Free Online English Lessons Differences between British English and American English

Vocabulary, Level B1+

In the UK the postman brings you your letters, while in America they wait for the mailman to come. In Britain you buy sweets when you want to cheer yourself up but in America you go to get some candy. This exercise looks at some of the differences in vocabulary between British and American English.

Exercise 1

Match the two words with similar meaning.

British EnglishAmerican English
1. to queue 
2. biscuit 
3. petrol station 
4. Mum 
5. café 
6. pavement 
7. tap 
8. loo/lavatory/bathroom 
9. dust bin 
10. autumn 
Exercise 2

Now choose the correct word in each sentence, using the type of English written at the end of the sentence.

1. I'm really hungry. Could I have a please? (British English)  
2. You have to visit New England in the . The colours are incredible. (American English)  
3. He put the suitcase in the of the car and then remembered that he'd forgotten to pack his camera. (British English)  
4. In England people for the bus while on the Continent everyone just rushes on. (American English)  
5. Someone had turned the on and not turned it off. The room was flooded! (British English)  
6. The child ran down the in spite of his mother calling for him to stop. (British English)  
7. Let's catch a quick coffee in the before we go to the movies. (American English)  
8. Would you believe it! All the have run out of fuel! I waited for more than an hour to fill up but when I got there they had sold out. (American English)  
9. Please don't leave your cigarette end on the floor. Put them in the . (British English)  
10. She'd forgotten to send her a birthday card so had to phone her instead. (American English)  

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