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.