Task No. 5627
Write the text in American English. Choose the correct words.
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Vocabulary List – American and British English
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A trip to London
Last week I drove to London by car. As there was an accident on the M25 I had to take a . I stopped in front of a to ask for directions. A young man told me to turn right at the and ask again at the . There a friendly told me to take the second exit of the . After I had passed a I saw a and a large . I parked my car there and walked to the of London.
Updated on November 04, 2019
While pronunciation, grammar, and spelling are among the many differences between American and British English, perhaps the most difficult to navigate is the difference in American and British vocabulary and word choice.
American and British Vocabulary and Word Choice
Many students are confused about word differences between American and British English. Generally speaking, it’s true that most Americans will understand British English speakers and vice versa despite the many differences. As your English becomes more advanced, however, it becomes more important to decide which form of English you prefer. Once you’ve decided, try to stick to one form or the other in all aspects including pronunciation differences: General American or Received Pronunciation. This consistency is key to clear English communication.
The following list provides common American English vocabulary and word choices and their British English equivalents arranged in alphabetical order. Which words are already most familiar to you?
American English |
British English |
antenna | aerial |
mad | angry |
anyplace | anywhere |
fall | autumn |
bill | bank note |
attorney | barrister, solicitor |
cookie | biscuit |
hood | bonnet |
trunk | boot |
suspenders | braces |
janitor | caretaker |
drug store | chemist’s |
french fries | chips |
the movies | the cinema |
rubber | condom |
patrolman | constable |
stove | cooker |
wheat | corn, wheat |
crib | cot |
thread | cotton |
wreck | crash |
intersection | crossroads |
drapes | curtains |
checkers | draughts |
thumbtack | drawing pin |
divided highway | dual carriageway |
pacifier | dummy |
trashcan | dustbin, rubbish-bin |
garbage can | dustbin, rubbish-bin |
garbage collector | dustman |
generator | dynamo |
motor | engine |
engineer | engine driver |
movie | film |
apartment | flat |
overpass | flyover |
yard | garden |
gear-shift | gear-lever |
alumnus | graduate |
boiler | grill |
first floor | ground floor |
rubbers | gumshoes, wellington boots |
sneakers | gym shoes, tennis-shoes |
purse | handbag |
billboard | hoarding |
vacation | holiday |
vacuum cleaner | hoover |
sick | ill |
intermission | interval |
sweater | jersey, jumper, pullover, sweater |
pitcher | jug |
elevator | lift |
truck | lorry |
baggage | luggage |
raincoat | mackintosh, raincoat |
crazy | mad |
highway | main road |
corn | maize |
math | maths |
stingy | mean |
freeway | motorway |
diaper | nappy |
vicious, mean | nasty |
noplace | nowhere |
private hospital | nursing home |
optometrist | optician |
liquor store | off-license |
kerosene | paraffin |
sidewalk | pavement |
peek | peep |
gasoline | petrol |
post | |
mailbox | postbox |
mailman, mail carrier | postman |
potato chips | potato crisps |
baby carriage | pram |
bar | pub |
restroom | public toilet |
blow-out | puncture |
stroller | push-chair |
line | queue |
railroad | railway |
railway car | railway carriage |
spool of thread | reel of cotton |
round trip | return (ticket) |
call collect | reverse charges |
raise | rise (in salary) |
pavement | road surface |
traffic circle | roundabout |
eraser | rubber |
garbage, trash | rubbish |
sedan | saloon (car) |
Scotch tape | sellotape |
store | shop |
muffler | silencer |
one-way | single (ticket) |
someplace | somewhere |
wrench | spanner |
faculty | staff (of a university) |
oil pan | sump |
dessert | sweet |
candy | sweets |
faucet | tap |
spigot | tap (outdoors) |
cab | taxi |
dish-towel | tea-towel |
semester | term |
pantyhose | tights |
schedule | timetable |
can | tin |
turnpike | toll motorway |
flashlight | torch |
hobo | tramp |
pants | trousers |
cuffs | turn-ups |
subway | underground railway |
shorts | underpants |
shoulder (of road) | verge (of road) |
vest | waistcoat |
closet | wardrobe |
wash up | wash your hands |
windshield | windscreen |
fender | wing |
zipper | zip |
Now, test your knowledge with the two quizzes below.
American to British English Vocabulary Quiz
Replace the American English word in italics with a British English word.
- I’d like to hang the drapes tonight. Do you have time?
- We took the elevator to the 10th floor.
- Would you like to see a movie tonight?
- Have you seen Tim’s new apartment yet? It’s very nice.
- Run down to the drug store and buy some aspirin, please.
- Let’s go to the bar and get a drink.
- I’ll take the garbage out before I leave tomorrow morning.
- Take the second exit at the traffic circle.
- Let’s get have some potato chips with lunch.
- Could you hand me the flashlight so I can take a look in the closet?
- Peter wore a pair of slim fitting pants to the party.
- She opened the tap and watered the garden.
- Have you ever worn a vest with a suit?
- I’ll pick up the mail on the way home from work.
- Could you buy me a pair of pantyhose at the mall?
Answers
- curtains
- lift
- film
- flat
- chemist’s
- pub
- rubbish
- roundabout
- crisps
- torch
- trousers
- spigot
- waistcoat
- post
- tights
British to American English Vocabulary Quiz
Replace the British word in italics with an American English word.
- We need to find a public toilet soon.
- Let’s get the pram and take a walk with Jennifer.
- I’m afraid I had a puncture and had to get it fixed.
- Could you bring in that tin of tuna over there?
- He puts his trousers on like any other person.
- She’s very mean with her money. Don’t ask her for any help.
- I generally don’t wear a suit with a waistcoat.
- We should ask a constable for help.
- Let’s go to the off-license and get some whiskey.
- Get on queue and I’ll get us something to eat.
- Grab a tea-towel and clean that up.
- Look at the schedule and see when the train leaves.
- The car has a dent in the wing.
- Choose a sweater from the wardrobe and let’s get going.
- The lights have gone out, and we’ll need a torch.
Answers
- restroom
- baby carriage
- blow-out
- can
- pants
- stingy
- vest
- patrolman
- liquor store
- line
- dish-towel
- time table
- fender
- closet
- flashlight
Home > British and American English Vocabulary Exercise 1
British and American English Vocabulary Exercise 1 uses words expected to know for the Cambridge English C1 Advanced, IELTS and TOEFL tests as well as the English Language B IB Diploma.
British and American English Vocabulary Exercise 1
Choose the British or American English equivalent of each word.
More exercises associated with this theme:
Learning English requires not just a good vocabulary, but a strong foundation of English grammar to communicate effectively.
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
Here are some helpful exercises, providing word retention focussing on the English that you need to use to communicate successfully in your community.
Here are some grammar exercise which give you the practice to be confident in communicating in English at this advanced level.
Word puzzles require not just a good vocabulary and a knack for spelling, but the ability to think logically and strategically.
- Crossword Puzzles
- Word Searches
- Word Puzzles
Here are some crossword puzzles that give you a way to think about how to spell and link words correctly to complete the task.
Here are some word searches that provide an excellent way to help to reinforce spellings in your mind.
Doing puzzles like the ones we have on this site will be useful for you as you try to retain new words in a different language.
Input learning is the process of learning things from resources or other people and keeping them in our brain.
- Reading
- Listening
Output learning is process of using things we learned or memorized.
- Writing
- Speaking
Levels Links:
This free material is for students at an advanced level of English. This will probably be suitable for students in their fifth or sixth year of English studies. We add exercises on grammar and vocabulary as well as whole text activities on a regular basis. In addirion, we provide test practice activity for students who are preparing for the C1 Advanced which is part of the Cambridge Assessment English Main Suite as well as the English Language B for the IB Diploma. The material will also support students studying for the Cambridge Advanced courses.
We also provide free resources across the full range of levels to provide the tools to communicate in English well.
Elementary | Pre-Intermediate | Intermediate | Upper Intermediate | Advanced
TEST
YOUR VOCABULARY 3
39. British
and American English
How do Americans
say these words? Choose from the words in the box.
American English |
|||||
apartment |
cab |
|
clerk |
deck |
downtown |
drugstore |
elevator |
faucet |
parking |
restroom |
round |
sidewalk |
stand |
subway |
trash |
1 |
Can you buy some crisps for the picnic? (American English: _____chips_________) |
2 |
Don’t leave rubbish in the park. Take your empty drinks cans home with (American English: |
3 |
Excuse me, where’s the nearest toilet, please? (American English: |
4 |
He works as a sales assistant in a big department (American English: |
5 |
I can’t walk any further. Let’s take a taxi. (American English: |
6 |
I have to go to the chemist’s to buy some film for (American English: |
7 |
I’d like a return ticket to Bristol, please? (American English: |
8 |
It’s quicker to go there by underground than by bus. (American English: |
9 |
Take the lift to the fourteenth floor. (American English: |
10 |
There’s something wrong with the hot (American English: |
11 |
We can leave the car in the car park behind the supermarket. (American English: |
12 |
We could play a game of poker if (American English: |
13 |
We had to queue for an hour to get tickets for the latest James Bond (American English: |
14 |
You shouldn’t cycle on the pavement. It’s dangerous for (American English: |
15 |
She lives in a modern flat near the university. (American English: |
16 |
I work in a bank in the city centre. (American English: |
There are some
possibilities for confusion when British and American people talk about food.
British English |
American |
crisps chips |
chips French fries |
Answer key
Урок-игра по теме «Британский и американский английский».
Цель урока: формирование представления об особенностях употребления британского и американского английского языка.
Задачи:
1.Образовательные: активизация познавательной деятельности учащихся, повышение качества усвоения изучаемого языка.
2. Развивающие: расширение кругозора учащихся, развитие умений устной речи.
3. Воспитательные: повышение мотивации к изучению английского языка, развитие интереса к изучению языка.
Оборудование: ПК, мультимедийный проектор, экран, раздаточный материал.
Формы организации учебной деятельности учащихся: работа в группе, сотрудничество.
Ход урока.
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Приветственное слово учителя, постановка целей урока. Учитель делит группу на команды(4-5 учащихся), поясняет, что они будут участвовать в игре.
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Учащиеся просматривают видео, определяют разницу между Британским и Американским английским языком.
— different words
— different spelling
3. Задание №1. Учащиеся в группах записывают слова в 2 колонки.
Br.E Am.E
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Задание №2. Учащиеся в группах соотносят слова и картинки, обмениваются листами и проверяют друг друга.
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Задание № 3. Каждая команда получает своё задание (1,2,3), время выполнения 3 мин., представляют результаты перед классом.
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Write the common American Word instead of the British Word and complete the sentences.
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Mary ate a biscuit. She ate a ____________.
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They had three weeks holiday. They had three weeks ____________.
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Fill up the tank with petrol. Fill up the tank with ____________.
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He drove his new lorry along the motorway. He drove his new ____________ along the ____________.
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It was too cold so I had to wear a vest and a jumper. It was too cold so I had to wear a ____________ and a ____________.
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A pencil and a rubber are necessary tools. A pencil and ____________are necessary tools.
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In the box bellow there are British English words and their equivalents in American English.
Write bellow in each flag.
Truck soccer sweets movie petrol cab mad apartment lorry lift shop biscuit candy angry gás film cookie flat elevator rubber store eraser football taxi
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Read the following sentences and identify whether the word in bold is British or American English. Then indicate the corresponding word in BrE or in AmE.
1 Where’s your flat in London?
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She needs a flash light to go to the attic.
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When I approached the bus stop I saw a long line of people .
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You shouldn´t ride your bike on the sidewalk.
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Doreen lives on the 7th floor. Let´s take the lift.
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Waiter, can I have the check, please?
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David always wears jeans and trainers everywhere he goes.
6.Задание № 4. Учащиеся в группах заполняют пропуски подходящими словами.
А Write the text in American English. Choose the correct word.
A trip to London
Last week I drove to London by car. As there was an accident on the M25 I had to take a____________________. I stopped in front of _________________ a to ask for directions. A young man told me to turn right at the __________________and ask again at the_______________________. There a friendly __________________ told me to take the second exit of the _______________________. After I passed a ______________________I saw a ___________________and a large__________________. I parked my car there and walked to the ____________________________of London.
В Write the text in British English. Choose the correct word.
A busy day
Mrs. Fisher was very busy today. She drove to a _____________for some ham. Then she went to the supermarket to get some _____________________ and ___________________. She needed ____________ for her baby and some ______________________. Then her daughter Sally saw the ______________________________ and Mrs. Fisher bought her some ___________. At home she put everything into the _____________________. Then she opened the _________________, filled with water into a pot and put it on the ________________.
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Заключительный этап.
Подводятся итоги урока , обсуждается проделанная работа и достигнутые результаты. Подсчитываются баллы, выявляется победитель. Все учащиеся получают положительные оценки.