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List of British English words not used in American English
List of British English words not used in American English
- See also main article: American and British English Differences
- list of American English words not used in British English
- list of words having different meanings in British and American English
| British | American |
| advocate | lawyer (distinction in Scots law) |
| aerial | antenna; interchangeable in American English |
| arse[?]* | ass* (buttocks) |
| barrister | lawyer (distinction in English law) |
| black pudding | blood sausage |
| "bird" (woman) | "chick" |
| blinkers | blinders |
| "bloody"*(for example, "This bloody car won't start.") | "damned" |
| "bollocks"* | testicles |
| to "bonk" | to have sexual intercourse |
| bonnet (of a car) | hood |
| boot (of a car) | trunk |
| braces | suspenders (means something else in Britain - see appropriate list) |
| buggery | sodomy |
| bum bag | fanny pack |
| candy floss | cotton candy[?] |
| concession | discount |
| (potato) crisps | (potato) chips[?] |
| crumpet | something similar to an English muffin |
| "crumpet" | one or more attractive women. |
| current account | checking account[?] |
| dinner jacket | tuxedo |
| "dosh" | money |
| draughts | checkers |
| dustbin | trash can |
| engaged tone | busy signal |
| fairy cake | cupcake[?] |
| flat | apartment[?] |
| fortnight | fourteen days |
| "gooseberry" (third person who intrudes on an intimate situation) | "third wheel" |
| green fingers | green thumb |
| indicator | turn signal[?] |
| knickers | women's underpants |
| laundrette | laundromat |
| lift | elevator |
| lift (in a car) | ride |
| lorry | truck (interchangeable in British English) |
| maths | math |
| MD (managing director) | CEO (Chief Executive Officer) |
| mobile (phone) | cell phone |
| motorway | freeway |
| nappy | diaper |
| oilseed rape | canola |
| petrol | gasoline |
| "ponce" (derogatory term, usually for a male) | pimp (mainly northern English usage) or fop |
| to "ponce up" | to improve the appearance of something or someone |
| pram | baby carriage[?] |
| pudding | dessert, often stodgy, or a main course dish of a stodgy nature, e.g. steak and kidney pudding |
| queue | line (for waiting in) |
| "randy" | "horny[?]" (interchangeable in British English) |
| ring someone | call someone (interchangeable in British English) |
| roundabout (in the road) | traffic circle (roundabout is used in some parts of the US, including on signs) |
| roundabout (fairground ride) | carousel |
| to rubbish | to verbally abuse. |
| settee | couch[?] (interchangeable in British English) |
| to "slag off" | to speak in a depreciating way about someone or something |
| "snogging" | kissing, "making out" |
| solicitor | lawyer (distinct from an advocate in Scots Law or a barrister in English law) |
| spanner | wrench |
| sticking plaster, Elastoplast[?] | bandage[?], Band-Aid |
| "telly" / "tele" | TV (also used in UK) |
| text (often written txt, only used since about 1998) | SMS |
| tights | pantyhose |
| trapezium | trapezoid |
| tube | subway |
| underground | subway |
| valve | tube, or vacuum tube |
| waistcoat | vest |
| to wank* | to masturbate |
| "wanker"* | a silly fool, a useless person |
| way out (on a sign) | exit |
| whilst | while (see Words only used in British English in American and British English Differences) |
*Vulgar
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