Published
So here I was in the USA and I had a major problem being understood. I had no problem understand american English because we all watch american movies and TV shows, but the basic american does not watch British TV programmes and apart from Harry Potter not a lot of British films. In a effort to elaborate about barriers to communication I wanter to find a list of basic basic language.
So I thought a quiz would be appropriate I will write below a list of words and see how many you can get right/translate into American English.
Pavement = sidewalk
Rubbish=trash
Bin=Trash can
Lift=Elevator
Pop=soda
Continental Quilt=duvet
Nets=lace curtains
Lolly pops=suckers
Lorry=18 wheeler
Boot (car)=Trunk
Petrol=Gas
Toilet=potty
Grill=broil
Buggy=stroller
Pyrexial=febrile
Giving seting=iv tubing
Maths=math
Drawing Pin=thumb tack
Rubber=eraser
Tick=check
Full stop=period
Tights=panty hose
Trousers=pants
Braces=suspenders
Car Park=parking lot
Off licence
Biscuit=cookie
Jelly=jam
Jam=jelly
porridge=oat meal
Knickers=underwear
carolinapooh, BSN, RN
3,577 Posts
My DH is British (born in Liverpool - a Scouser!! - and raised in Southampton) and after living in Saudi Arabia for three years while he was ironically working for the Americans (and being around him and other Brits most of the time) I picked up quite a bit of the accent and the inflection. I also sing and play the piano by ear, which probably doesn't help.
I still say "no" with a bit of a draw on the O that you can't explain by living in the South, and I've gotten quite a bit of the expressions. I get teased at work a lot about it - but being back in the military (I'm active duty Air Force now) makes it a bit easier!
(Recently I've noticed I say "bit" a lot - which is something Americans don't say as much as I do!)
When I was waiting for my Saudi resident visa, I "lived" in the UK for five months in Camberley, about thirty miles or so from London. I sounded like a local. I'd get on the phone and my mother would be going, "huh?". Hilarious. If we go over there for any length of time (usually takes about a week) I pick it right back up and I sound like an American who's lived there a while. It's not intentional, either - it sort of happens!
My DH said "jelly" is actually what we know as "jello", and that's what I've always heard it as. Our jelly is jam to him. (I don't even call it jelly anymore - just noticed that as well!)
You've really gotten me thinking about all this!