This past weekend as I was doing my US taxes (womp, womp) I realized that next month I will have lived in England for five years – FIVE YEARS. That half-a-decade milestone surely deserves it’s own post but taking a look back I have written quite a bit about my expat life during that time but today I wanted to reprise one of my favorite series.
A long awaited update on the difference between UK and US vocabulary. I published my first post back in 2013 before moving to the UK was ever on my radar, post Let’s Speak British, shared a list three months after I moved here Learning to Speak British, 2nd Edition and then 2019 shared the third edition. Between these three more than 60 words and phrases have made my British vocabulary repository but with the ever growing note in my phone today I am bringing you Volume IV. And while this is the longest yet believe it or not has words and phrases I have held back on because the amount of baby terms that are different are ASTRONOMICAL and likely deserve their own post.
| British Phrase | American Phrase |
|---|---|
| Aquaplaning | Hydra Planning |
| Bantz | Banter |
| Biscuit | Cookie |
| Bish Bash Bosh | (completion of a task with efficiency) |
| Braces | Suspenders |
| Brollies | Umbrellas |
| Bum Bag | Fanny Pack |
| Cad | Really Bad |
| Candy Floss | Cotton Candy |
| Car Park | Parking Lot / Parking Garage |
| Chips | French Fries |
| Cling Film | Plastic Wrap |
| Cooker | Stove |
| Crisps | Potato Chips |
| Cut You Up | Step In Front Of You / Cut You Off |
| Doolally | Crazy |
| Eggy Bread | French Toast |
| Fairy Cake | Cupcake |
| Fringe | Bangs |
| Give Over | Stop It / Give Up |
| Gherkin | Pickle |
| Go On Then | Yes / I accept |
| Hearth | Fireplace |
| Hob | Burner |
| Kitchen Roll | Paper Towel |
| Kirby Grip | Bobby Pin |
| Mufti Day | Dress Down / No Uniform |
| Return Trip | Round Trip |
| Rotary | Roundabout |
| Rocket | Arugula |
| Rubber | Eraser |
| Rubbish | Garbage |
| Sarnie | (slang for sandwich) |
| Plushie | Stuffed Animal |
| Sweets | Candy |
| The Baddie | The Villain |
| Toastie | Grilled Cheese |
| Torch | Flashlight |
| Track Pants | Sweatpants |
| Trousers | Pants |
In this post I almost extended it to include cockney rhyming slang but that is a whole other can of worms. If you are not familiar stay tuned for a post in late April or May and I will introduce you to that crazy world!
Can you think of any other terms I should include in volume five of my British vocabulary?
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Marjorie says
Ok really, bish bash bosh….if I heard someone say that I never would have figured it out.
You think we all speak the same language but sometimes…. well some of these gave me a little laugh.
Terrie says
OK eggy bread really made me laugh. I never would’ve figured that one out. They certainly do have some unusual sayings.
Helen says
So cute, you look like Emily in Paris….so can we say Kelly in London.
Sending this to a friend of mine who is moving there shortly. Will come in very handy!