65 Commonly Used British Words not Widely Used in the United States
American English is the form of English used in the United States. It includes all English dialects used within the United States of America. British English is the form of English used in the United Kingdom. It includes all English dialects used within the United Kingdom
Most people are well aware of some of the most obvious differences between British and American English. For example, American English omits the “u” in colour, neighbour, honour, etc. However, you might not have noticed that there are many British words which are not widely used in the United States.
65 Commonly Used British Words not Widely Used in the United States
(This list is intended as a guide only)
No
UK Words
Meaning
Respective
US Words
1
Accountancy
keeping financial accounts
accounting
2
All change
the public-transportation announcement for the last stop
All out
3
(Be) arsed
(informal) to be made to get off one’s arse, usually as a negative or conditional
be bothered to
4
Barmy
crazy, unbalanced
balmy
5
Biccie, bicky, bikky
a biscuit
cookie
6
Boiled sweet
type of confection
hard candy
7
Bureau de change
an office where money can be exchanged
currency exchange
8
carer
a person who cares for another, such as a child, elderly, or disabled person
caregiver
9
Car boot
storage area of car
trunk
10
Cool box
box for keeping food and liquids cool
(US and UK also) cooler
11
Crisps
very thinly sliced fried potatoes, often flavoured, eaten cold as a snack
potato chips
12
Current account
personal bank account used for everyday transactions
checking account
13
Cuppa
[cup of] tea
a cup of tea
14
Dodgy
unsound, unstable, and unreliable
sketchy
15
Dogsbody
someone who carries out menial tasks on another’s behalf; a drudge
grunt
16
Draughts
the board game
checkers
17
Drawing pin
pin with a large, flat head, used for fixing notices to noticeboards
thumbtack
18
Economy class
the cheapest class of passenger airline travel
coach or coach class
19
Electric fire
domestic electric heater
space heater
20
Engaged tone
tone indicating a telephone line in use
busy signal
21
estate agent
a person who sells property for others
realtor, real estate agent
22
flyover
a road crossing over another road
overpass
23
footie
(slang) football
soccer
24
foot-path, footpath
path that is only for use by those on foot that may or may not be alongside a road. Not usually used for paved or widened path that directly abuts the road at a kerb, which is referred to as pavement
Sidewalk
25
funfair
a travelling fair with amusements, stalls, rides etc
carnival or traveling carnival
26
gaol
a prison, mostly historical
jail
27
gearbox
system of gears in a vehicle or other machinery
transmission
28
gear-lever / gearstick
handle for changing gears in a vehicle or other machinery
gearshift
29
go-slow
a protest in which workers deliberately work slowly
slowdown or work to rule
30
green fingers
talent for growing plants
green thumb
31
half-
[as in ‘half-eight’] meaning thirty minutes past the hour
Half past
32
high street
primary business and shopping street
main street
33
hire
(v.) to borrow for a set period of time
to rent
34
hot up
to become more exciting
heating up
35
invigilator
person who monitors an examination
proctor
36
knickers
girls’ and women’s underpants
panties
37
ladybird
red and black flying insect
ladybug
38
learnt
past tense of “learn”
learned
39
life assurance
also described as life insurance regardless of coverage
life insurance
40
letter box
a slot in a wall or door through which incoming post is delivered
mail slot, mailbox
41
lorry
a large goods-carrying motor vehicle
truck
42
loo
toilet (usually the room, not just the plumbing device)
bathroom, restroom
43
main
pipe that carries gas or water
line
44
maths
mathematics
math
45
mince
ground meat, especially beef
ground beef
46
mobile phone
cell phone
47
move house, move flat, etc.
to move out of one’s house or other residence into a new residence
move, move out
48
newsagent
strictly a shop owner or shop that sells newspapers
newsdealer
49
nicked
arrested
up the river, busted
50
oughtn’t
A contraction of ought not
shouldn’t, ought not
51
petrol
refined mixture of hydrocarbons, used esp. to fuel motor vehicles
gasoline, gas
52
phone box
payphone, public phone. See also “telephone kiosk”
phone booth
53
pram, perambulator
wheeled conveyance for babies
baby-carriage
54
provisional licence, provisional driving licence
a licence for a learner driver, who has not yet passed a driving test
learner’s permit
55
quieten
used in the phrase “quieten down”
quiet down
56
quid
the pound sterling monetary unit; remains quid in plural form (“Can I borrow ten quid?”)
US buck, meaning dollar
57
road-works
upgrade or repairs of roads
construction; roadwork
58
rubber
a pencil eraser
eraser
59
rubbish
worthless, unwanted material that is rejected or thrown out; debris; litter
trash, garbage
60
saloon
a four-door car
sedan
61
shan’t
A contraction of shall not
won’t
62
skint
informal) out of money
broke
63
spot on
exactly
right on
64
suck it and see
to undertake a course of action without knowing its full consequences
take your chances
65
tea towel
a cloth which is used to dry dishes, cutlery, etc., after they have been washed
dish towel