British versus American English. (61)
Jan1305: This is the term used for English as written, spoken and taught in the rest of the world, regardless for example of whether one lives in Canada (which is linguistically lumped with North America) or Southern Ireland, which is not part of Great Britain.
A good dictionary will give both British and American English definitions of a word, and use the term BrE or AmE as a reference.
Which words do you know of are different but mean the same, and has it ever caused communication problems here on this International forum?
Full stop (British English, period American English).
A good dictionary will give both British and American English definitions of a word, and use the term BrE or AmE as a reference.
Which words do you know of are different but mean the same, and has it ever caused communication problems here on this International forum?
Full stop (British English, period American English).
Jelly... in america it's the stuff preserved in a jar, here it's the stuff that foes with icecream.
Jam: called jelly in America
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Chips (USA) = Crisps
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Steve5721: Chips (USA) = Crisps
Fries in US = chips in UK and Ireland
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in UK a flat. in USA its called an apartment.
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LusciousLibra: Fries in US = chips in UK and Ireland
making me hungry. so stop saying fries.------ This thread is Archived ------
Quite a lot of differences.........
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gingerb: Quite a lot of differences.........
Thanks ginger, but now you´ve killed the thread! Nobody will use their brain now.
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LusciousLibra: Jelly... in america it's the stuff preserved in a jar, here it's the stuff that foes with icecream.
Jam: called jelly in America
Not exactly right. Jelly is made fron fruit juice. Jam is made from the whole fruit, and all mashed up. Preserves are made from whole fruit, but with chunks or whole fruit in it. Sometimes it pays to of grown up on the farm.Jam: called jelly in America
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Jan1305: Thanks ginger, but now you´ve killed the thread! Nobody will use their brain now.
Some don't anyway, and want links so they don't have to think. Read other threads for references.
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i no don't ask for a cab in turkey. say taxi.
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gingerb: Some don't anyway, and want links so they don't have to think. Read other threads for references.
Yes you´re quite right
Lorry....Truck
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Americans feel the need to remove letters from words i.e. Programme to Program and for some reason remove the letter U from words. Further more they feel the need to stress points in the word for some reason such as I-Raq, Mos-Cow and so on. Not sure why that's neccessary. Oh and find the pronounciation of Alluminium incredily difficult, I mean pronouncing it alluminum, whats with that? If someone could explain that would be appreciated
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Jan1305: This is the term used for English as written, spoken and taught in the rest of the world, regardless for example of whether one lives in Canada (which is linguistically lumped with North America) or Southern Ireland, which is not part of Great Britain.
A good dictionary will give both British and American English definitions of a word, and use the term BrE or AmE as a reference.
Which words do you know of are different but mean the same, and has it ever caused communication problems here on this International forum?
Full stop (British English, period American English).
A full stop is what you come to at a stop sign. Or the smokys gonna get you.A good dictionary will give both British and American English definitions of a word, and use the term BrE or AmE as a reference.
Which words do you know of are different but mean the same, and has it ever caused communication problems here on this International forum?
Full stop (British English, period American English).
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LusciousLibra: Jelly... in america it's the stuff preserved in a jar, here it's the stuff that foes with icecream.
Jam: called jelly in America
Jam: called jelly in America
soft drink or fizzy drink is called a 'soda' in the USA
a period in the UK is a monthly menstrual thingy and not a point of punctuation.
A President in the UK is a person at the head of a government normally associated with despotic regimes.... whoops - same in the USA!
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Rich86: Americans feel the need to remove letters from words i.e. Programme to Program and for some reason remove the letter U from words. Further more they feel the need to stress points in the word for some reason such as I-Raq, Mos-Cow and so on. Not sure why that's neccessary. Oh and find the pronounciation of Alluminium incredily difficult, I mean pronouncing it alluminum, whats with that? If someone could explain that would be appreciated
Yes, I find the word aluminium difficult to pronounce in the American way too.
You are right though, it isn´t only the different vocabulary, but also the spelling of words, like colour and color as you mentioned.
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Jan1305: This is the term used for English as written, spoken and taught in the rest of the world, regardless for example of whether one lives in Canada (which is linguistically lumped with North America) or Southern Ireland, which is not part of Great Britain.
A good dictionary will give both British and American English definitions of a word, and use the term BrE or AmE as a reference.
Which words do you know of are different but mean the same, and has it ever caused communication problems here on this International forum?
Full stop (British English, period American English).
A good dictionary will give both British and American English definitions of a word, and use the term BrE or AmE as a reference.
Which words do you know of are different but mean the same, and has it ever caused communication problems here on this International forum?
Full stop (British English, period American English).
Very interesting!
There is a bigger difference between the two than most people realize - like two different languages almost. Both in the way different words are used for the same thing, the way the same words are used for different meanings and the spelling of words.
Off the top of my head:
BrE AmE
Boot Trunk
Bonnet Hood
Petrol Gas
Pavement Sidewalk
Biscuit Cookie
Tin Can
Trousers Pants
Handbag Purse
Post Mail
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Jan1305: Yes, I find the word aluminium difficult to pronounce in the American way too.
You are right though, it isn´t only the different vocabulary, but also the spelling of words, like colour and color as you mentioned.
You are right though, it isn´t only the different vocabulary, but also the spelling of words, like colour and color as you mentioned.
buoy - pronounced same as 'boy' in English
buoy - pronounced a totally awful 'booee' in American
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RobertC2: buoy - pronounced same as 'boy' in English
buoy - pronounced a totally awful 'booee' in American
Hey, its not our fault the English couldnt pronounce the word when we gave it to them.buoy - pronounced a totally awful 'booee' in American
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In the uk we can buy packs of ten cigarettes, so it's normal
to ask for ten, lets say Marlborough. When I first visited
the states and ask for ten Marlborough at a gas station one
night, the guy looked at me, shrugged his shoulders and brought
me 200 cigarettes.
to ask for ten, lets say Marlborough. When I first visited
the states and ask for ten Marlborough at a gas station one
night, the guy looked at me, shrugged his shoulders and brought
me 200 cigarettes.
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Created: Dec 2009
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A good dictionary will give both British and American English definitions of a word, and use the term BrE or AmE as a reference.
Which words do you know of are different but mean the same, and has it ever caused communication problems here on this International forum?
Full stop (British English, period American English).