American English
-------- -------
A
account bill/account
adhesive tape sticking plaster
aisle gangway
AM radio Medium wave
antenna aerial (radio/TV)
apartment/unit flat
apartment hotel service flats
apartment house block of flats
awaken someone (to) knock up
B
baby bed/crib cot/crib
baby carriage/baby buggy pram (perambulator)
back-up lights reversing lights
balcony (theater) gallery
band-aid elastoplast/plaster
barrette hairslide
baseboard skirting board
bathe (v.) bath
bathrobe dressing gown
bathtub bath
bell pepper green pepper
biscuit scone-like thing (no equivalent)
bill bank note
billfold wallet (mens)
billion=thousand million billion=million million
black top tarmac
bobbie pin hair grip/kirby grip
bomb (disaster) bomb (success)
booth (telephone) kiosk (telephone/cigarette)
brass knuckles knuckle duster
broil grill
buffet sideboard
bureau chest of drawers
business suit lounge suite
C
call/phone ring up/phone
call collect reverse charges
can tin
candy sweets/chocolate
candy store sweet shop/confectioner
caravan convoy
carnival fair (fun)
change purse/small wallet (womens) purse
charged (goods bought) put down/entered
check (restaurant) bill
checkers draughts
check room cloakroom
cheese cloth butter muslin/cheese cloth
chicory endive
chips (potato) crisps
cigarette fag
city/municipal government corporation
closet cupboard
closet (hanging clothes) wardrobe
clothes pin clothes peg
collar button collar stud
collar stay collar stiffener
comforter eiderdown
concert master leader
conductor (train) guard
connect (telephone) put through
cookie biscuit (sweet)
corn starch corn flour
cotton batting/absorbing cotton cotton wool
cotton candy candy floss
cracker biscuit (unsweetened)
crazy bone funny bone
cream of wheat semolina
cross-walk pelican crossing
cuffs (pants) turn-ups (trousers)
custom made bespoke/made to measure
D
davenport/sofa sofa
dead-end cul-de-sac
deck (cards) pack
delivery truck van
denatured alcohol methylated spirits
derby bowler/hard hat
desk clerk receptionist
dessert pudding/dessert
detour diversion
diaper nappy
dime store/five and ten Woolworth's
directory assistance directory enquiries
dishes, do the wash up
divided highway dual carriageway
downtown centre (city/business)
draft conscription
drapes curtains
dresser chest of drawers
druggist chemist
drugstore/pharmacy chemist's shop
drygoods store draper
dump (n. and v.) tip
dungarees jeans
duplex semi-detached
E
editorial leader
eggplant aubergine
electric cord/wire flex
elevator lift
endive chicory
engineer (train) driver
eraser rubber/india rubber
erector set meccano (tradename)
eyeball (v.) visually position
F
faculty staff
fag or faggot homosexual
fall autumn
faucet tap
fender wing/mudguard
first balcony upper circle
first floor ground floor
flashlight torch/flashlight
floor lamp standard lamp
floor walker shop walker
FM radio VHF
freeway/super highway motorway
freight truck goods truck
french fries chips
freshman (at university) 1st year undergraduate
front desk (hotel) reception
G
garbage/trash rubbish
garbage can/ash can/trash can dustbin/bin
garter belt suspender belt
garters suspenders
gas petrol
gas station filling station
gear shift gear lever
generator dynamo
German shepherd/police dog alsation
goose bumps goose pimples
grade class/form
grade crossing level crossing
green thumb green fingers
ground wire earth wire/earth
H
hamburger bun bap
hamburger (meat) mince
hamburger beefburger
hardware store ironmonger
hat check girl cloakroom attendant
homely - ugly homely - pleasant
hood (car) bonnet
hope chest bottom drawer
hotdog bun bridge roll
housewares hardware
hutch Welsh dresser
I
incorporated limited
intermission interval
J
jail gaol/jail
janitor caretaker/porter
jello jelly
jelly/jam jam
jelly roll Swiss roll
jock a keen athelete (from jockstrap)
jump rope skipping rope
junior 3rd year (school)
K
kerosene paraffin
knickers plus-fours
knock up make pregnant
L
laundromat laundrette
lawyer/attorney solicitor
leader leading article in newspaper/
1st violin in orchestra
lease/rent let
legal holiday bank holiday
license plate number plate
Life Savers (candy) Polos (fruit version)
lima bean broad bean (similar to)
line (n.) queue
line-up identification parade
liquor spirits
liquor store off licence/wine merchant
liverwurst liver sausage
living room sitting room/lounge/
drawing room/living room
lobby/foyer foyer
long distance trunk call
lost and found lost property
love seat settee
lumber room box room
M
M&Ms/Resses Pieces (candy) Smarties
mail (n.) post
mail box/mail drop pillar box
mailman postman
make reservations book
Mars Bar (candy) Topic
meat grinder mincer
median strip/divider centre reservation
mezzanine/loge dress circle
Milky Way (candy) Mars Bar
molasses black treacle
mollybolt rawlplug
monkey wrench spanner
mopboard skirting board
motorbike moped
motorcycle motorbike/motorcycle
mountain oyster cooked testicles of a sheep or bull
movie film
movie house/theater cinema
moving van pantechnicon/removal van
muffler (car) silencer
mutual fund unit trust
N
newsdealer/news stand newsagent
nightstand truncheon
notions haberdashery
O
odometer mileometer
office (doctor's/dentist's) surgery
oil pan sump
one way ticket single ticket
orchestra seats stalls
outlet/socket point/power point
overalls dungarees
overpass flyover
P
pacifier dummy
package parcel
paddle (ping pong) bat
panty hose/nylons tights
pantry larder
pants/slacks trousers/slacks
parka anorak
parking lot car park
pass (vehicle, etc.) overtake/pass
pavement road surface
pedestrian crossing zebra crossing
penitentiary/prison prison
period full-stop
person-to-person personal call
phonograph/record player gramophone/record player
pig in a blanket sausage roll
pit (fruit) stone
pitcher jug
plexiglas perspex
pocket book handbag purse
pocket knife pen knife
pollywog/tadpole tadpole
popsicle iced lolly
pork and liver meatball faggot (normally fried)
pot holders/gloves oven gloves/cloth
powdered sugar/confectioner's sugar icing sugar
precinct district
president (business) chairman
principal headmaster/mistress
private school public school/private school
private school gofer fag
public school state school
pull-off lay-by
pullman/sleeper sleeping car
pump (shoe) court shoe
purse/pocketbook handbag
R
raincheck postponement
raincoat mackintosh
raisin sultana
realtor estate agent
rear view mirror wing mirror
recess break (school)
restroom toilet/cloakroom/
public convenience
rhinestone diamante
roast joint (meat)
robin (large red-breasted bird, robin (small red-breasted bird,
symbol - first sign of spring) symbol of Christmas)
roller coaster big dipper
roomer lodger
round trip ticket return ticket
rubber condom
rubber cement cow gum
rubbing alcohol surgical spirit
run (for public office stand
rutabaga/turnip swede
S
sack lunch packed lunch
sales clerk/sales girl shop assistant
scab blackleg
scallion spring onion (similar)
schedule time-table
scotch tape sellotape
scratch pad scribbling pad/block
second floor first floor
sedan saloon car
semester (school - 2 in a year) term (3 in a year)
senior 4th year (school)
sewer pipe/soil pipe drain (indoor)
shade (window) blind
sheers/under drapes net curtains
sherbet ice/sorbet
shoestring bootlace/shoelace
shorts/jockey shorts briefs
shorts (underwear) pants
shot (injection) jab
shredded (coconut) desiccated
sideburns sideboards
sidewalk pavement/footpath
sled sledge/toboggan
slice (bacon) rasher
slingshot catapult
smoked herring kipper
snaps press studs
sneakers/tennis shoes gym shoes/plimsolls/tennis shoes
Snickers (candy) Marathon
soccer football/soccer
soda cracker cream cracker
spatula/pancake turner fish slice
spool cotton reel
squash marrow (similar)
stand in line/line up queue
station wagon estate car
stop light/traffic signal/
stop signals traffic lights
stove cooker
straight (drink) neat
stroller pushchair
sub-division housing estate
subway tube/underground
suspenders braces
sweater/pullover jumper/sweater/pullover
Swing-arm/Architect's lamp Anglepoise lamp
T
tag label
take-out take-away
tea cart tea trolley
Texas gate cattle grid
thread cotton
Three Muskateers (candy) Milky Way
thumb tack drawing pin
tic-tac-toe noughts and crosses
time payment/installment plan hire purchase
toilet/john/bathroom lavatory/toilet/w.c.
top (car) roof/hood
traffic circle roundabout/island
trailer/camper/mobile home caravan
tractor trailer truck/semi articulated lorry
tramp/call girl/hooker/street walker prostitute/tart/whore
truck lorry
truck stop transport cafe
trunk/rear deck (car) boot
tube valve
two weeks fortnight
U
undergraduates:
freshman 1st year undergraduate
sophomore 2nd year undergraduate
junior 3rd year undergraduate
senior 4th year undergraduate
undershirt vest
underwear (washing) smalls
V
vacation holiday
vacuum (v.) hoover
vacuum cleaner hoover
valence pelmet
VCR Video
vest waistcoat
W
wall to wall fitted carpet/wall to wall
wash cloth face flannel
wash up wash your hands
water heater (electric) immersion heater
water heater (gas) geyser
weather stripping draught excluder
wharf/pier quay (pron. 'key')
white lima been butter bean
windbreaker windcheater
windshield windscreen
wire telegram
with or without?
(milk/cream in coffee) black or white?
Y
yard garden
Z
zero nought
zip code postal code
zucchini courgettes
ENGLISH - AMERICAN
------------------
English American
------- --------
A
aerial (radio/TV) antenna
alsation German shepherd/police dog
Anglepoise lamp Swing-arm/Architect's lamp
anorak parka
articulated lorry tractor trailor truck/semi
athelete (a keen one) jock
aubergine eggplant
autumn fall
B
bank holiday legal holiday
bank note bill
bap hamburger bun
bat (ping pong) paddle
bath bathtub
bath (v.) bathe
beefburger hamburger
bespoke/made to measure custom made
big dipper roller coaster
bill check (restaurant)
bill/account account
billion=million million billion=thousand million
biscuit (sweet) cookie
biscuit (unsweetened) cracker
black or white?
(milk/cream in coffee) with or without?
black treacle molasses
blackleg scab
blind (window) shade
block of flats apartment house/building
bomb (success) bomb (disaster)
bonnet (car) hood
book (v.) make reservation
boot (car) trunk/rear deck
bootlace/shoelace shoestring
bottom drawer hope chest
bowler/hard hat derby
box room lumber room
braces suspenders
break (school) recess
bridge roll hotdog bun
briefs shorts (jockey shorts)
broad bean lima bean (similar)
butter bean white lima bean
butter muslin/cheese cloth cheese cloth
English American
------- --------
C
candy floss cotton candy
car park parking lot
caravan trailer
caretaker/porter janitor
catapult slingshot
cattle grid Texas gate
centre (city/business) downtown
centre reservation median strip/divider
chairman (business) president
chemist druggist
chemist's shop pharmacy/drug store
chest of drawers dresser/bureau
chicory endive
chips french fries
chocolate/sweets candy
cinema movie house/theater
class/form (school) grade
cloakroom check room
cloakroom attendant hat check girl
clothes peg clothes pin
collar stiffener collar stay
collar stud collar button
conscription draft
condom rubber
convoy caravan
cooker stove
corn flour corn starch
corporation city/municipal government
cot/crib baby bed/crib
cotton thread
cotton reel spool
cotton wool cotton batting/absorbent cotton
courgettes zucchini
court shoe pump
cow gum rubber cement
cream cracker soda cracker
crisps chips (potato)
cul-de-sac dead end
cupboard closet
curtains drapes
D
desiccated (coconut) shredded
diamante rhinestone
directory enquiries directory assistance
district precinct
diversion detour
drain (indoor) sewer pipe/soil pipe
English American
------- --------
draper drygoods store
draught excluder weather stripping
draughts checkers
drawing pin thumb tack
dress circle mezzanine/loge
dressing gown bathrobe
driver (train) engineer
dual carriageway divided highway
dummy pacifier
dungarees overalls
dustbin/bin garbage can/ash can/trash can
dynamo generator
E
earth wire/earth ground wire
eiderdown comforter
elastoplast band-aid
endive chicory
estate agent realtor
estate car station wagon
F
face flannel wash cloth
fag cigarette/private school gofer
faggot (normally fried) pork and liver meatball
fair (fun) carnival
filling station gas station
film movie
first floor second floor
fish slice pancake spatula/turner
fitted carpet wall to wall
flat apartment
flex electric cord/wire
flyover overpass
football/soccer soccer
fortnight two weeks
foyer lobby/foyer
full-stop (punc.) period
funny bone crazy bone
G
gallery (theatre) balcony
gangway aisle
gaol jail
garden yard
gear lever gear shift
geyser (gas) water heater
goods truck (railway) freight truck
English American
------- --------
goose pimples goose bumps
gramophone/record player phonograph/record player
green fingers green thumb
green pepper/capsicum bell pepper/green pepper/sweet pepper
grill (v.) broil
guard (train) conductor
gym shoes/plimsolls/tennis shoes sneakers/tennis shoes
H
haberdashery notions
hair grip/kirby grip bobbie pin
hair slide barrette
handbag purse/pocket book
hardware housewares
headmaster/mistress principal
hire purchase time payment/installment plan
holiday vacation
homely - pleasant homely - ugly
homosexual fag/faggot/gay
hoover (n.) vacuum cleaner
hoover (v.) vacuum
housing estate sub-division
I
ice/sorbet sherbet
iced lolly popsicle
icing sugar powdered sugar/confectioner's sugar
identification parade line-up
immersion heater (electric) water heater
interval intermission
ironmonger hardware store
J
jab (injection) shot
jam jelly/jam
jelly jello
joint (meat) roast
jug pitcher
jumper/sweater/pullover sweater/pullover
K
kiosk (telephone/cigarette) booth (telephone)
kipper smoked herring
knock up to awaken someone
knock up (tennis) warm up
knuckle duster brass knuckles
English American
------- --------
L
label tag
larder pantry
laundrette laundromat
lavatory/toilet/w.c. toilet/john/bathroom
lay-by pull-off
leader:
1. leading article in newspaper editorial
2. 1st violin in orchestra concert master
left luggage office baggage room
let lease/rent
level crossing (railway) grade crossing
lift elevator
limited (company) incorporated
liver sausage liverwurst
lodger roomer
lorry truck
lost property lost and found
lounge suite business suit
M
mackintosh raincoat
Marathon (candy) Snickers
marrow squash (similar)
Mars Bar (candy) Milky Way
Meccano (tradename) erector set
Medium wave (radio) AM radio
methylated spirits denatured alcohol
mileometer odometer
Milky Way (candy) Three Muskateers
mince (meat) hamburger
mincer meat grinder
moped motorbike
motorway freeway/throughway/super highway
N
nappy diaper
neat (drink) straight
net curtains sheers/under drapes
newsagent news dealer/news stand
nought zero
noughts and crosses tic-tac-toe
number plate license plate
English American
------- --------
O
off licence/wine merchant liquor store
off-side lane right-hand land nearest center
of road - in UK
oven gloves/cloth pot holders/gloves
overtake (vehicle) pass
P
pack (of cards) deck
packed lunch sack lunch
pantechnicon moving van
pants shorts (underwear)
paraffin kerosene
parcel package
pavement/footpath sidewalk
pelican crossing cross-walk
pelmet valence
pen knife pocket knife
personal call person-to-person
perspex plexiglas
petrol gas(oline)
pillar box mail box/mail drop
plaster band-aid
plus-fours knickers
point/power point outlet/socket
Polos (candy - fruit version) Life Savers
post mail
postal code zip code
postman mailman
postponement raincheck
pram baby carriage/baby buggy
pregnant (to make) knock up
press studs snaps
prison penitentiary
prostitute/tart/whore tramp/call girl/hooker/street walker
public convenience restroom/toilet/comfort station
public school/private school private school
pudding dessert
purse change purse/small wallet (womens)
pushchair stroller
put down/entered (goods bought) charged
put through (telephone) connect
Q
quay wharf/pier
queue (n.) line
queue (v.) stand in line/line up
English American
------- --------
R
rasher (bacon) slice
rawlplug mollybolt
reception (hotel) front desk
receptionist desk clerk
return ticket round trip ticket
reverse charges call collect
reversing lights back up lights
ring up call/phone
road surface pavement
robin (small red-breasted bird, robin (large red-breasted bird,
symbol of Christmas) symbol - first sign of Spring)
roof/hood (car) top
roundabout traffic circle
rubber eraser
rubbish garbage/trash
S
saloon (car) sedan
sausage roll pig in a blanket
scribbling pad/block scratch pad
sellotape scotch tape
semi-detached duplex
semolina cream of wheat
service flats apartment hotel
settee love seat
shop assistant sales clerk/sales girl
shop walker floor walker
sideboard buffet
sideboards (hair) sideburns
silencer (car) muffler
single ticket one way ticket
sitting room/living room/
lounge/drawing room living room
skipping rope jump rope
skirting board baseboard/mopboard
sledge/toboggan sled
sleeping car pullman/sleeper
smalls (washing) underwear
Smarties (candy) M&Ms/Reeses Pieces
sofa davenport/couch
solicitor lawyer/attorney
sorbet sherbet
spanner monkey wrench
spirits (drink) liquor
spring onion scallion (similar)
staff (academic) faculty
stalls (theatre) orchestra seats
stand (for public office) run
English American
------- --------
standard lamp floor lamp
state school public school
sticking plaster adhesive tape
stone (fruit) pit
sultana raisin
sump (car) oil pan
surgery (doctor's/dentist's) office
surgical spirit rubbing alcohol
suspender belt garter belt
suspenders garters
swede turnip/rutabaga
sweet shop/confectioner candy store
sweets/chocolate candy
Swiss roll jelly roll
T
tadpole pollywog/tadpole
take-away take-out
tap faucet
tarmac black top
tea trolley tea cart
telegram wire
term (academic - 3 in a year) semester (2 in a year)
tights panty hose/nylons
time-table schedule
tin can
tip (n. and v.) dump
Topic (candy) Mars Bar
torch flashlight
traffic lights stop lights/traffic signals/
stop signals
transport cafe truck stop
trousers pants/slacks
truncheon (police) night stick
trunk call long distance
tube/underground subway
turn-ups (trousers) cuffs (pants)
U
Undergraduates:
1st year freshman
2nd year sophomore
3rd year junior
4th year senior
unit trust mutual fund
upper circle first balcony
English American
------- --------
V
valve (radio) tube
van delivery truck
van (car type) panel truck
vest undershirt
VHF (radio) FM radio
Video VCR
visually position eyeball (v.)
W
waistcoat vest
wallet billfold
wardrobe closet
wash up do the dishes
wash your hands wash up
Welsh dresser hutch
windcheater windbreaker
windscreen windshield
wing/mudguard (car) fender
Woolworths dime store/five and ten
Z
zebra crossing pedestrian crossing
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Comments on “English – American translation guide”
Comments are closed.
Now I can properly understand Coronation Street :-)
(http://livejournal.com/users/oraboras)
Speaking of Mars bar, if you ever go to Scotland, you definitely have to try the Deep Fried Mars Bar.
(http://livejournal.com/users/oraboras)
can't eat peanuts, remember?
(http://livejournal.com/users/talisker)
Sorry, I totally forgot :(
There is no peanuts in Mars Bar, I didn't know it could have traces of it.
(http://livejournal.com/users/oraboras)
hehe, brilliant! I think I need to practice english words… the americanized english language has completely washed out my good ol' british… :S
(http://livejournal.com/users/micahsnowv)