Language notecard for British newbies

I'm trying to compile a notecard listing words a British newbie will probably encounter everyday which either don't exist in British English, or have a different meaning. As I still come across words I don't know this hopefully will be useful for someone. I've deliberately left out the ones that are obscene in one variety as this is a PG forum.

The idea is US English word means X in British English.

US Word - UK Word

Clothing

Bangs - Fringe
suspenders - braces (for trousers not teeth)
garter - suspenders (stockings)
pantyhose - tights
chaps - leather leggings (no equivilent)
jumper - pinafore dress
knickers - knickerbockers (not underpants)
pants - trousers (never underpants)
vest - waistcoat
purse - handbag (not wallet)

Buildings

First Floor - Ground Floor
Second Floor - First Floor
shingles - a form of roof covering (not the disease) (like roof tiles?)
siding - external wall covering, cladding or weatherboarding
drape - curtain

Misc.
Blackout (in Bingo) - Full House
Bingo (in Bingo) - Line
school - includes colleges and universities (someone saying they are going to school is not admitting to being under 16!)
trolley - tram

----------------
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscellaneous_lexical_differences_between_British_and_American_English is good source for more.

Roberta
I'm dubious that the word "knickerbockers" has any current usage in modern England. Didn't they disappear in Victorian times ? Weren't they drawn in below the knee? Are they really in use in the US under the word "knickers" ?
Otherwise, good work.

and under jumper: sweater = jumper
"Drape" is a fairly improper usage. The correct word would be "draperies"

I think it is pretty PG to say that fanny is American for bottom/bum. A lot of British people don't know that and get quite a shock the first time they hear it.

May I also add:

comforter - bedspread
vacation - holidays
holidays - Christmas

This is a pretty cool link that was posted a little while ago in the forums.

http://www.scit.wlv.ac.uk/~jphb/american.html

Just a note--"holidays" refers to the 5 weeks from Thanksgiving (national holiday in late November) through New Years, and includes all Winter Solstice celebrations, not just Christmas

As for drape/drapery/curtain, "curtain" is most common in my experience, with drapery or drapes being used for larger or more elaborate window coverings (I'm sure SL designers say "draperies" to make their goods sound more elegant and cosmopolitan ).

ok, now if someone would post a slang/english listing for those who speak properly.

example: what the hell's a hollow back girl?

I'm sure it doesn't. We use the word knickers all the time to refer to female underpants.

Joseph, not intending to stand on ceremony, but I believe the phrase is 'hollaback girl.' From what I gather from Gwen Stefani's song regarding enlongated yellow fruits of the tropical variety, a 'hollaback girl' is a youthful female who is willing to be mistreated and/or a young woman who disregards the truth of her romantic situation. It appears that a 'hollaback girl' is most appropriately paired with a 'playa.'

Hope this helps.

thanks, Euterpe, I'm going to start travelling with an interpreter.

No need to go to extremes. I have found that a healthy dose of Top-40 American radio and a subscription to the OED have shed light upon the dimmest depths of contemporary American parlance.

ah, there's my problem, I listen to the jazz stations on sirius mostly. Or my CD's of old alternative, Sisters of Mercy anyone?

A few more for the other-side-of-the-pond impaired:

elevator -> lift
apartment -> flat
truck -> lorry
realtor -> estate agent
lawyer -> solicitor
flashlight -> torch
candy -> sweets
chips -> crisps
wrench - spanner
trunk -> boot (on a car)
hood -> bonnet (on a car)
fender -> wing (on a car)
trailer -> caravan
gasoline -> petrol
kerosene -> paraffin
paraffin -> wax
eraser -> rubber
baby carriage -> pram
plexiglass -> perspex
line -> queue
bar -> pub
jelly -> jam
jello -> jelly
trash can -> dustbin
trash -> rubbish
antenna -> aerial
closet -> cupboard
druggist -> chemist
bag -> sack
asphalt -> tarmac
cell phone -> mobile
exit -> way out (on signage)
faucet -> tap

"England and America are two countries separated by the same language." - George Bernard Shaw

other-side-of-the-pond -> across-the-puddle


- Newfie

and britsh for yanks...

bog=bathroom
bogroll=toilet paper
rubber=pencil eraser
fag=cigarette
wotcha=wassup
chips=soggy frenchfries
beefburger=hamburger
crisps=chips
marmite=unlike anything you have ever seen and will most likey run screeming from

colour

______________________


marmite is made from yeast. I always imagine it's whats collected from the bottom of the barrels after the beer has fermented.

Marmite is HIDEOUS.

English Mars bars rule. I'll see what else I can add while bored from work. In the meantime, a funny story...

The first time I took Jennyfur to see my family in the UK, we went to a fabled punk rock boot store. While having her leg extended, trying on a shoe with a skirt on, Jenn commented to my sister, "Oh no, I NEVER wear pants, only skirts." The fellow putting the boot on her foot was rather amused, and commented a few seconds later, "I think you mean to say trousers, or you'll garner quite a bit of attention!"



-Flip

Marmite is advertised as a "love it or hate it " product.

Personally I love it. Aussies have a variety called Vegemite which strikes me as slightly milder in flavour (but only a little). It is also on sale in the UK.

It is commonly spread thinly on toast and also often used somewhat like stock cubes to flavour blander tasting stews and casseroles. The taste is like a very strong stock.

One major advantage is that it is vegetarian as it is a yeast extract.

well as im british cant probably answer quite a few things its quite confusing at start

the most confusing is the pants in british is known as underwear
so pants = trousers

ellie is quite right, knickerbockers died out victorian days, along with my great granny wearing her bloomers
knickers = knickers

Obviously we can understand underpants but thats a pit more outdated of a word used now and more likely to be seen in the shop as underwear
underpants = underwear

My father loves marmite, but man, that smell... still brings me nightmares.

If you're a fan of bloomers, here's a pretty hilarious site I came across when I had an online home schoolers group as a client:

http://www.bloomers4u.com

Enjoy!

-Flip

Can't believe, ok well i can they still make them lol, some look big enough to make a tent out of although im sure with the right person that would be a pretty fun time camping lol.

Anywhooo marmite lol, mmmmmmmmm marmite (homer slurp) lmao

Here is a good source for American slang definitions:

http://www.urbandictionary.com

Basically, people submit definitions to words or phrases, and visitors vote on the definition. The most popular definition is shown first when you look up a word.

BTW, according to Urban Dictionary, the most popular definition for hollaback girl is:

An attractive girl but not the cream of the crop.

Sad thing is, I'm American. Stopped watching MTV when it became one big idiotic reality show fest. So the slang you young whippersnapper's use is beyond me.

I'm just glad the worst slang I've ever heard uttered is no more. I mean come on, "CODS"?? Who remembers that particular gem?

The reason I know about Urban Dictionary is that I have to use it to know what kids today are talking about.

Way to insult the intelligence of an entire nation.