Why pants to Americans but trousers to the English?

Question

The language is 'English' right? Should be one or the other I think.

Answer 1

we call them trousers, too, but most often we call them pants. most of the differences between how we speak in the US and they speak in the UK is from a need to be different from the "mother country". when the colonies broke away from British rule, they wanted to make as many changes as possible and language was one way.

Answer 2

Whatever words the Brits use is the original (trousers).
It doesn't have to be one or the other either. English is a rich and complex eclectic language borrowing from different tongues. We use many dictionary correct words to mean the same thing.

On that note, Americans like to differentiate themselves with words and of course their accents so they feel like have their own identity. Perhaps becuz they were colonized by Britain and don't want to seem like its whipping boy. Webster changed the spelling and pronunciation of many words in the USA dictionary for this reason, like colour to color.

The Queen's English is the best choice. On the other hand an American saying the word "trousers" just doesn't fit right.

Answer 3

Are jeans pants or trousers?
And if shorts are short shouldn't jeans, pants and trousers all be called longs?

It's all so confusing...

Answer 4

Hi,
"In North America, pants is the general category term, and trousers refers, often more formally, specifically to tailored garments with a waistband and (typically) belt-loops and a fly-front."--from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trousers#Terminology
I hope it helps.

Answer 5

That's just the way it goes Why elevator for us Yanks and lift for the Brits? So what they both mean the same thing

Answer 6

Just semantics.

Answer 7

gOD KNOWS WHY.