This is a list of some of the most common differences between American and British English vocabulary. There are many more, of course. There are also many spelling and pronunciation differences.
Food and cooking:
| American English | British English | Example |
| boiler | grill | |
| can | tin | Do we have a can/tin of tomatoes? |
| candy | sweets | Would you like some candy/sweets? |
| cookie | biscuit | |
| corn | maize | |
| dessert | sweet | Today’s dessert/sweet is chocolate pudding |
| dish towel | tea towel | |
| french fries | chips | |
| pitcher | jug | A pitcher/jug of beer, please |
| potato chips | crisps | |
| stove | cooker | Cook it in the stove/cooker for 30 minutes |
| wheat | corn, wheat |
Clothing + baby:
| American English | British English | Example |
| cuffs (pants) | turn-ups | His jeans are too long so he has cuffs/turn-ups |
| pants | trousers | |
| pantyhose | tights | |
| purse | handbag | Do you have any tissues in your purse/handbag? |
| raincoat | mackintosh, raincoat | |
| rubbers | gumshoes, wellington boots | It’s really muddy. I should’ve worn rubbers/wellingtons |
| shorts | underpants | |
| sneakers | gym shoes, trainers, tennis shoes | |
| suspenders | braces | He uses suspenders/braces instead of a belt |
| sweater | jersey, jumper, pullover, sweater | |
| vest | waistcoat | |
| zipper | zip | |
| baby carriage | pram | |
| crib | cot | Put the baby in the crib/cot. He’s sleepy |
| diaper | nappy | |
| pacifier | dummy | The baby’s crying. Give her the pacifier/dummy |
| stroller | push-chair |
Transport:
| American English | British English | Example |
| blowout | puncture | The car had a blowout/puncture. We had to use the spare tire/tyre |
| cab | taxi | |
| divided highway | dual carriageway | |
| engineer | engine driver | |
| fender (car) | wing | The car’s front left fender/wing was damaged in the accident |
| freeway | motorway | |
| gas(oline) | petrol | We need more gas/petrol. Stop at the gas stand/petrol station. |
| gear-shift | gear-lever | |
| highway | main road | |
| hood (car) | bonnet | |
| indicator | winker | He’s turning left – his indicator/winker is on |
| intersection | crossroads | |
| kerosene | paraffin | |
| motor | engine | The motor/engine sounds terrible. Is it too hot? |
| muffler (car) | silencer | |
| oil pan | sump | |
| one-way (train ticket) | single (ticket) | |
| overpass | flyover | |
| pavement | road surface | This pavement/road surface is really bumpy |
| railroad | railway | |
| railway car | railway carriage | |
| round trip (train ticket) | return (ticket) | a round trip/return ticket to New York/London, please |
| sedan (car) | saloon (car) | |
| shoulder (of road) | verge (of road) | I’m tired. Let’s park on the shoulder/verge for a minute |
| sidewalk | pavement/footpath | Why are bicycles on the sidewalk/pavement? |
| subway | underground railway | |
| traffic circle | roundabout | |
| truck | lorry | |
| trunk (car) | boot | |
| turnpike | toll motorway | |
| windshield (car) | windscreen | I need to clean the windshield/windscreen. I can’t see |
General:
| American English | British English | Example |
| alumnus | graduate | He is an alumnus/a graduate of ABC University |
| antenna | aerial | The TV antenna/aerial is broken |
| anyplace | anywhere | I didn’t go anyplace/anywhere |
| apartment | flat | This is my apartment/flat |
| attorney | barrister, solicitor | My attorney/solicitor is giving me legal help |
| baggage | luggage | The airline lost my baggage/luggage |
| bar | pub | I had a beer at the bar/pub |
| bill | (bank)note | Do you have a $10 bill/a £10 note? |
| billboard | hoarding | There’s a billboard/hoarding for Coca Cola |
| call collect | reverse charges | Can I call collect/reverse charges to my parents? |
| checkers | draughts | Let’s play checkers/draughts |
| closet | wardrobe | Put your jacket in the closet/wardrobe |
| crazy | mad | That guy is crazy/mad |
| drapes | curtains | The bedroom drapes/curtains cut all the light |
| drug store | chemist’s | I bought medicine at the drug store/chemist’s |
| elevator | lift | Take the elevator/lift to the 4th floor |
| eraser | rubber | Can I use your eraser/rubber? I made a mistake |
| faculty | staff (of a university) | The faculty/staff at the university are very busy |
| fall | autumn | Fall/Autumn is my favourite season |
| faucet | tap | The hot faucet/tap has no water |
| first floor | ground floor | Reception is on the first floor/ground floor |
| flashlight | torch | I can’t see. Pass me a flashlight/torch |
| garbage can | dustbin, rubbish bin | |
| garbage collector | dustman | |
| garbage, trash | rubbish | Put the trash/rubbish in the garbage can/dustbin |
| generator | dynamo | In a power cut I use a generator/dynamo for power |
| hobo | tramp | That hobo/tramp is homeless |
| intermission | interval | During the opera intermission/interval I got a drink |
| janitor | caretaker | The school janitor/caretaker cleaned the classrooms |
| line | queue | I waited in line/a queue for 20 minutes |
| liquor store | off-license | He bought beer at the liquor store/off-license |
| mad | angry | Don’t get mad/angry at me! |
| post | ||
| mailbox | postbox | |
| mailman, mail carrier | postman | The mailman/postman put my mail/post in the mailbox/letterbox |
| math | maths | I hated math/maths at school |
| movie | film | That movie/film was great |
| noplace | nowhere | I have noplace/nowhere to stay tonight |
| optometrist | optician | My eyes are bad. I need to see an optometrist/optician |
| patrolman | constable | The patrolman/constable asked to see some ID |
| peek | peep | Quickly peek/peep in there and see what they are doing |
| private hospital | nursing home | My grandmother is in a private hospital/nursing home |
| raise (in salary) | rise (in salary) | I got a raise/rise, but only $20 a month |
| restroom | (public) toilet | Where is the restroom/toilet? |
| schedule | timetable | The schedule/timetable says the train should be here |
| Scotch tape | sellotape | Use Scotch tape/sellotape to close the box |
| semester | term | The first semester/term at university was very hard |
| sick | ill | I feel sick/ill. I need a doctor |
| someplace | somewhere | Let’s go someplace/somewhere next weekend |
| spigot | tap (outdoors) | Use the spigot/tap to water the plants in the yard/garden |
| spool of thread | reel of cotton | I need to sew this. Where is the spool of thread/reel of cotton? |
| stingy | mean | That guy never pays. He’s stingy/mean |
| store | shop | Get some bread from the store/shop |
| the movies | the cinema | I saw a good movie/film at the movies/cinema |
| thread | cotton | I need thread/cotton to sew this button on |
| thumbtack | drawing pin | use a thumbtack/drawing pin to put up the poster |
| trashcan | dustbin, rubbish bin | throw the banana skin in the trashcan/dustbin |
| vacation | holiday | I went to Paris for my vacation/holiday |
| vacuum | vacuum/hoover | The floor is dirty. Where’s the vacuum/hoover? |
| vicious, mean | nasty | That fighter is really vicious/mean |
| wash up | wash your hands | Wash up/Wash your hands before you eat! No dirty hands! |
| wreck | crash | Oh no! A car wreck/crash. I hope everyone is OK |
| wrench | spanner | I need a wrench/spanner to tighten this bolt |
| yard | garden | The kids are playing in the yard/garden |