10 Fascinating Vocabulary Differences between American and British English

American and British English, while being dialects of the same language, have some distinct differences. These range from different spellings and accents to different vocabulary. Words that mean one thing in American English can mean something very different in British English. For example, the word pants in America refers to the longish garment you wear over your legs while the same word means undergarment in the U.K. In such cases, not knowing the different meanings can create some very awkward situations for you. So here are ten more vocabulary differences between British and American English that language enthusiasts like you would find fascinating.

1.  Football- soccer: This is one of the best known and probably the most contended difference between the two dialects. The sport known as football in Britain and in some other parts of the world is known as soccer in the United States, Canada and Australia. Yes, this is the same sport that Messi and Ronaldo play and shouldn’t be confused with what the Americans call football and the British call American football which is played with an oval shaped ball and has attributes of both football and rugby.

2.  Mate- Friend: Another well-known difference, and one that has become a staple of British representation in popular culture, is that the Brits prefer to call their friends mates.

3.  Crisps- chips: The crunchy snack that the British call crisps is known by the Americans as chips, whereas, chips in the U.K., like in fish and chips, are called French fries in America and other parts of the world. Whether you call them crisps or chips, everyone loves a bit of savory crunchiness!

4.  Biscuit- cookie: This one pretty much explains itself. Cookies are nothing fancy but American biscuits.

5.  Angry- Mad: While mad means crazy in most parts of the world, for Americans, it can also mean angry. To all my American friends out there, if you happen to meet a furious Brit, remember that calling them mad would only make it worse.

6.  Coriander- cilantro: While both these come from the same plant, in America the leaves and stem of the plant are called cilantro and its dried seeds are coriander. The corresponding word for cilantro in British English is coriander.

7.  Wardrobe- closet: The reason my American friend has not yet found her way into Narnia is because in the USA, they call them closets not wardrobes. Try switching to wardrobes, and you might realize clothes aren’t the only things in there!

8.   Timetable- schedule: It doesn’t matter if you are British or American or call a third country your home, this is something that none of us can get organized.

9.  Autumn- fall: This doesn’t perfectly fit the bill as the word fall is used for the season between summer and winter in both British and American English, but its usage is more prominent in America opposed to autumn which is the formal term for the season.

10.   Curtain- drapes: What the British call curtains, the Americans prefer to call drapes.

Whatever the differences between British and American English might be, the two dialects have one commonality, which is, that they both add to the diversity and beauty of the English language. That is, after all, what really matters, isn’t it? So, before we pull the curtains or draw the drapes, whatever you prefer to call it, on today’s article, make sure you visit us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more language related content. Happy learning!