British and American English often spell the same word differently, for example: labour/labor, enthrall/enthral, or centre/center. You can find out more about these differences here.
同一个单词在英式英语和美式英语中往往有不同的拼法,例如:labour/labor, enthrall/enthral, or centre/center。
There are also many cases in which the two varieties of English use different terms to describe the same thing. Here’s a list of various British words and expressions together with their American equivalents.
还有许多时候,同一件事物在英式和美式英语中有不同的词语来描述。请看下面的列表。
British English | American English |
accommodation | accommodations |
action replay | instant replay |
aerofoil | airfoil |
aeroplane | airplane |
agony aunt | advice columnist |
Allen key | Allen wrench |
aluminium | aluminum |
aniseed | anise |
anticlockwise | counterclockwise |
articulated lorry | tractor-trailer |
asymmetric bars | uneven bars |
aubergine | eggplant |
baking tray | cookie sheet |
bank holiday | legal holiday |
beetroot | beet(s) |
bill | check |
biscuit | cookie; cracker |
black economy | underground economy |
blanket bath | sponge bath |
blind | (window) shade |
block of flats | apartment building |
boiler suit | coveralls |
bonnet (of a car) | hood |
boob tube | tube top |
boot (of a car) | trunk |
bottom drawer | hope chest |
bowls | lawn bowling |
braces | suspenders |
brawn (the food) | headcheese |
breakdown van | tow truck |
breeze block | cinder block |
bridging loan | bridge loan |
bumbag | fanny pack |
candyfloss | cotton candy |
car park | parking lot |
casualty | emergency room |
catapult | slingshot |
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 |
cornflour | 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 |