US Word
|
UK (Scotland) Equivalent
|
FOOD/EATING/RESTAURANT
|
|
Chip
|
Crisp
|
Cookie
|
Biscuit
|
Fries (freedom fries)
|
Chips
|
Pickles
|
Cucumbers with dill or gherkin
|
Zucchini
|
Courgette
|
Arugula
|
Rocket
|
Cilantro
|
Coriander
|
Scallion
|
Spring onion
|
Eggplant
|
Aubergine
|
Sausage
|
Banger ("bangers & mash")
|
Mashed potatoes
|
Mash
|
Turnips (rutabaga)
|
Neeps (scottish), swede
|
Squash
|
Gourd
|
Potatoes
|
Tatties
|
Baked potato
|
Jacket potato
|
Shrimp
|
Prawns
|
Ground meat
|
Minced meat
|
Fish sticks
|
Fish fingers
|
Toasted sandwich
|
Toastie
|
Soft bread roll
|
Bap
|
Skim milk
|
Skimmed milk
|
Heavy cream
|
Double cream
|
Sour cream
|
Soured cream or crème fraiche
|
Shredded cheese
|
Grated cheese
|
Broil
|
Grill
|
Dinner/supper
|
Tea (tea time, High tea)
|
Late lunch
|
Tea
|
Snack
|
Tea
|
Appetizer
|
Starter
|
Dessert course
|
Pudding
|
Takeout
|
Takeaway or carry out
|
Silverware/flatware
|
Cutlery
|
Water
|
Tap water or still water
|
Carbonated water
|
Sparkling water
|
Soda
|
Soft drink, fizzy drink, carbonated drink
|
Coffee
|
American coffee
|
Scotch
|
Whiskey
|
Frosting
|
Icing
|
Cotton candy
|
Candy floss
|
Cupcake
|
Fairy cake
|
Popsicle
|
Lolly
|
Hard candy
|
Boiled sweets
|
Candy apple
|
Toffee apple
|
M&Ms
|
Smarties
|
Lollipop
|
Sucker
|
Jell-o
|
Jelly
|
Powdered sugar
|
Icing sugar
|
HOUSEHOLD
|
|
Apartment
|
Flat
|
Living room
|
Lounge
|
Armoire/Closet
|
Wardrobe
|
Bedspread
|
Counterpane or Bedspread;
NB: Duvet is more common bed covering used |
Sunroom
|
Conservatory
|
Bathroom
Restroom (public)
Half Bath/Powder room (no shower/tub)
|
Washroom (with a tub)
Toilet (public)/Loo (no tub)
Water Closet
|
Washcloth
|
Flannel or facecloth
|
Stove/cook-top
|
Hob
|
Stove
|
Cooker
|
Tap/faucet
|
Tap/spigot
|
Dish soap
|
Washing up soap
|
Dish towel
|
Tea towel
|
Kitchen roll
|
Paper towels
|
Saran wrap
|
Cling film
|
Aluminum [foil]
|
Aluminium
|
Carpet
|
Carpet, Rug
|
Picnic Blanket
|
Rug (picnic rug)
|
Backyard/front yard
|
Garden
|
Community garden
|
Allotment
|
Trash
|
Rubbish
|
Trashcan
|
Rubbish bin
|
Wastebasket
|
Dustbin
|
Doorbell
|
Doorchime
|
Mail
|
Post
|
Zip code
|
Postal code
|
Address
|
House number
|
Mail box/letter slot
|
Letter box
|
To telephone or call
|
Ring
|
Busy tone
|
Engaged signal
|
TV
|
Telly
|
Wrench
|
Spanner
|
Ground (electrical), grounded
|
Earth, earthed
|
Flashlight
|
Torch
|
Scotch tape
|
Sticky tape or sellotape (brand)
|
Glue
|
Gum
|
Christmas Lights
|
Fairy lights
|
BABY/CHILDREN
|
|
Diaper
|
Nappy
|
Stroller
|
Pushchair/pram/buggy
|
Crib/infant bed
|
Cot
|
Bassinette
|
Moses basket
|
Carseat
|
Carrier
|
Sippy cup
|
Beaker
|
Daycare (in places of business)
|
Crèche
|
Daycare (school format. Day-long)
|
Nursery
|
Pacifier
|
Dummy
|
Junior High (private/tuition based)
|
Prep School
|
High School (tuition/private)
|
Public School/Independent School
|
Public School (non tuition)
|
State school
|
College
|
Uni (university)
|
Pencil eraser
|
Rubber
|
Math
|
Maths
|
GI Joe
|
Action Man
|
Stuffed animal
|
Cuddly toy, soft toy
|
Cooties
|
Lurgi
|
Backpack
|
Rucksack
|
Mom
|
Mum
|
Toddlers (wee ones)
|
Tots
|
DRIVING
|
|
ON THE ROAD
|
|
Highway/freeway
|
Motorway
|
Outside lane
|
Inside lane
|
Inside lane
|
Outside lane
|
Parking lot
|
Car park
|
Stop light
|
Traffic light
|
Yellow light
|
Amber light
|
Rotary
|
Roundabout (in place of 4-way stops)
|
Median
|
Central reservation
|
Speed bump
|
Hump, sleeping policeman
|
Crosswalk
|
Zebra crossing
|
Detour
|
Diversion
|
Student driver
|
Learner
|
Overpass
|
Flyover
|
Gas
|
Petrol
|
Garage
|
Filling station
|
Parking garage
|
Multi-storey [garage]
|
Yield
|
Give way
|
Divided highway (as with a median)
|
Dual carriageway
|
Downtown
|
City centre
|
Main street
|
High street
|
Traffic jam
|
Tailback
|
Counterclockwise
|
Anticlockwise
|
Rest area
|
Lay-by
|
IN THE CAR
|
|
Sedan
|
Saloon car
|
Hatchback (4-door station wagon)
|
5-door, estate car
|
Camper/RV
|
Caravan
|
Trunk
|
Boot
|
Blinker
|
Indicator
|
Car horn
|
Hooter
|
Hood
|
Bonnet
|
License plate
|
Number plate
|
Muffler
|
Silencer
|
Windshield
|
Windscreen
|
Side-view mirrors
|
Wing mirrors
|
Gearshift
|
Gear-lever
|
Transmission
|
Gear box
|
SHOPPING/CLOTHING
|
|
A store
|
A shop
|
Custom-made
|
Bespoke
|
Upscale
|
Upmarket
|
Off-the-rack
|
Off-the-peg
|
Elevator
|
Lift
|
Cash register
|
Till
|
ATM
|
Cashpoint
|
Shopping cart
|
Trolley
|
Pick up (pick up or delivery)
|
Collect
|
Shipped
|
Dispatched
|
Line (form or wait in- to pay)n. or v.
|
Queue (n. or v.)
|
Discount (ie senior or student)
|
Concession
|
Sewing/fabric section
|
Haberdashery
|
Rainboots
|
Wellies
|
Running/athletic shoes
|
Trainers
|
Sweatshirt/sweater/pullover
|
Jumper
|
Parka
|
Anorak
|
Tanktop or sleeveless undershirt
|
Vest
|
Vest
|
Waistcoat
|
Undergarments
|
Smalls
|
Panties
|
Knickers
|
Underwear/boxers
|
Pants
|
Pants
|
Trousers
|
Scarf
|
Muffler
|
Purse
|
Handbag
|
Coin purse
|
Purse
|
Zipper
|
Zip
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
|
SPORTS
|
|
Playing (sports) field
|
Pitch
|
Track & Field
|
Athletics
|
Football
|
American Football
|
Soccer
|
Football (footie)
|
PEOPLE/WORK
|
|
Officer/patrolman/policeman/cop
|
Constable, bobby, copper
|
Accounting
|
Accountancy
|
Attorney
|
Solicitor
|
Man/Guy/Dude
|
Bloke
|
Breakroom
|
Restroom
|
Layoff
|
(Made-) Redundant
|
Appointment book
|
Diary
|
White-out
|
Tipp-ex
|
Checking account
|
Current account
|
Vacationer
|
Holidaymaker
|
Vacation
|
Holiday
|
Roundtrip
|
Return
|
Rent[al]
|
Hire or let
|
AROUND TOWN/OUT & ABOUT
|
|
Trash dumpster
|
Skip
|
Garbage truck
|
Dustcart
|
Dump/landfill
|
Tip
|
the "projects"
|
Council housing
|
Sketchy
|
Dodgy
|
Laundromat
|
Launderette
|
Carnival
|
Funfair
|
2nd floor
|
1st floor
|
1st floor
|
Ground floor
|
Sidewalk
|
Foot path
|
Creek
|
Burn
|
Lady bug
|
Ladybird
|
Cell phone
|
Mobile
|
Toll-free number
|
Freephone
|
Phone booth/payphone
|
Phonebox
|
Subway
|
Tube/underground
|
BEAUTY
|
|
Bangs
|
Fringe
|
Bobby pin
|
Kirby grip
|
Nail polish
|
Nail varnish
|
OTHER
|
|
Aisle
|
Gangway
|
Billboard
|
Hoarding
|
Duffel bag
|
Hold-all
|
Z (the letter)
|
zed
|
Period (.)
|
Full stop
|
MEDICAL
|
|
ER
|
A&E (accident & emergency)
|
Doctor's office (also dentist's)
|
Surgery
|
Tylenol (acetaminophen)
|
Paracetamol
|
Mono-[nucleosis]
|
Glandular fever
|
q-tip
|
Cotton buds
|
Cotton ball
|
Cotton wool
|
Band-aid
|
[sticky] Plaster
|
Pharmacist
|
Chemist
|
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Fuzzy English
So we of course knew coming in to our move that the British/Scottish have different words for the same things as we have. Fish and chips vs fish with fries, car boot versus trunk, etc. But each day we're here we learn new words. Some are not wholly different, some might be offensive in the US and some US words end up being offensive in the UK, and some seemingly innocent words, mean something totally different here. I've compiled a preliminary list of words that we've encountered thus far. Enjoy!
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Hi Claudia,
ReplyDeleteWish I would have had this breakdown of the lexicon sooner; nevertheless, I've printed it off as a "cheat sheet" now.
Introductions, I'm a fellow ex-pat who's been living in the northern country, but we're relocating to Aberdeen very soon and whilst I gather from what I've read that I've been here a little while longer than you, I feel you really have acclimated a lot better than I -- based on how comfortable you seem in your blogs, which I've enjoyed reading tremendously, particularly the nursery rhyme park. In fact, I cannot wait to take our toddler, a son, though. Thus, in anticipation, if you might have any more reflections, suggestions, recommendations, condemnations on life in the "Granite City" they would be most welcome.
Perhaps our paths will cross one day.
Thanks/cheers!
Beth
Hi Beth! First let me get over the shock that someone outside of family and friends actually reads my blog. Second, let me say you will love Aberdeen. Especially if you live in town, everything is close and walkable. The only "condemnation" I have is the lack of family friendly pubs near city centre. You usually have to travel to the burbs for that. With that said, there are plenty of kid friendly places (farms, softplay, parks, etc) and activities in and near town. A quick google search will display plenty of mom and tot groups. We've generally found lots of green spaces and parks as well. There is also a website of woodland walks which we frequent often listing varying distances and topographies, to which we have always managed to take the little one along, granted on the baby bjorn. Let me know if you any more specific questions, though again, I am far from knowledgeable on all there is in aberdeen; merely what we've experienced so far. Where did you expat from?
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