I think it is amazing how words differ even within Languages. For example, torch ( in England) and flashlight (in USA) mean the same thing. Can you think of some other examples?
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CoachMJ
ANSWERS: 34
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football (in england means soccer)
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In England they smoke fags.... In The U.S. we smoke ciggarettes.
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Mad. In England it means off your head/crazy, in America is means angry.
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Bush (in england) low shrubs Bush (in USA) nucular idiot
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American English is not the same language as British English.
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with reference to norma jeans answer in northern ireland we smoke fegs, garbage/trash-rubbish
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Lorries are called trucks in America
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Pants in England are underwear, not trousers/jeans...
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The most confusing one is how in England the word "chips" refers to what people in the US call "French fries", not to potato chips. In the UK, we call potato chips "crisps". Also, the US "cotton candy" is known as "candy floss" in England, and over here we also use the word "trousers" for what Americans call "pants"... in England the word "pants" refers to the underwear you wear beneath your trousers instead. edit - just been reminded of another... in England saying you are "pissed" means you are very drunk, whereas in the US it means you are angry.
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The loo is the toilet in the U.S.
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Your cars have a boot and a bonnet; ours have a trunk and a hood. But the surprising thing is not how different our dialects are, but how similar. The main differences are actually the accent and the slang. The two used to be growing steadily apart, but the mass media have been bringing them back together again.
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Boot = Trunk Bonnet = hood Trousers = Pants Fags = Cigarettes Pissed = Drunk Loo/Jacks = Toilet Lorries = Trucks
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sorry double post, really don't know how that happened!
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elevator - lift Tack - pin Sneakers - trainers Chips - crisps soda - drink (maybe fizzy drink) trunk - boot trash - rubbish purse - handbag/bag wallet - purse pants - trousers loo/toilet - restroom college - university gas - petrol rest stop - layby I think the best one, in england, you can ask to 'bum a fag' meaning, 'please can i have a cigarette' In america, that would have very gay repercussions.
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well the one I heard was gas and petrol- but that might have already been stated by the know-it-alls above- jk
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While speaking with a visitor from England it was mentioned that a friend was taking Shag lessons. Here, it means a dance. She wouldn't tell me what it meant to her but her face was very red! Ha!
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I think another is windscreen/windshield. There are also the spelling differences: realize/realise, favour/favor, etc.
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"Keep your pecker up" = British from WWII era anyhow. And "pecker" meant chin to the Brits. To the Americans, well, pecker meant something south of the belt buckle for men.
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Eraser (In America) = Rubber (In england)
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"Nee slappin" in the Netherlands means "I'm tired" In English, get it hahahaha
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A "biscuit" in Britain is the same as an American "cookie" -- but I don't know what an American "biscuit" would be called in Britain. A British "beaker" is an American "mug" (i.e. the kind you drink out of). An American "beaker" is likely found in a chemistry lab. Then there is hair. We sometimes wear "bangs" over our eyes, but I think I have heard it called "fringe" over there. Is that correct? (It would sure make more sense.)
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lift (elevator vs. action) chemist (scientist vs. drugstore) braces (orthodontia vs. suspenders) trainers (coaches vs. shoes) holiday (special day vs. vacation) chips (potato chips vs. french fries) jelly (jam vs. jello) boot (type of shoe vs. car part) football (football vs. soccer) bat (baseball vs. ping pong paddle) plaster (wall compound vs. band aid)
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Bonnet: hood of car in UK; type of hat in US Lobby: first floor in UK; ground floor in US (I think this is accurate but I'm not completely sure) Tucker: food in Aus; a name in US Barbie: grilling or Bar-b-que in Aus; the brand name of a doll in US cue or que(not sure on the spelling): a waiting line in UK; a mark to hit or a sign that the action should begin in a performance in US
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Flat= Apartment/adjective.
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I understand that a Brit may say, "I'll knock you up at your flat tomorrow" which has a substantially different meaning in the USA. The British definition is I will knock on your door tomorrow, while the USA definition involves human reproduction.
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English American Tap Faucet Pavement Sidewalk Car Boot Trunk Jam Jelly Grill Broil Film Movie Car Bonnet Hood Athletics Track and Field Trousers Pants Lots more, Winston Churchill said two nations divided by the same language
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Bird is girl in England inthe Us it's girl Lad is boy Crumpets I believe are bisquits Bombershoot is umberla
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bathroom toilet WC or loo candy sweets checkers draughts corn maize faucet tap gas petrol napkin serviette oven cooker round trip return ticket undershirt vest
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In Canada we call them chesterfields...in the US they are called sofas.
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Near the end of World War II, there were a lot of Russians in Paris. They'd go into the restaurants and want fast service, so they'd shout "buistra!" (Pardon the terrible transliteration), which means "quickly!" The French adopted the word as "bistro," meaning a small, fast restaurant. The Russians then took that word *back* to Russia, and it is now a sidewalk food vendor. And now for something completely different. This story takes place in the Midwest United States. A friend of mine had a job where he worked with an Australian woman (we'll call her Mary) and a fellow that everyone suspected might be homosexual, but nobody was really sure (we'll call him Phil). One day everyone was chatting in the break room, and someone asked where Phil was. Mary replied, "I think he's outside fagging." Everybody stopped and just stared at her for several seconds.
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Lorry and Truck is one that comes to mind oh and glove compartment and cubby hole is another.
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There are lots for example a sweater can be called a jumper in the UK and what you call a jumper is an all-in-one or a jumpsuit. The biggest one I remember is don't come here and say 'fanny' meaning bottom as in 'fanny-pack'. It means vagina in the UK although it isn't the most common word used.
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Spanner and Wrench.
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Here's a good one. "Table" In American English, to table a proposal means to drop it -- remove it from consideration. In British and Canadian English, to table a proposal means to put it forward for consideration. So the same word, in the same context, in the same language can mean the complete opposite thing in two different dialects.
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