This lesson is intended to help you learn and understand the difference between British versus American vocabulary. Please keep a dictionary handy while you are studying this lesson. There are going to be words that you do not know. If you have a British dictionary, you may want to look up the British words. If you have an American dictionary, you may want to look up the American words. Challenge yourself. Good luck!
British Versus American Vocabulary
Here is an overview of the main differences between British and American spellings:
1. our endings change to or
colour > color
- armour armory
- armoury armory
- behaviour behavior
- candour candor
- clamour clamor
- colour color
- demeanour demeanor
- endeavour endeavor
- favourite favorite
- flavour flavor
- glamour glamor
- harbour harbor
- honour honor
- humour humor
- labour labor
- neighbour neighbor
- odour odor
- rancour rancor
- rigour rigor
- rumour rumor
- saviour savior
- savour savor
- savoury savory
- splendour splendor
- valour valor
2. re endings change to er
theatre > theater
- amphitheatre amphitheater
- calibre caliber
- centimetre centimeter
- centre center
- fibre fiber
- kilometre kilometer
- litre liter
- louvre louver
- lustre luster
- manoeuvre maneuver
- meagre meager
- metre meter
- millimetre millimeter
- sabre saber
- sceptre scepter
- sombre somber
- spectre specter
- theatre theater
Note: These words are spelled with -re in both Britain and the USA:
- acre
- massacre
- mediocre
- ogre
3. ogue endings change to og
catalogue > catalog
- analogue analog
- dialogue dialog
- catalogue catalog
- epilogue epilog
- monologue monolog
- prologue prolog
- travelogue travelog
Note: -ogue can also be used in the USA
4. l endings do not double in US spellings
traveller > traveler
- cancelled canceled
- counsellor counselor
- equalled equaled
- fuelling fueling
- fuelled fueled
- grovelling groveling
- jeweller jeweler
- jewellery jewelry
- levelled leveled
- libelled libeled
- marvellous marvelous
- modelling modeling
- panelled paneled
- quarrelling quarreling
- revelled reveled
- woollen woolen
Note: Some British English words ending in one l may have double ll in the USA spelling:
- appal appall
- distil distill
- enrol enroll
- enthral enthrall
- fulfil fulfill
- instil instill
- skilful skillful
- wilful willful
5. ae and oe words change to e
encyclopaedia > encyclopedia
- diarrhoea diarrhea
- oestrogen estrogen
- foetus fetus
- manoeuvre maneuver
- mementoes mementos
- anaemia anemia
- caesarean cesarean
- gynaecology gynecology
- haemorrhage hemorrhage
- leukaemia leukemia
- palaeontology paleontology
- paediatric pediatric
6. ise endings change to ize
apologise > apologize
- appetiser appetizer
- authorise authorize
- capitalise capitalize
- characterise characterize
- civilise civilize
- colonise colonize
- criticise criticize
- dramatise dramatize
- emphasise emphasize
- equalise equalize
- mobilise mobilize
- naturalise naturalize
- organise organize
- popularize popularize
- realise realize
- recognise recognize
- satirise satirize
- standardise standardize
- symbolise symbolize
- vaporise vaporize
- analyse analyze
- paralyse paralyze
Note: Some words are the same in both countries:
- size
- capsize
- prize
- seize
- advise
- surprise
- advertise
Note: Some British spellers do use the –ize ending – either is correct – but the American spelling is almost always –ize.
7. –ce words change to –se words. In some of them, the spelling depends on whether the word is a noun or a verb.
- defence defense
- offence offense
- pretence pretense
- vice vise
- (workbench tool)
- licence (as a noun): license (noun and verb)
- I’ve lost my driving licence.
- license (as a verb) is the same in both countries:
- He is licensed to drive large trucks.
- practise (as a verb): practice (noun and verb)
- I practise the piano every day.
- practice (as a noun) is the same in both countries:
- Get some practice in these words.
Some more examples of spelling differences:
| Spelling change | ||
| ph > f | sulphate sulphide sulphur | sulfate sulfide sulfur |
| ugh > f or w | draught plough | draft plow |
| y > i | tyre (on a wheel) gybe | tire jibe |
| ou > o | mould moult smoulder | mold molt smolder |
| mme > m | programme | program |
| que > ck | cheque (money)
chequer (game) |
check
checker |
| ge > g | acknowledgement
ageing judgement |
acknowledgment
aging judgment |
Miscellaneous: |
aluminium axe cosy kerb (edge of road) furore grey carat liquorice moustache nought pyjamas sceptic phial whisky |
aluminum ax cozy curb furor gray (gold) karat licorice mustache naught pajamas skeptic vial whiskey
|
The lists above show the most common spellings that are different in Britain and the USA. With the growth of the Internet, it is likely that the American spellings will become the most used – despite any British objections!
The following is an alphabetical list of word comparisons. If there are any words that you don’t understand, be sure to use your dictionary. You may ask your teacher for help. (Keep in mind that your teacher is American, therefore they are not familiar with British words.)
|
central reservation |
median strip |
||
| chemist | drugstore | ||
| chips | French fries | ||
| cinema | movie theater; the movies | ||
| cling film | plastic wrap | ||
| common seal | harbor seal | ||
| consumer durables | durable goods | ||
| corn flour | cornstarch | ||
| cos (lettuce) | Romaine | ||
| cot | crib | ||
| cot death | crib death | ||
| cotton bud | cotton swab | ||
| cotton wool | absorbent cotton | ||
| council estate | (housing) project | ||
| courgette | zucchini | ||
| court card | face card | ||
| crash barrier | guardrail | ||
| crisps | chips; potato chips | ||
| crocodile clip | alligator clip | ||
| cross-ply | bias-ply | ||
| crotchet (music) | quarter note | ||
| current account | checking account | ||
| danger money | hazard pay | ||
| demister (in a car) | defroster | ||
| dialling tone | dial tone | ||
| diamante | rhinestone | ||
| double cream | heavy cream | ||
| draughts (game) | checkers | ||
| drawing pin | thumbtack | ||
| dressing gown | robe; bathrobe | ||
| drink-driving | drunk driving | ||
| drinks cupboard | liquor cabinet | ||
| drinks party | cocktail party | ||
| driving licence | driver’s license | ||
| dual carriageway | divided highway | ||
| dummy (for a baby) | pacifier | ||
| dust sheet | drop cloth | ||
| dustbin | garbage can | ||
| earth (electrical) | ground | ||
| engaged (of a phone) | busy | ||
| estate agent | real estate agent, realtor(trademark) | ||
| estate car | station wagon | ||
| ex-directory | unlisted | ||
| faith school | parochial school | ||
| financial year | fiscal year | ||
| fire brigade/service | fire company/department | ||
| first floor | second floor | ||
| fish finger | fish stick | ||
| fitted carpet | wall-to-wall carpeting | ||
| flannel | washcloth | ||
| flat | apartment | ||
| flexitime | flextime | ||
| flick knife | switchblade | ||
| flyover | overpass | ||
| football | soccer | ||
| footway | sidewalk | ||
| fringe (hair) | bangs | ||
| full board (in hotels) | American plan | ||
| full stop (punctuation) | period | ||
| garden | yard; lawn | ||
| gearing (finance) | leverage | ||
| gear lever | gearshift | ||
| goods train | freight train | ||
| greaseproof paper | wax paper/waxed paper | ||
| green fingers | green thumb | ||
| grill (noun) | broiler | ||
| grill (verb) | broil | ||
| ground floor | first floor | ||
| groundsman | groundskeeper | ||
| hairslide | barrette | ||
| hat stand | hat rack | ||
| hen night | bachelorette party | ||
| hire purchase | installment plan | ||
| hoarding | billboard | ||
| hob | stovetop | ||
| holdall | carryall | ||
| holiday | vacation | ||
| holidaymaker | vacationer | ||
| homely | homey | ||
| hosepipe | (garden) hose | ||
| in hospital | in the hospital | ||
| hot flush | hot flash | ||
| housing estate | housing development | ||
| hundreds and thousands | sprinkles (for ice cream) | ||
| ice lolly | Popsicle (trademark) | ||
| icing sugar | confectioners’ sugar | ||
| indicator (on a car) | turn signal | ||
| inside leg | inseam | ||
| jelly babies | jelly beans | ||
| Joe Bloggs | Joe Blow | ||
| Joe Public | John Q. Public | ||
| jumble sale | rummage sale | ||
| jump lead | jumper cable | ||
| jumper | sweater | ||
| junior school | elementary school | ||
| kennel | doghouse | ||
| ladybird | ladybug | ||
| a lettuce | a head of lettuce | ||
| level crossing | grade crossing | ||
| lift | elevator | ||
| lolly | Popsicle (trademark) | ||
| lollipop lady (or man) | crossing guard | ||
| loo (toilet) | john | ||
| loose cover | slipcover | ||
| lorry | truck | ||
| loudhailer | bullhorn | ||
| low loader | flatbed truck | ||
| lucky dip | grab bag | ||
| luggage van | baggage car | ||
| maize | corn | ||
| mangetout | snow pea | ||
| market garden | truck farm | ||
| marshalling yard | railroad yard | ||
| maths | math | ||
| metalled road | paved road | ||
| milometer | odometer | ||
| minim (music) | half note | ||
| mobile phone | cell phone | ||
| monkey tricks | monkeyshines | ||
| motorway | expressway; highway | ||
| mum/mummy | mom/mommy | ||
| nappy | diaper | ||
| needlecord | pinwale | ||
| newsreader | newscaster | ||
| noughts and crosses | tic-tac-toe | ||
| number plate | license plate | ||
| off-licence | liquor store; package store | ||
| opencast mining | open-pit mining | ||
| ordinary share | common stock | ||
| oven glove | oven mitt | ||
| paddling pool | wading pool | ||
| paracetamol | acetaminophen | ||
| parting (in hair) | part | ||
| patience | solitaire | ||
| pavement | sidewalk | ||
| pay packet | pay envelope | ||
| pedestrian crossing | crosswalk | ||
| peg | clothespin | ||
| pelmet | valance | ||
| petrol | gas; gasoline | ||
| physiotherapy | physical therapy | ||
| pinafore dress | jumper | ||
| plain chocolate | dark chocolate | ||
| plain flour | all-purpose flour | ||
| polo neck | turtleneck | ||
| positive discrimination | reverse discrimination | ||
| postal vote | absentee ballot | ||
| postbox | mailbox | ||
| postcode | zip code | ||
| potato crisp | potato chip | ||
| power point | electrical outlet | ||
| pram | baby carriage; stroller | ||
| press stud | snap | ||
| press-up | pushup | ||
| private soldier | GI | ||
| public school | private school | ||
| public transport | public transportation | ||
| punchbag | punching bag | ||
| pushchair | stroller | ||
| pylon | utility pole | ||
| quantity surveyor | estimator | ||
| quaver (music) | eighth note | ||
| queue | line | ||
| racing car | race car | ||
| railway | railroad | ||
| real tennis | court tennis | ||
| recorded delivery | certified mail | ||
| registration plate | license plate | ||
| remould (tyre) | retread | ||
| reverse the charges | call collect | ||
| reversing lights | back-up lights | ||
| right-angled triangle | right triangle | ||
| ring road | beltway | ||
| room only | European plan | ||
| roundabout (at a fair) | carousel | ||
| roundabout (in road) | traffic circle | ||
| rowing boat | rowboat | ||
| sailing boat | sailboat | ||
| saloon (car) | sedan | ||
| sandpit | sandbox | ||
| sandwich cake | layer cake | ||
| sanitary towel | sanitary napkin | ||
| self-raising flour | self-rising flour | ||
| semibreve (music) | whole note | ||
| semitone (music) | half step | ||
| share option | stock option | ||
| shopping trolley | shopping cart | ||
| show house/home | model home | ||
| silencer (on a car) | muffler | ||
| silverside | rump roast | ||
| skeleton in the cupboard | skeleton in the closet | ||
| skimmed milk | skim milk | ||
| skipping rope | jump rope | ||
| skirting board | baseboard | ||
| sledge | sled | ||
| sleeper | railroad tie | ||
| sleeping partner | silent partner | ||
| slowcoach | slowpoke | ||
| snakes and ladders | chutes and ladders | ||
| solicitor | lawyer | ||
| soya/soya bean | soy/soybean | ||
| splashback | backsplash | ||
| spring onion | green onion | ||
| stag night | bachelor party | ||
| Stanley knife | utility knife | ||
| starter | appetizer | ||
| state school | public school | ||
| storm in a teacup | tempest in a teapot | ||
| surtitle | supertitle | ||
| swede | rutabaga | ||
| sweet(s) | candy | ||
| takeaway (food) | takeout; to go | ||
| taxi rank | taxi stand | ||
| tea towel | dish towel | ||
| terrace house | row house | ||
| tick | check mark | ||
| ticket tout | scalper | ||
| tights | pantyhose | ||
| timber | lumber | ||
| titbit | tidbit | ||
| toffee apple | candy apple | ||
| touch wood | knock on wood | ||
| trade union | labor union | ||
| trading estate | industrial park | ||
| trainers | sneakers | ||
| tram | streetcar; cable car | ||
| transport cafe | truck stop | ||
| trolley | shopping cart | ||
| twelve-bore | twelve-gauge | ||
| unalike | unlike | ||
| underground | subway | ||
| vacuum flask | thermos bottle | ||
| verge (of a road) | shoulder | ||
| vest | undershirt | ||
| veterinary surgeon | veterinarian | ||
| wagon (on a train) | car | ||
| waistcoat | vest | ||
| walking frame | walker | ||
| wardrobe | closet | ||
| water ice | Italian ice | ||
| weatherboard | clapboard | ||
| white coffee | coffee with cream | ||
| white spirit | mineral spirits | ||
| wholemeal bread | wholewheat bread | ||
| windcheater | windbreaker | ||
| windscreen | windshield | ||
| wing (of a car) | fender | ||
| worktop | countertop | ||
| Yale lock | cylinder lock | ||
| zebra crossing | crosswalk | ||
| zed (letter Z) | zee | ||
| zip | zipper | ||