British and American English often spell the same word differently, for example:
labour/labor, enthrall/enthral, or centre/center. You can find out more about these differences here.
There are also many cases in which the two varieties of English use different terms to describe the same thing. Here's a list of various British words and expressions together with their American equivalents.
| British English | American English |
| accommodation | accommodations |
| action replay | instant replay |
| aerofoil | airfoil |
| aeroplane | airplane |
| agony aunt | advice columnist |
| Allen key | Allen wrench |
| aluminium | aluminum |
| aniseed | anise |
| anticlockwise | counterclockwise |
| articulated lorry | tractor-trailer |
| asymmetric bars | uneven bars |
| aubergine | eggplant |
| baking tray | cookie sheet |
| bank holiday | legal holiday |
| beetroot | beet(s) |
| biscuit | cookie; cracker |
| black economy | underground economy |
| blanket bath | sponge bath |
| block of flats | apartment building |
| boiler suit | coveralls |
| bonnet (of a car) | hood |
| boob tube | tube top |
| boot (of a car) | trunk |
| bottom drawer | hope chest |
| bowls | lawn bowling |
| braces | suspenders |
| brawn (the food) | headcheese |
| breakdown van | tow truck |
| breeze block | cinder block |
| bridging loan | bridge loan |
| bumbag | fanny pack |
| candyfloss | cotton candy |
| car park | parking lot |
| casualty | emergency room |
| catapult | slingshot |
| central reservation | median strip |
| chemist | drugstore |
| chips | French fries |
| cinema | movie theater; the movies |
| cling film | plastic wrap |
| common seal | harbor seal |
| consumer durables | durable goods |
| cornflour | cornstarch |
| cos (lettuce) | Romaine |
| cot | crib |
| cot death | crib death |
| cotton bud | cotton swab |
| cotton wool | absorbent cotton |
| council estate | (housing) project |
| courgette | zucchini |
| court card | face card |
| crash barrier | guardrail |
| crisps | chips; potato chips |
| crocodile clip | alligator clip |
| cross-ply | bias-ply |
| crotchet (music) | quarter note |
| current account | checking account |
| danger money | hazard pay |
| demister (in a car) | defroster |
| dialling tone | dial tone |
| diamante | rhinestone |
| double cream | heavy cream |
| draughts (game) | checkers |
| drawing pin | thumbtack |
| dressing gown | robe; bathrobe |
| drink-driving | drunk driving |
| drinks cupboard | liquor cabinet |
| drinks party | cocktail party |
| driving licence | driver's license |
| dual carriageway | divided highway |
| dummy (for a baby) | pacifier |
| dust sheet | drop cloth |
| dustbin | garbage can |
| earth (electrical) | ground |
| engaged (of a phone) | busy |
| estate agent | real estate agent, realtor (trademark) |
| estate car | station wagon |
| ex-directory | unlisted |
| faith school | parochial school |
| financial year | fiscal year |
| fire brigade/service | fire company/department |
| first floor | second floor |
| fish finger | fish stick |
| fitted carpet | wall-to-wall carpeting |
| flannel | washcloth |
| flat | apartment |
| flexitime | flextime |
| flick knife | switchblade |
| flyover | overpass |
| football | soccer |
| footway | sidewalk |
| fringe (hair) | bangs |
| full stop(punctuation) | period |
| garden | yard; lawn |
| gearing (finance) | leverage |
| gear lever | gearshift |
| goods train | freight train |
| greaseproof paper | wax paper/waxed paper |
| green fingers | green thumb |
| grill (noun) | broiler |
| grill (verb) | broil |
| ground floor | first floor |
| groundsman | groundskeeper |
| hairslide | barrette |
| hatstand | hatrack |
| hen night | bachelorette party |
| hire purchase | installment plan |
| hoarding | billboard |
| hob | stovetop |
| holdall | carryall |
| holiday | vacation |
| holidaymaker | vacationer |
| homely | homey |
| hosepipe | (garden) hose |
| in hospital | in the hospital |
| hot flush | hot flash |
| housing estate | housing development |
| hundreds and thousands | sprinkles (for ice cream) |
| ice lolly | Popsicle (trademark) |
| icing sugar | confectioners' sugar |
| indicator (on a car) | turn signal |
| inside leg | inseam |
| jelly babies | jelly beans |
| Joe Bloggs | Joe Blow |
| Joe Public | John Q. Public |
| jumble sale | rummage sale |
| jump lead | jumper cable |
| jumper | sweater |
| junior school | elementary school |
| kennel | doghouse |
| ladybird | ladybug |
| a lettuce | a head of lettuce |
| level crossing | grade crossing |
| lift | elevator |
| lolly | lollipop |
| lollipop lady (or man) | crossing guard |
| loose cover | slipcover |
| lorry | truck |
| loudhailer | bullhorn |
| low loader | flatbed truck |
| lucky dip | grab bag |
| luggage van | baggage car |
| maize | corn |
| mangetout | snow pea |
| market garden | truck farm |
| marshalling yard | railroad yard |
| maths | math |
| metalled road | paved road |
| milometer | odometer |
| minim (music) | half note |
| mobile phone | cell phone |
| monkey tricks | monkeyshines |
| motorway | expressway; highway |
| mum/mummy | mom/mommy |
| nappy | diaper |
| needlecord | pinwale |
| newsreader | newscaster |
| noughts and crosses | tic-tac-toe |
| number plate | license plate |
| off-licence | liquor store; package store |
| opencast mining | open-pit mining |
| ordinary share | common stock |
| oven glove | oven mitt |
| paddling pool | wading pool |
| paracetamol | acetaminophen |
| parting (in hair) | part |
| patience | solitaire |
| pavement | sidewalk |
| pay packet | pay envelope |
| pedestrian crossing | crosswalk |
| peg | clothespin |
| pelmet | valance |
| petrol | gas; gasoline |
| physiotherapy | physical therapy |
| pinafore dress | jumper |
| plain chocolate | dark chocolate |
| plain flour | all-purpose flour |
| polo neck | turtleneck |
| positive discrimination | reverse discrimination |
| postal vote | absentee ballot |
| postbox | mailbox |
| postcode | zip code |
| potato crisp | potato chip |
| power point | electrical outlet |
| pram | baby carriage; stroller |
| press stud | snap |
| press-up | pushup |
| private soldier | GI |
| public school | private school |
| public transport | public transportation |
| punchbag | punching bag |
| pushchair | stroller |
| pylon | utility pole |
| quantity surveyor | estimator |
| quaver (music) | eighth note |
| queue | line |
| racing car | race car |
| railway | railroad |
| real tennis | court tennis |
| recorded delivery | certified mail |
| registration plate | license plate |
| remould (tyre) | retread |
| reverse the charges | call collect |
| reversing lights | back-up lights |
| right-angled triangle | right triangle |
| ring road | beltway |
| roundabout (at a fair) | carousel |
| roundabout (in road) | traffic circle |
| rowing boat | rowboat |
| sailing boat | sailboat |
| saloon (car) | sedan |
| sandpit | sandbox |
| sandwich cake | layer cake |
| sanitary towel | sanitary napkin |
| self-raising flour | self-rising flour |
| semibreve(music) | whole note |
| semitone(music) | half step |
| share option | stock option |
| shopping trolley | shopping cart |
| show house/home | model home |
| silencer (on a car) | muffler |
| silverside | rump roast |
| skeleton in the cupboard | skeleton in the closet |
| skimmed milk | skim milk |
| skipping rope | jump rope |
| skirting board | baseboard |
| sledge | sled |
| sleeper | railroad tie |
| sleeping partner | silent partner |
| slowcoach | slowpoke |
| snakes and ladders | chutes and ladders |
| solicitor | lawyer |
| soya/soya bean | soy/soybean |
| splashback | backsplash |
| spring onion | scallion |
| stag night | bachelor party |
| Stanley knife | utility knife |
| starter | appetizer |
| state school | public school |
| storm in a teacup | tempest in a teapot |
| surtitle | supertitle |
| swede | rutabaga |
| sweet(s) | candy |
| takeaway (food) | takeout; to go |
| taxi rank | taxi stand |
| tea towel | dish towel |
| terrace house | row house |
| tick | check mark |
| ticket tout | scalper |
| timber | lumber |
| titbit | tidbit |
| toffee apple | candy apple or caramel apple |
| touch wood | knock on wood |
| trade union | labor union |
| trading estate | industrial park |
| trainers | sneakers |
| transport cafe | truck stop |
| trolley | shopping cart |
| twelve-bore | twelve-gauge |
| underground | subway |
| vacuum flask | thermos bottle |
| verge (of a road) | shoulder |
| vest | undershirt |
| veterinary surgeon | veterinarian |
| wagon (on a train) | car |
| waistcoat | vest |
| walking frame | walker |
| wardrobe | closet |
| water ice | Italian ice |
| weatherboard | clapboard |
| white coffee | coffee with cream |
| white spirit | mineral spirits |
| wholemeal bread | wholewheat bread |
| windcheater | windbreaker |
| windscreen | windshield |
| wing (of a car) | fender |
| worktop | countertop |
| zebra crossing | crosswalk |
| zed (letter Z) | zee |
| zip | zipper |
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