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 |
Trev