I’ve been back in the States for nearly six months after six months of living in London. I have done four iterations of learning to speak British and the words and phrases different in the campaign which you can find here. I have now aggregated them all and added even more for a grand total of 178 phrases in my British vs American Vocabulary round up.
Here is your list, lean back and learn:
| British Word / Phrase | American Translation |
| A | |
| Ambient Water | Room Temperature Water |
| Anti-Clockwise | Counter-Clockwise |
| Aquaplaning | Hydra Planning |
| Aubergine | Eggplant |
| B | |
| Baddie | Villain |
| Bank Holiday | National Holiday, Federal Holiday |
| Bantz | Banter |
| Barmy | Gone Mad / Crazy |
| Barrister, Solicitor | Lawyer, Attorney |
| Bathing Costume | Swimsuit |
| Bill | Check |
| Bin | Trash |
| Biro | Ball-Point Pen |
| Biscuit | Cookie |
| Bits and bobs | Odds and ends |
| Bloke | Dude |
| Bob’s Your Uncle | Ta-Da / There You Go |
| Bog | Toilet |
| Bog standard | basic, functional but not exciting. |
| Bollocks | Nonsense |
| Bonnet | Hood (Car) |
| Boot | Trunk |
| Braces | Suspenders |
| Brollies | Umbrellas |
| Brolly | Umberlla |
| Bugger Off | Hit The Road |
| Bulldog Clip | Binder Clip |
| Bum Bag | Fanny Pack |
| C | |
| Cad | Really Bad |
| Candy Floss | Cotton Candy |
| Candy Floss | Cotton Candy |
| Canoodling | Making Out |
| Car Park | Parking Lot |
| Caravan | Trailer |
| Chalk And Cheese | Like Oil And Vinegar |
| Chav | Trashy / Lower Class |
| Cheap and Cheerful | Budget-friendly |
| Cheers | Thanks |
| Cheesed Off | Bummed Out |
| Chemist | Pharmacy |
| Chew The Fat | A Casual Chat |
| Chinwag | Shoot The Breeze |
| Chips | French Fries |
| Chips | French Fries |
| Chockablock | Very Full / Busy |
| Cling Film | Plastic Wrap |
| Cloakroom | Coat Closet |
| Cooker | Stove |
| Cop (Close Of Play) | Eod (End Of Day) |
| Courgette | Zucchini |
| Cracking | Excellent / Exciting |
| Crisps | Potato Chips |
| Cut You Up | Step In Front Of You / Cut You Off |
| Cv (Curriculum Vitae) | Résumé |
| D | |
| Diary | Calendar |
| Dinner Jacket | Tux, Tuxedo |
| Dodgy | Not to be trusted |
| Doolally | Crazy |
| Dummy | Pacifier |
| Duvet | Comforter |
| E | |
| Eggy Bread | French Toast |
| Estate Agent | Real Estate Agent |
| F | |
| Faff about | Lollygag |
| Fairy Cake | Cupcake |
| Fancy Dress | Costumes (Think Halloween) |
| Film | Movie |
| First Floor | Second Floor |
| Fit | In Good Shape |
| Flat | Apartment |
| Flat | Apartment |
| Football | Soccer |
| Footpath | Sidewalk |
| Fringe | Bangs |
| Fringe | Bangs |
| G | |
| Gaffa Tape | Duct Tape |
| Garden | Grassy Backyard |
| Gherkin | Pickle |
| Give Over | Stop It / Give Up |
| Go On Then | Yes / I Accept |
| Gobsmacked | Amazed |
| Gormless | Stupid |
| Grotty | Dirty / Unpleasant / Unwell |
| Gutted | Disappointed |
| H | |
| Hearth | Fireplace |
| Hen Do | Bachelorette Party |
| Hob | Burner |
| Holiday | Vacation |
| Hoover | Vacuum |
| Hundreds And Thousands | Sprinkles |
| I | |
| Icing Sugar | Powdered Sugar |
| J | |
| Jacket Potato | Baked Potato |
| John Smith | John Doe |
| Juggernaut | 18-Wheeler |
| Jumper | Sweater |
| K | |
| Kirby Grip | Bobby Pin |
| Kitchen Roll | Paper Towel |
| Knackered | Tired / Exhausted |
| Knackered | Tired / Exhausted |
| Knackered | Exhausted |
| L | |
| Ladybird | Ladybug |
| Legless | Extremely Drunk |
| Lift | Elevator |
| Lorry | Truck |
| Lose Sight Of The Wood For The Trees | Too Involved In The Details |
| M | |
| Main | Entree |
| Manky | Grubby |
| Match | Game |
| Mate | Buddy |
| Miffed | Upset, Offended |
| Minted | Rich, Made Of Money |
| Mobile | Cell Phone |
| Mufti Day | Dress Down / No Uniform |
| Muppet | clueless, ignorant person. |
| N | |
| Nappy | Diaper |
| Nought | Zero |
| Noughts And Crosses | Tic-tack-toe |
| Number Plate | License Plate |
| O | |
| Off-License | Liquor Store |
| P | |
| Paracetamol | Tylenol |
| Pavement | Sidewalk |
| Peaks And Troughs | Peaks And Valleys |
| Peng | Fire |
| Petrol | Gasoline |
| Pinch | Steal, Borrow |
| Pish Posh | What nonsense! |
| Piss On Your Bonfire | Burst Your Bubble |
| Pissed | Wasted |
| Plushie | Stuffed Animal |
| Polyfilla | Spackle |
| Poorly | Sick |
| Pram | Baby Carriage |
| Prawn | Shrimp |
| Pudding | Dessert |
| Pukka | Genuine / First Class |
| Q | |
| Queue Jumper | Line Cutter |
| Quid | One pound sterling |
| R | |
| Reception | Front Desk |
| Return Trip | Round Trip |
| Reverse Charge | Collect Call |
| Rocket | Arugula |
| Ropey | Ill/ Unwell |
| Rotary | Roundabout |
| Roundabout | Traffic Circle, Rotary |
| Rubber | Eraser |
| Rubbish | Garbage |
| Rucksack | Backpack |
| S | |
| Sarnie | (Slang For Sandwich) |
| Skive Off | Play Hooky |
| Sledging | Sledding |
| Smart | Chic Or Well Dressed |
| Snap | Go Fish |
| Spanner | Wrench |
| Spectacles | Glasses |
| Spud Me | Fist Bump |
| Stag Do | Bachelor Party |
| Sultana | Raisin |
| Sweet Shop | Candy Store |
| Sweets | Candy |
| Swings And Roundabouts | You Win Some, You Loose Some |
| T | |
| Ta! | Thank you! |
| Taking the Mickey | making fun of someone |
| Tap | Faucet |
| Tea Towel | Dish Towel |
| Timetable | Schedule |
| Tippex | White Out |
| Toastie | Grilled Cheese |
| Toff | Snob /Upper Class Person |
| Torch | Flashlight |
| Tosh | Utter nonsense |
| Track Pants | Sweatpants |
| Trainers | Sneakers |
| Tram | Streetcar |
| Trolley | Shopping Cart |
| Trousers | Pants |
| U | |
| Underground | Subway |
| Uni | College |
| V | |
| Vest | Undershirt |
| W | |
| Wardrobe | Closet |
| Weighing It Up | Deciding On Your Options |
| Wonky | Off / Not Right |
| Y | |
| You Lot | Y’All |
| Z | |
| Zebra Crossing | Crosswalk |
| Zed | The letter Z |
Which of these British vs American Vocabulary is most surprising?
Learning to Speak British, 2nd Edition
The White Cliffs of Dover
Two Years in London
Past Adventures: London Calling!
Sandy says
Some of these are just making me giggle… I can’t immagine saying, ohhh he’s a “baddie” and keeping a straight face.
We are heading to London in a few months and I am going to have to save this list and try a few out with the locals. Hopefully it will also keep me from stepping in it saying something really wrong.
Thanks for the laugh.
Ella says
I have a friend moving there soon and these will come in so handy.
I have seriously never heard of so many of these, where do they come up with them and how did you manage?