British vs. American English
Instructions: Can you tell British English from American English?
- 1.
What is the British English word for the American 'trunk' (of a car)?
ALorryBBonnetCBootDBumper - 2.
What do Americans call what the British call 'biscuits'?
ASconesBMuffinsCCookiesDCrackers - 3.
In British English, what is a 'flat'?
AA large fieldBAn apartmentCA type of shoeDA tire with no air - 4.
What is the American English spelling of the British word 'colour'?
ACoulorBColerCColorDColur - 5.
What do the British call the 'hood' of a car?
ABootBCapCBonnetDRoof - 6.
What is the British term for an 'elevator'?
ARiserBHoistCLiftDAscender - 7.
In American English, what is the British 'torch'?
AA lighterBA candleCA flashlightDA lamp - 8.
What do the British mean by 'chips'?
AChocolate chipsBFrench fries (thick-cut fried potatoes)CPotato chips (thin, crispy)DWood chips - 9.
Which spelling is British English?
ATheaterBTheatreCTheatrDTheater - 10.
What do the British call a 'sidewalk'?
AWalkwayBPavementCPathwayDFootpath - 11.
What is the British English word for 'vacation'?
ARetreatBLeaveCHolidayDRecess - 12.
In British English, what is a 'lorry'?
AA truckBA taxiCA busDA van - 13.
What do Americans call the British 'nappy'?
ABlanketBDiaperCBibDPacifier - 14.
What is a 'queue' in British English that Americans would call something else?
AA line of people waitingBA questionCA pool cueDA type of hairstyle - 15.
In British English, what does 'to let' mean on a property sign?
AUnder constructionBForeclosedCFor saleDFor rent
Answer Key
In British English, the storage compartment at the rear of a car is called the 'boot,' while Americans call it the 'trunk.'
British 'biscuits' are what Americans call 'cookies.' Confusingly, American 'biscuits' are a type of soft, fluffy bread roll that doesn't have a direct British equivalent.
In British English, a 'flat' is an apartment. The word comes from the Old English 'flet' meaning a floor or dwelling.
Americans spell it 'color' without the 'u.' This spelling difference was largely popularized by Noah Webster's American dictionary in 1828, which simplified many British spellings.
The British call the front engine cover of a car the 'bonnet,' while Americans call it the 'hood.'
The British call an elevator a 'lift.' Both words have been in use since the 19th century, but different terms became standard in each country.
A British 'torch' is an American 'flashlight.' In British English, 'torch' refers to a portable battery-powered light, while in American English, 'torch' usually means a flaming stick.
British 'chips' are what Americans call 'French fries' — thick-cut fried potatoes. What Americans call 'chips' (thin, crispy snacks), the British call 'crisps.'
'Theatre' is the British spelling, while 'theater' is the American spelling. The British retained the French '-re' ending, while Americans adopted the '-er' ending.
In British English, the paved path alongside a road for pedestrians is called the 'pavement.' In American English, 'pavement' usually refers to the road surface itself.
The British say 'holiday' where Americans say 'vacation.' In British English, 'going on holiday' means taking a trip, while in American English, 'holiday' primarily refers to a public celebration day.
A British 'lorry' is what Americans call a 'truck.' The word 'lorry' is thought to come from the dialect word 'lurry' meaning to pull or tug.
A British 'nappy' is an American 'diaper.' The British word comes from 'napkin,' which itself comes from the Old French 'nappe' meaning tablecloth.
In British English, 'queue' means a line of people waiting their turn. Americans typically say 'line' or 'stand in line' rather than 'queue' or 'queue up.'
'To let' in British English means 'for rent' in American English. While Americans say they 'rent' a property, the British say they 'let' it.