Here you will find words which have different meanings or are spelled differently in British and American English.
| A-E | F-J | K-O | P-T | U-Z |
| British English - American English | ||||
| American English - British English | ||||
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| P | |
| a pack of cards | a deck of cards |
| a packet of cigarettes | a package of cigarettes |
| pants | shorts |
| paper knife | letter opener |
| paraffin | kerosene/kerosine |
| parliament | congress |
| pavement | sidewalk |
| pay rise | pay raise |
| pedestrian crossing | crosswalk |
| pepper | bell pepper |
| personnel department | human resources department |
| petrol | gas |
| phone box | phone booth |
| pickled cucumber | dill pickle |
| platform | track |
| plug hole | drain |
| polo neck | turtle neck |
| porridge | oatmeal |
| post | |
| post code | zip code |
| postman | mailman |
| primary school | elementary school grade school |
| prison | jail |
| programme | program |
| pub | bar |
| pupil | student |
| to put sb. through | to connect sb. |
| Q | |
| quarrel | argument |
| to quarrel | to argue |
| to queue | to line up |
| quid | buck |
| R | |
| railway | railroad |
| reception | front desk |
| redundant | laid off |
| to ring | to call |
| road surface | pavement |
| roundabout | traffic circle |
| row | argument |
| rubber | eraser |
| rubbish | garbage |
| S | |
| school report | report card |
| secondary school | high school |
| semi-detached house | duplex |
| share | stock |
| shop | store |
| shop assistant | sales clerk |
| single ticket | one-way ticket |
| skipping rope | jump rope |
| sledge | sled |
| solicitor | lawyer |
| Sorry. | Excuse me. |
| spanner | wrench |
| sports day | fields day |
| state school | public school |
| stock | inventory |
| store | superstore |
| storey | story |
| subway | underpass |
| sultana | raisin |
| to suppose | to guess |
| sweet shop | candy store |
| T | |
| tap | faucet |
| taxi | cab, taxi |
| taxi rank | taxi stand |
| technical college | vocational school |
| telephonist | telephone operator |
| term | semester |
| terraces | bleachers |
| test | quiz |
| theatre | theater |
| till | cash register |
| timetable | schedule |
| tin | can |
| tissue | Kleenex |
| to think | to guess |
| toilet, loo | bathroom, rest room |
| torch | flashlight |
| tortoise | turtle |
| town centre | downtown |
| tracks | track |
| traffic lights | stop lights |
| trainers | sneakers |
| tram | streetcar |
| travelled | traveled |
| trolley | cart |
| trousers | pants |
| tumble dryer | clothes dryer |
| tyre | tire |
Thanks to Edeet, Gabriele, Hans, John, Liz, Monika, Ron and Ulrike.
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