Two Countries, One Language, or is It?

English is a language common to UK and US, but there are some big differences in the actual meanings of words. Spelling and pronunciation are different too but probably easier to cope with.

Here is a list of just a few of these differences:

The dot at the end of a sentence

• UK: Full stop
• US: Period

Paper currency in dollars/pounds

• UK: Pound NOTE
• US: Dollar BILL

Paper slip showing what you owe

• UK: Bill
• US: Check

October/November season

• UK: Autumn
• US: Fall

Last letter of the alphabet

• UK: Zed
• US: Zee

What men wear on bottom half

• UK: Trousers
• US: Pants

Soft shoes for sport/casual wear

• UK: Trainers
• US: Sneakers

Straps to hold up trousers/pants

• UK: Braces
• US: Suspenders

Straps to hold up ladies’ stockings

• UK Suspenders
• US: Garters

Bag carried by a lady

• UK: Handbag
• US: Purse

What a baby wears on it’s bottom

• UK: Nappy
• US: Diaper

Safe area to walk on by the road

• UK: Pavement
• US: Sidewalk

Middle of the city

• UK: Town centre
• US: Downtown

4-wheeled private vehicle

• UK: Car
• US: Automobile

Fuel for vehicles

• UK: Petrol
• US: Gas

Container in street for rubbish/trash

• UK: Skip
• US: Dumpster

Sweet stuff to spread on bread

• UK: Jam
• US: Jelly

Flavoured ice on a stick

• UK: Lolly
• US: Popsicle

Soft green vegetable

• UK: Marrow
• US: Squash

Where water comes from

• UK: Tap
• US: Faucet

Floor on ground level

• UK: Ground floor
• US: First floor

Children play up and down ride

• UK: See-saw
• US: Teeter-totter

Here are other words which are used in both languages but have very different meanings:

Ass

• UK: Donkey
• US: Human posterior

Bathroom

• UK: Room with bath/shower
• US: Room with toilet

Buns

• UK: Sweet cakes
• US: Human posterior

Hamper

• UK: Basket for food
• US: Basket for dirty clothes

Knickers

• UK: Ladies’ undergarment
• US: Pants that end below knee

Mad

• UK: Not sane
• US: Angry

Tramp

• UK: Down-and-out
• US: Female of easy virtue

Wash up

• UK: Wash dishes after meal
• US: Wash face and hands.

These are just a few of the differences between English usage on both sides of the Atlantic. As George Bernard Shaw the Irish writer said:”England and America are two countries divided by a common language”.

Run this article through your spell checker, US. or UK English, and see the differences in the two languages.