Anyone who thinks English is English when travelling is in for a surprise. Not only is there spelling differences, there are whole word differences and phrase differences. Here is a sample of some of the differences:
Australian English | British English | American English |
a bag of sugar, flour etc | a bag of sugar, flour etc | a pack of sugar, flour etc |
Aluminium | Aluminium | Aluminum |
autumn | autumn | fall |
backpack | knapsack | rucksack |
Barman / Bartender | Barman | Bartender |
Bath | Bath | Bathtub |
bill (at resturant) | bill (at resturant) | check (at resturant) |
biscuit | biscuit | cookie |
Bonnet (of car) | Bonnet (of car) | hood |
Boot (or car) | Boot (of car) | trunk |
bottle shop | off-licence | liquor store |
Camp bed | Camp bed | Cot |
Candy floss | Candy Floss | Cotton Candy |
car park | car park | parking lot |
Caravan | Caravan | Trailer |
chemist | chemist | drug store |
cheque | cheque | check |
Chips | Crisps | Chips |
chips / potatoe chips | chips | french fries |
city centre | city centre | downtown |
clothes shop | clothes shop | clothing store |
Cobweb | Cobweb | Spider web |
colour | colour | color |
Corn | Maize | Corn |
Cot | Crib | Crib |
Dial tone | Dialing tone | Dial tone |
dinner jacket | dinner jacket | tuxedo |
do the dishes | do the dishes | do the washing up |
Doll’s house | Doll’s house | Doll house |
Draught | Draught | Draft |
Draughts (game) | Draughts (game) | Checkers |
dressing gown | dressing gown | robe |
Eggplant | Aubergine | Eggplant |
First floor | First floor | Second floor |
flat | flat | appartment |
football | Australian Rules football | Australian rules football |
freeway | motorway | highway |
fully booked | fully booked | booked up |
garden | garden | yard |
gridiron | gridiron | football |
Ground floor | Ground floor | First floor |
g-string | thong | thong |
Guard (on train) | Guard (on train) | Conductor |
Herb | Herb | Curb |
high school | secondary school | high school |
Hockey | Hockey | Field Hockey |
holiday | holiday | vacation |
Jelly | Jelly | Jello |
Jewellery | Jewellery | Jewelry |
Kerosene | Paraffin | Kerosene |
Lift | Lift | Elevator |
Manoeuvre | Manoeuvre | Maneuver |
Mark (for exam) | Mark (for exam) | Grade |
maths | maths | math |
Mince (meat) | Mince (meat) | Ground beef |
mobile | mobile phone | cell phone |
Moustache | Moustache | Mustache |
nappy | nappy | diaper |
neighbour | neighbour | neighbor |
pantyhose | tights | pantyhose |
Pay rise | Pay rise | Raise |
Pedestrian crossing | Pedestrian crossing | Crosswalk |
petrol | petrol | gas |
petrol station | petrol station | gas station |
Postcode | Postcode | Zip code |
Pram | Pram | Baby carriage |
primary school | primary school | elementary school |
queue | queue | line |
recess | break | recess |
rubbish | rubbish | carbage / trash |
runners | trainers | sneekers |
shop | shop | store / shop |
shop assistant | shop assistant | sales clerk |
singlett | vest | undershirt |
soccer | football | soccer |
subway | subway | underpass |
Suspenders | Braces | Suspenders |
sweets | sweets | candy |
takeaway | takeaway | take out |
thong | flip-flop (worn on feet) | flip-flop (worn on feet) |
tick (✔) | tick (✔) | check (✔) |
timetable | timetable | schedule |
toilet | toilet | restroom |
torch | torch | flashlight |
trousers (for a male) | trousers | pants |
TV program | TV programme | TV program |
underground | underground | subway |
waistcoat | waistcoat | vest |
wardrobe | wardrobe | closet |
zip | zip | zipper |
Zucchini | Courgette | Zucchini |
Undies | men or women knickers | men or women panties |
Underdacks | men’s knickers | men’s panties |
dacks | trousers | pants |
gday | good day | good day |
bottler | very good / excellent | very good / excellent |
Rubber | Rubber | Eraser |
Pissed | Pissed | Drunk |
Angry | Angry | Pissed |
Bum | Bottom/Bum | Fanny |
Dummy | Dummy | Pacifier |
Bucks party | Bachelor party | Stag night |
knickers | knickers | panties |
prang | car accident | car wreck |
arvo | afternoon | afternoon |
plonk | cheap wine | cheap wine |
drongo | idiot | idiot |
to gander | to have a look | to have a look |
grog | alcohol | liquor |
berko | angry | angry |
jocks | men’s knickers | men’s panties |