American vs. British English: 27 Common Terminology Differences

27 American Terms and Their British Equivalents Browse the article 27 American Terms and Their British Equivalents

27 American Terms and Their British Equivalents

While they speak English, our British friends across the pond have some very different ways of saying things. Below is a little guide to some American terms and their British equivalents.

The British equivalent for ballpoint pen is biro.

American Term British Term 1. ballpoint pen biro 2. toilet paper bog roll 3. umbrella brolly 4. fanny pack bum bag 5. cotton candy candy floss 6. french fry chip 7. plastic wrap clingfilm 8. zucchini courgette 9. potato chip crisp 10. checkers draughts 11. thumbtack drawing pin 12. busy signal engaged tone 13. soccer football 14. astonished gobsmacked 15. sweater jumper 16. elevator lift 17. restroom loo 18. truck lorry 19. ground beef mince 20. diaper nappy 21. mailbox pillar box 22. bandage (Band-Aid) plaster 23. baby carriage/stroller pram 24. collect call reverse-charge call 25. aluminum can tin 26. to go drastically wrong to go pear-shaped

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