15 British And American Words That Have Different Meanings
15 British And American Words That Have Different Meanings
When you chat with someone from another country, you might find some words mean totally different things depending on where you are! The British and Americans share a language, but there are some funny moments when the same words have different meanings in each country. Let’s explore a few of these words to see how they change across the Atlantic.
1. Rubber
In the UK, if someone asks for a rubber, they’re likely looking for an eraser to fix a mistake on paper. However, walk into a store in the US and ask for a rubber, and you might be directed to the condom section. This difference can lead to some amusing (or embarrassing) misunderstandings if you’re not aware of the context!
2. Boot
Tell someone in Britain that you’re putting your groceries in the boot, and they’ll know you’re loading up the trunk of your car. But in America, a boot is something you wear on your feet, particularly a sturdy type of footwear designed for rough conditions or fashion.
3. Chips
In the UK, if you order chips, expect a hot, thick-cut serving of what Americans call ‘French fries’. Over in the US, ‘chips’ refer to what the British would recognize as crisps – thin slices of potato fried and seasoned, often eaten as a snack.
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4. Pants
This one often causes a giggle: in Britain, pants are what you wear under your clothes (underwear). In the US, pants is just another word for trousers – the outer garment covering your legs.
5. Biscuit
A British biscuit might be a perfect companion to a cup of tea, referring to what Americans know as a cookie. However, in the US, a biscuit is a soft bread roll, often savory, and usually eaten as part of a meal.
6. Holiday
If a Brit is going on holiday, they mean they are taking a vacation. Meanwhile, in the US, a holiday specifically refers to official days of celebration or commemoration, such as Thanksgiving or Independence Day.
7. Fag
Very different contexts here: in British slang, a ‘fag’ is a casual term for a cigarette. But in America, it’s a derogatory term for a homosexual man, which makes it a word to never use due to its offensive nature, which we obviously don’t support. Love to all and don’t smoke, it’s bad for you!
8. Lorry
In the UK, a lorry is what Americans would call a truck, specifically the larger vehicles used for transporting goods. There’s no American equivalent for the word ‘lorry’ – it’s just a truck in the US.
9. Flat
Say ‘flat’ in Britain, and you’re referring to an apartment or a set of rooms on a single floor for living in. In the US, flat can mean something level or smooth, and it’s also used to describe a type of tire issue – a flat tire.
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10. Football
The word football refers to completely different sports in the UK and the US. In Britain, it’s the game known as soccer in the US, where players kick a ball into nets to score goals. In America, football is a game involving touchdowns, helmets, and an oval-shaped ball.
11. Caravan
In the UK, a caravan refers to what Americans call a travel trailer – a vehicle equipped for living in while traveling. In the US, ‘caravan’ is more often used to describe a group of people traveling together, sometimes in a line of vehicles.
12. Trainer
Ask for trainers in a British store, and you’ll be shown to the footwear section, specifically sneakers. In the US, a trainer is typically a person who coaches or trains others, especially in a fitness context.
13. Vest
In the UK, a vest is an undershirt. In the US, the word refers to what the British would call a waistcoat, a sleeveless upper-body garment typically worn over a dress shirt and tie.
14. Braces
Braces in Britain will get you supports worn to hold up trousers – what Americans call suspenders. In the United States, ‘braces’ more commonly refers to the dental apparatus used to straighten teeth.
15. Dummy
In the UK, a dummy is what Americans call a pacifier – the rubber object a baby sucks on for comfort. In the US, ‘dummy’ can refer to a mannequin used in a store display or sometimes derogatorily to describe someone perceived as foolish.
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We are Mary and Eric, the founders of Be Right Back, a blog dedicated to romance around the globe and at home.
We are Mary and Eric, the founders of Be Right Back, a blog dedicated to romance around the globe and at home. With over 10 years of experience in dating and traveling to romantic places, we share our favorite date ideas and romantic destinations to help couples level up their relationships. Having lived in and traveled through the USA, we also share our favourite things to do in the States.
With 70,000 monthly readers and 16,000 followers on social media, Be Right Back is your go-to resource for romantic trip ideas and couple activities at home and abroad.