Differences between US English and British English (by a Brit)

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The differences between US and British English explained by a Brit with a great sense of humor, or is it humour?

“So we all know the British speak the correct way and everybody else who uses the English language is just wrong and always will be wrong forever and ever.

And boy, can they be wrong!

The following examples are words both the British and Americans use but have different meanings across the Pond. Or added ones. Or none at all.

Allow me to explain:

Ground Floor Apparently Americans don’t have ground floors. Only first floors. Which they call second floors. Floored? More like flawed system of naming floors! Amirite?

Ground Floor
Apparently Americans don’t have ground floors. Only first floors. Which they call second floors. Floored? More like flawed system of naming floors! Amirite?

 

Bum In the US, it’s a homeless person. In the UK, it’s a rear end.

Bum
In the US, it’s a homeless person. In the UK, it’s a rear end.

 

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Coach In the US, it’s somebody who leads a sports team. In the UK, it also means a bus (usually a slightly classy one).

 

A Rubber A condom in the US and that thing we use to erase pencil in the UK.

A Rubber
A condom in the US and that thing we use to erase pencil in the UK.

 

Pissed Americans think being pissed is being angry. In the UK, being pissed means you’re so drunk you can’t feel feelings. So we get pissed not to feel pissed but then sometimes you can be a pissed pissed. Simple.

Pissed
Americans think being pissed is being angry. In the UK, being pissed means you’re so drunk you can’t feel feelings. So we get pissed not to feel pissed but then sometimes you can be a pissed pissed. Simple.

 

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Chemist In the US, a chemist does chemistry. In the UK, a chemist can also be the person who works in a pharmacy.

 

A Trainer An athletic sports shoe right? No, someone at the gym who makes you hate yourself for not being in better shape.

A Trainer
An athletic sports shoe right? No, someone at the gym who makes you hate yourself for not being in better shape.

 

Jumper Or a sweater in the US. A jumper is apparently someone about to jump off a building. We call them Arsenal fans.

Jumper
Or a sweater in the US. A jumper is apparently someone about to jump off a building. We call them Arsenal fans.

 

Chaps In the US, they are things worn by cowboys and hilariously they can be ‘assless.’ In the UK, chaps are bunch of throughly decent blokes. And blokes are nice fellas. And fellas are your friends.

Chaps
In the US, they are things worn by cowboys and hilariously they can be ‘assless.’ In the UK, chaps are bunch of throughly decent blokes. And blokes are nice fellas. And fellas are your friends.

 

Concession In the US, it’s apparently, somewhere you get snacks at a public venue. In the UK, a concession is a discount ticket (usually for the elderly or young) to get into said public venue. 12

Concession
In the US, it’s apparently, somewhere you get snacks at a public venue. In the UK, a concession is a discount ticket (usually for the elderly or young) to get into said public venue.

Fanny Pack In the US, it’s a monstrosity worn around the waist for people who haven’t heard of a pocket.In the UK… Just Google it.

Fanny Pack
In the US, it’s a monstrosity worn around the waist for people who haven’t heard of a pocket.In the UK… Just Google it.

 

Pants We all know this one. We call them trousers and think pants are underwear.

Pants
We all know this one. We call them trousers and think pants are underwear.

 

Flannel In the US (and, to be fair, most of the UK), a style of shirt. In the UK a piece of material refered to by Americans as a washcloth. Man, I miss Home Improvement…

Flannel
In the US (and, to be fair, most of the UK), a style of shirt. In the UK a piece of material refered to by Americans as a washcloth.
Man, I miss Home Improvement…

 

Braces A crossover word really as both in the US and UK it refers to the device used to straighten teeth. In the UK we have the added bonus of it also being something to keep your trousers (not pants!) up. Or “suspenders” to Americans. 16

Braces
A crossover word really as both in the US and UK it refers to the device used to straighten teeth. In the UK we have the added bonus of it also being something to keep your trousers (not pants!) up. Or “suspenders” to Americans.

 

A Bog Another one in which the meaning is the same in both nations (a marshy area) but in the UK we call toilets bogs as well. Or loos. Or pissers. Or lav. We might be a bit obsessed.

A Bog
Another one in which the meaning is the same in both nations (a marshy area) but in the UK we call toilets bogs as well. Or loos. Or pissers. Or lav.
We might be a bit obsessed.

 

Dummy In the US, a dummy is a moron. In the UK, it’s a device to stop children opening their mouth. Hey, pacifier sounds just as bizarre to me…

Dummy
In the US, a dummy is a moron. In the UK, it’s a device to stop children opening their mouth. Hey, pacifier sounds just as bizarre to me…

 

Trolley In the US, it’s a tram. In the UK, a shopping cart (or every child’s first joyride).

Trolley
In the US, it’s a tram. In the UK, a shopping cart (or every child’s first joyride).

 

Biscuit In the US, it’s some kind of buttery roll thing. In the UK, an — ‘ahem’ — cookie.

Biscuit
In the US, it’s some kind of buttery roll thing. In the UK, an — ‘ahem’ — cookie.

 

Alright? In the UK a standard greeting. In the US an actual inquiry into somebody’s well being. Crazy. Feel free to add your own in the comments! (Or don’t… I don’t own you!)

Alright?
In the UK a standard greeting. In the US an actual inquiry into somebody’s well being. Crazy.
Feel free to add your own in the comments!
(Or don’t… I don’t own you!)

 

 

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