American and British English – Vocabulary – A – M
Here you will find words which have different meanings or are spelled differently in British and American English.
| American English | British English |
|---|---|
| A | |
| a deck of cards | a pack of cards |
| a pack of cigarettes | a packet of cigarettes |
| airplane | plane |
| antenna, aerial | aerial (TV, radio) |
| apartment (flat: apartment with a single floor) | flat |
| B | |
| baby carriage, baby buggy, stoller | pram, pushchair |
| backpack | rucksack |
| baked potato | jacket potato |
| ball-point pen | biro |
| bangs | fringe |
| to bathe | to bath |
| bathroom, restroom | toilet, loo |
| beet | beetroot |
| bell pepper | pepper |
| bill | note |
| billfold | wallet |
| buck | quid |
| bulletin board | notice board |
| busy | engaged |
| C | |
| cab | taxi |
| to call | to ring |
| can | tin |
| candy store | sweet shop |
| carpet pad | underlay |
| cart | trolley |
| catalog | catalogue |
| cellphone | mobile (phone) |
| center | centre |
| CEO (chief executive officer) | managing director |
| check | bill |
| checkers | draughts |
| checkroom, coatroom | cloakroom |
| clothespin | clothes peg |
| color | colour |
| comforter | duvet |
| cookie | biscuit |
| costumes | fancy dress |
| cotton ball | cotton wool |
| cotton candy | candy floss |
| cozy | cosy |
| crib | cot (Baby) |
| crossroad (in the country) intersection (town and country) |
crossroads |
| crosswalk | pedestrian crossing zebra crossing |
| D | |
| detour | diversion |
| diaper | nappy |
| directory assistance | directory enquiries |
| dollhouse | doll's house |
| downtown, city center | town centre city centre |
| draft | draught |
| driver's license | driving licence |
| drugstore, pharmacy | chemist's shop |
| drunk driving | drink driving |
| E | |
| eggplant | aubergine |
| elementary school grade school |
primary school |
| elevator | lift |
| eraser | rubber |
| everyplace, everywhere | everywhere |
| Excuse me. | Sorry. |
| expiration date | expiry date |
| F | |
| face cloth, wash cloth | flannel |
| faucet | tap |
| favorite | favourite |
| fender | wing |
| field hockey | hockey |
| fields day | sports day |
| to fill out | to fill in |
| film, movie | film |
| fire department | fire brigade |
| first floor, ground floor (in public buildings) | ground floor |
| fish-sticks | fish-fingers |
| flashlight | torch |
| flavor | flavour |
| freeway, highway, expressway, interstate | motorway |
| freight train | goods train |
| French fries | chips |
| from Monday to Friday from Monday through Friday |
from Monday to Friday |
| front desk | reception |
| G | |
| game | match |
| garbage | rubbish |
| garbage can/trash can | bin, dustbin |
| gas | petrol |
| gas pedal, accelerator | accelerator |
| gear shift | gear lever |
| German shepherd | Alsatian |
| grade | year |
| ground wire | earth wire |
| H | |
| harbor | harbour |
| heavy cream | double cream |
| hood | bonnet |
| humor | humour |
| I | |
| inquiry | enquiry |
| installment plan | hire purchase |
| inventory | stock |
| J | |
| jacket, parka | anorak |
| janitor | caretaker |
| jewelry | jewellery |
| Joe Blow | Joe Bloggs |
| K | |
| jump(ing) rope | skipping rope |
| kerosene/kerosine | paraffin |
| kilometer | kilometre |
| L | |
| ladybug | ladybird |
| lawyer, attorney | barrister, solicitor |
| license plate | number plate |
| to line up | to queue |
| liter | litre |
| lost and found | lost property |
| M | |
| post | |
| mailbox | letterbox, postbox |
| mailman | postman |
| mashed potatoes | mashed potato, mash |
| math | maths |
| Men's Room | Gents |
| mom | mum |
| mortician | undertaker |
| motorcycle | motorbike |
Thanks to Carl, Declan, Edeet, Gabriele, Hans, John, Karin, Liz, Monika, Oleg, Ron, Ulrike and Vicky.