British and American English – Vocabulary – N – Z
Here you will find words which have different meanings or are spelled differently in British and American English.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| N | |
| nappy | diaper |
| national insurance number | social security number |
| neighbour | neighbor |
| note | bill |
| notice board | bulletin board |
| number plate | license plate |
| P | |
| a pack of cards | a deck of cards |
| a packet of cigarettes | a pack of cigarettes |
| pants | underpants |
| paraffin | kerosene/kerosine |
| pavement | sidewalk |
| pedestrian crossing | crosswalk |
| pepper | bell pepper |
| petrol | gas |
| phone box | phone booth |
| plane | airplane |
| polo neck | turtleneck |
| post | |
| post code | zip code |
| postman | mailman |
| pram, pushchair | baby carriage, baby buggy, stoller |
| prawn | shrimp |
| primary school | elementary school grade school |
| programme | program |
| Q | |
| to queue | to line up |
| quid | buck |
| R | |
| railway | railroad |
| reception | front desk |
| to ring | to call |
| roadway | pavement |
| roundabout | traffic circle, rotary |
| rucksack | backpack |
| rubber | eraser |
| rubbish | garbage |
| S | |
| sandpit | sandbox |
| share | stock |
| shop | store |
| shop assistant | sales clerk |
| sick | nauseated |
| single ticket | one-way ticket |
| skipping rope | jump(ing) rope |
| soft toy | stuffed animal |
| Sorry. | Excuse me. |
| spanner | wrench |
| sports day | fields day |
| public school | private school |
| stock | inventory |
| subway | underpass |
| sultana | raisin |
| sweet shop | candy store |
| T | |
| tap | faucet |
| taxi | cab |
| term | semester |
| theatre | theater |
| timetable | schedule |
| tin | can |
| toilet, loo | bathroom, restroom |
| town centre | downtown, city center |
| torch | flashlight |
| trainers | sneakers |
| tram | streetcar |
| travelled | traveled |
| trolley | cart |
| trousers | pants |
| tyre | tire |
| U | |
| underground, tube | subway |
| underlay | carpet pad |
| undertaker | mortician |
| V | |
| vest | undershirt |
| W | |
| waistcoat | vest |
| wallet | billfold |
| wardrobe | closet |
| to wash | wash up |
| wing | fender |
| Y | |
| year | grade |
| Z | |
| zebra crossing | crosswalk |
| zip | zipper |
Thanks to Carl, Declan, Edeet, Gabriele, Hans, John, Karin, Liz, Monika, Oleg, Ron, Ulrike and Vicky.