UK and US: English word variations
/)
While the English language is spoken in both America and England, there are some subtle differences which can be a bit confusing if you’re not a native speaker. Lucky for you, we’ve chosen some of the most common variations so you’ll know your stuff no matter which continent you end up on.
Food
UK: Chips
US: French fries
In the UK you might enjoy a nice plate of chips, but in the US you’d call them French fries instead!
UK: Crisps
US: Potato chips
Chips in the US are what the British call crisps.
UK: Aubergine
US: Eggplant
This purple fruit is known as aubergine in the UK, but is called something completely different in the US: eggplant.
Clothes
UK: Trainers
US: Sneakers
Going out for a jog? In the UK you’d need your trainers, but in the US you’d be reaching for your sneakers.
UK: Jumper
US: Sweater
In America, you’d wrap up in a sweater when the weather gets cold. In the UK, you’d find a good, thick jumper.
UK: Waistcoat
US: Vest
A waistcoat is traditionally worn by men at weddings, but in the US it’s called a vest.
Sports
UK: Football
US: Soccer
The UK is football mad, but in the US, it’s soccer all the way.
UK: Pitch
US: Field
In the UK, you’d play football on a pitch. In the US, you’d play soccer on a field.
UK: Kit
US: Uniform
Sports teams in the UK dress in matching kit which is called uniform in the US.
School
UK: Timetable
US: Schedule
Students in the UK find their lessons on a timetable, whereas American students would use a schedule.
UK: Rubber
US: Eraser
Made a mistake? In the UK you’d need a rubber, but in the US you’d use an eraser.
UK: Full stop
US: Period
This sentence ends in a full stop (UK). This sentence ends in a period (US).
Travel
UK: Lorry
US: Truck
A lorry in the UK is a truck in the US.
UK: Pavement
US: Sidewalk
Pedestrians walks on the sidewalk in the US and the pavement in the UK. Interestingly, pavement in the US means road.
UK: Motorway
US: Highway
The US has 164,000 miles of highway. The UK has only 2,173 miles of motorway.
Think you know your chips from your crisps? At EF Academy, our students don’t just learn the language, they live it. Study abroad and transform your high school experience.