Differences between British and American English

Differences between American & British Language

INTRODUCTION

The major differences

between British and American

English lies in the choice of

VOCABULARY

Common Words in American and British English

American

Apartment

British

Baby carriage

Flat

Pram

Band-aid

Plaster

Corn

Maize

Diaper

Nappy

Flashlight

Torch

Extratime

overtime

Mail

post

Pharmacist

chemist

Sausage

banger

Trash can

bin

DIFFERENT IDIOMS

British English

American British

sweep under the carpet

sweep under the rug

IT MEANS: To try to stop people

From finding out about sth wrong , illegal ,

embarrassing

etc. that has happened or that you have done .

British

American

Not touch something with a bargepole

Not touch something with a ten-foot pole

IT MEANS: To refuse to get involved with sb /sth or in a particular situation .

British

American

Touch wood

Knock on wood

IT MEANS: Used when you have just mentioned some way in which you have been lucky in the past, to avoid bringing bad luck .

British

American

see the wood for the trees

see the forest for the trees

IT MEANS: Clearly visible, in

a way that is clearly visible .

British

American

A drop in the ocean

A drop in the bucket

IT MEANS: An amount of sth that is too small or unimportant to make any real difference to a situation .

British

American

A home from home

A home away from home

It means: A place where you feel relaxed and comfortable as if you were in your own home .

SPELLING DIFFERENCES

Br .

A m .

Colour

Color

Flavour

Flavor

[ edit ] - our , -or

[ edit ] - re, -er

Br .

Centre

Am .

Metre

Center

Meter

[ edit ] – ce , -se -xion, -ction

Br .

Br .

Am .

advice

Am .

Inflexion

Advise

Inflection

licence

Reflexion

License

Reflect-ion

Br .

Am .

Prise

Prize

Memor-ise

Memor-ize

[ edit ] – ise - ize

yse - yze

Br .

Analyse

Am .

Paralyse

Analyze

Paralyze

PRONUNCIATION

DIFFERENCE IN PRONUNCIATION

British

American

DOO ®

DOOR

SE®VE

SERVE

TRANSMIT

TRANSMIT

SOLA® SYSTEM

SOLAR SYSTEM

WO®D

WORD

MORE OVE ®

MORE OVER

TEST

Br .

Am .

gas pedal

doctor's office

dress circle

driving wheel

Entrée

THANKS

FOR

YOUR

GOOD

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