How come some american words mean something different in the UK.
For example: In America, if they say I like your fanny, they actually mean your bum. If somebody said that to me over here, they would get a punch as we call fanny a woman's private parts. What do they use the word Bum for?? A down and out person I think????
Also, why call crisps Chips. Over here Chips are served as a part as a main meal.
Why call chocolate Candy. What do they mean then when speaking about Chocolate.
Anybody else come up with different meanings for words.... Would be interesting to compare.
2006-11-29 02:33:53 · 20 answers · asked by Red Devil Girl 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
American - British
apartment - flat
araument - row
baby carrige - Pram
band-aid - plaster
bathroom - loo or WC-
can - tin
chopped beef - mince
cookie - biscuit
corn - maize-
diaper - nappy-
elevator - lift
eraser - rubber
flahlight - torch
fries - chips-
gas - petrol
auv - bloke. chap
highway - motorway
hood(car) - bonnet
jello - jelly
jelly - jam
kerosene - paraffin
lawyer - solictor
license plate- number plate
line - queue
mail - post
movei theather- cinema
muffler - silencer
napkin - serviette
nothing - nought
overpass - flvover
pacifeir - dummy
pants- trousers
parking lot - car park
period - full stop
pharmacist - chemist
patato chips - crisps-
rent - hire-
sausage - banger-
sidewalk - payement
soccer - football
sweater - jumper
trash can - bin
trunk(car) - lorry
vacation - holiday
vest - waistcoat
windshield(car) - windscreen
zip code - postal code
http://www.scit.wlv.ac.uk/~jphb/american.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_English_words_not_used_in_B
.anyway i am going to bed its 11;51 pm
Good night all.
it was strange hearing those words again It made me miss my sister .she still lives there.
2006-11-29 16:46:47 · answer #1 · answered by miki 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is called "linguistic divergence"; it happens within every language I know of. Because England is an island far removed from the Americas geographically, some drift was inevitable. Even within the US, we see regional differences. "Soda", "soda pop", "pop", "coke", or "cola" all refer to the same caramel colored carbonated beverage of various brands. I imagine the same can be said for Britain; the Glasgow native has different words for some things than the Londoner... :)
"English itself is the bastard offspring of Norman invaders attempting to pick up Saxon barmaids" (my Dad).That's why there's so many ancient French roots in English etymology... :)
2006-11-29 10:54:38 · answer #2 · answered by dakota.ellison 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Rubbish= Trash
Car Boot = Trunk
Motorway= Freeway
Jelly = Jello
Jam = Jelly
2006-11-29 10:38:26 · answer #3 · answered by Bindesh M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fanny isn't used by the normal American, it's not blunt enough. "A.ss" or "butt" is more often said. The only time I've heard "fanny" in the past five years (if not more) was in reference to a "fanny pack". If you were to say "bum", though, they would still know what you mean by context. (And it's usually only said about a person who's homeless and begging for money in America. Otherwise that person is just "homeless".)
Because "french fries" are their chips.
Because it's sugary, sweet, and kids like it just as much (if not more) than candy. When they say "chocolate" they obviously just mean chocolate. Are you seriously this ignorant?
2006-11-29 10:39:54 · answer #4 · answered by Belie 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Trunk = boot of car...
stick shift = gear stick on a car....
hood= bonnet of a car...
our slang word for a cigarette beggining with F = gay person.... (apparently can't type that word in...which is odd considering all the other words that get through...
cookies = biscuits
fanny pack = bum bag
jelly = jam
2006-11-29 10:58:38 · answer #5 · answered by dawn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Each country, or region, has its own culture. The UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Hence, there is difference in usage of the language, because of the different cultures, values and history. Spellings, pronunciations, accents, dialects and meanings, take on different connotations, in all these variety of places.
2006-11-29 10:53:20 · answer #6 · answered by Sam 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
American to English
Pants / Trousers
Underpants / Pants
Elevator / Lift
Cell (phone) / Mobile (phone)
1st Floor / Ground Floor
2006-11-29 10:41:44 · answer #7 · answered by Amy W 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Mobile = Cellular
Film = Movie
2006-11-29 11:54:33 · answer #8 · answered by Vette 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Americans use "bum" to refer to a homeless person but also to refer to a down and out person.
2006-11-29 10:36:53 · answer #9 · answered by Discotam 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Although they have the same meaning the US pronounciation of these two words makes me laugh.
Aluminum
Buoy
2006-11-29 12:49:24 · answer #10 · answered by Ganymede 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋