Do not think it will make you sound cool or even less American if you try to use the English words for things or speak in an English accent. (The correct term for a standard English accent is RP or “Received Pronunciation” Thank you, MA program.) The English are a canny people. They can smell a phoney from a mile away. I’ve had people guess that I was American before I even open my mouth.
And weirdly, I’ve had loads of people think I was Irish after I opened it.
Anyways, it’s not like going to France and trying really hard to speak French even though you only took one semester in college and slept through most of it. If you are attempting and failing at a foreign language people usually find that endearing, as long as you are trying. Instead of sounding in the know, you may sound like an American who is trying too hard. So step away from the Doctor Who DVD and just speak the way you were brought up to.
That being said, be aware that word differences can cause some highly embarrassing hilarious misunderstandings to occur. Like the time when I wore the same yoga pants to a dance class two days in a row because I didn’t have time to do laundry. When I told one of my girlfriends that I was wearing dirty pants and she thought I was wearing the same dirty underwear. That’s gross. I would never do that.
Just for you all I’ve complied an excellent list of word differences.
American English vs British English
Apartment–Flat
Can–Tin
Candy–Sweets
Chips–Crisps
French fries–Chips
Closet–Wardrobe
Eggplant–Aubergine
Cilantro–Coriander
Cookie–Biscuit
Diaper–Nappy
Ladybug–Ladybird
Elevator–Lift
Eraser–Rubber
Flashlight–Torch
Faucet–Tap
Garbage–Rubbish
Gasoline–Petrol
Highway–Motorway
Hood–Bonnet
Jello–Jelly
Line–Queue
Mail–Post
Movie–Film
Pants–Trousers
Underwear–Pants
Sidewalk–Pavement
Scotchtape– Sello tape (I first read “sello tape” in Harry Potter so I thought it was one of those magical words JK Rowling invented.)
Stove– Cooker
Fall–Autumn (Obviously “Autumn” is a term we use in the US as well, but “Fall” does not exist in the UK)
Soccer– Football
Truck–Lorry
Laundry–Washing
Trunk–Boot
Vacation–Holiday
Vest–Waistcoat
Yard–Garden
Zipper–Zip
Mimosa–Buck’s Fizz (I’m sorry, but Buck’s Fizz just sounds gross…like some part of a deer that shouldn’t be spoken of)
Merry-go-round– roundabout
Cart–Trolley
Trashcan–Bin
Cell–Mobile
Vacuum–Hoover
Toilet paper–Loo Roll
Bobby pins–hair grips
One day Sam said, “Hang on, let me take out the trash.” It was the proudest day of my life. It was one of his greatest moments of shame.
