flannel
|
face cloth, wash cloth
|
flat
|
apartment
|
(flat: apartment with a single floor)
| |
flavour
|
flavor
|
football
|
soccer
|
fortnight
|
two weeks
|
fringe
|
bangs
|
from Monday to Friday
|
from Monday to Friday
|
from Monday through Friday (Friday included)
| |
full stop
|
period
|
G
| |
garden
|
yard
|
gear lever
|
gear shift
|
Gents
|
Men's Room
|
goods train
|
freight train
|
ground floor
|
first floor, ground floor (in public buildings)
|
H
| |
harbour
|
harbor
|
headmaster, headteacher
|
principal
|
to hire
|
to rent
|
hire purchase
|
installment plan
|
hockey
|
field hockey
|
holiday
|
vacation
|
hoover
|
vacuum cleaner
|
humour
|
humor
|
I
| |
icing sugar
|
powdered sugar
|
indicator
|
blinker, turn signal
|
inverted commas, quotation marks
|
quotation marks
|
J
| |
jacket potato
|
baked potato
|
jewellery
|
jewelery
|
Joe Bloggs
|
Joe Blow
|
jumble sale
|
yard sale
|
jumper
|
sweater
|
K
| |
kilometre
|
kilometer
|
L
| |
ladybird
|
ladybug
|
to lay the table
|
to set the table
|
letterbox, postbox
|
mailbox
|
lift
|
elevator
|
litre
|
liter
|
lorry
|
truck
|
lost property
|
lost and found
|
M
| |
mackintosh
|
raincoat
|
managing director
|
CEO (chief executive officer)
|
mashed potato
|
mashed potatoes
|
match
|
game
|
maths
|
math
|
mobile (phone)
|
cellphone
|
motorbike
|
motorcycle
|
motorway
|
freeway, highway, expressway, interstate
|
mum
|
mom
|
