BritSpeak

American - British Dictionary

Note that although this isn't quite as comprehensive as the British-American Dictionary (even though it could almost be a mirror-image) it does contain a fair number of entries.   I included it as a guide or quick reference, but I'd recommend reading the British-American sections too since there are quite a few extra entries there which didn't make it into this part.

 American Word       Britons Say

A

Acetaminophen          Paracetamol

Aluminum               Aluminium

Americans              Yanks

Apartment              Flat

Apartment house        Block of flats

Appointment Book       Diary

Argentina              The Argentine

Argentinian            Argentine

Argument               Row (rhymes with "cow"), argy-bargy

B

Baby Carriage          Pram

Babysitter             Minder

Backpack               Rucksack

Badger                 Brock

Baked Potato           Jacket potato

Bandaid                Elastoplast (both brand name bandages)

Bangs                  Fringe

Bar                    Pub

Barrette               Slide

Baseboard              Skirting-board

Bathroom               Loo, Water closet, W.C., Toilet

Battery (car)          Accumulator

Beef extract           Bovril (brand name)

Bleachers              Terrace

Bobby pin              Hair pin

Bodyguard              Minder

Boots (rubber)         Wellies, Wellingtons

Boss                   Gaffer

Boy                    Lad

Broccoli rabe          Calabrese

Buttocks               Bum

C

Cabbage and potato     Bubble and squeak

Cafeteria              Refectory

Call                   Ring

Can                    Tin

Carpenter              Cabinet Maker, Joiner

Carried away           Over the top, O.T.T.

Chat (noun)            Natter

Chat (verb)            Natter, Rabbit

Checking account       Current account

Check (bank)           Cheque

Check (restaurant)     Bill

Cilantro               Coriander

Classy                 Upmarket

Comforter              Duvet

Condom                 Sheath

Conductor              Guard, clippie (Scotland)

Cookie                 Biscuit

Cotton                 Cotton wool

Counterclockwise       Anticlockwise

Cracker                Savoury biscuit

Crazy (person)         Nutter

Credit                 Hire purchase

Crotch                 Crutch

Curator                Keeper

Curb                   Kerb

D

Dead End               Close, Cul de sac

Dessert                Afters, Pudding

Detour                 Diversion

Diaper                 Nappy, Napkin

Doctor's exam room     Surgery

Dropout                School leaver

Drunk                  Blotto, legless, paralytic, pissed

Dump                   Tip

E

Easy task              Doddle

Editorial              Leader

Eggplant               Aubergine

Elated                 Over the Moon

Electrician            Sparky

Elevator               Lift

England                Blighty

Eraser                 Rubber

Exercise Class         Keep Fit

Exhausted              Knackered

Expensive              Dear

BritSpeak Dictionary page locator:

British-American A - C | D - K | L - P | Q - Z |

American-British A - E | F - L | M - R | S - Z |

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