Language differences. Gets confusing huh?

Question

We are at a loss for words sometimes!

Americans call cottenwool (the white soft stuff you use to clean your face etc) COTTON

Cotton, in SA,UK & Oz, is what you use to sew up garments with. In America, you call it THREAD.

In South Africa we call Comforters,- Duvets, in OZ they are DOONAS. I now realise that comforters are the same as Duvets in the USA.

Jelly in SA,UK and OZ is the stuff you make your kids, to eat with ice cream. In the USA, you call it jello.

You also use the word jello.We call it JAM, made from fruit to spread it on your toast

Biscuits to us are sweet round things, that you bake, with bits of chocolate, raisins etc.,

Biscuits that are not sweet are 'savoury biscuits'. But you have different biscuits. They are not sweet (USA)

Lollies, cookies are SWEETS, kids like to eat

goldwing wears t-shirts and nylons. We call nylons things women put on their legs, eg: pantihose except, separate. My mind boggles.

At a loss 4 words!

At a los

Tina "Oz" stands for Australila. Loving all the comments keep them coming.

Answer 1

I've had enough problems translating English in the US! I remember the first time I visited Wisconsin. Many people up here say words that sound like they have an "e" in them when it's actually an "a". Example: Maggie sounds like Meggie. So I was a little confused when I went to purchase groceries and when I was getting my money out, the clerk ask me if I wanted "t'beg". Why would I want to beg? I had money. Obviously she was asking if I wanted a bag.

My first trip to Arizona a waitress asked if I wanted a "pop". She meant soda.

And when I first moved to the South, it took me a while to get used to the southern accent that I so love, but there were a few funny times there as well.

Answer 2

Here are comments about american usage. I'm from Washington state.

Cotton used on the face is "cotton balls"

Jello comes from the brand name Jell-O and is a dessert with a gelatin base.

Jelly is a spread made from fruit which has no fruit pulp in it so it is clear.

Jam is a fruit spread wich contains the fruit pulp.

Indeed our biscuits are not sweet. What you call biscuits, we usually call cookies.

Lollies = candy

Nylons also go on women's legs.

Here are some more:

Braces in the US = metal affixed to the teeth to straighten them. In Britain, what we in the US call suspenders, that hold pants up. Suspenders in Britain are what americans call garters, that hold up thigh high stockings.

Answer 3

Isn't it amazing that we are able to almost communicate with one another despite all the different word usages and spellings.

I mean the Brits have some funny ways of saying things... just for example the word "aluminium" Oops I mean aluminum but then there some Yanks (and I know quite a few who would take violent exception to being called "Yanks") who say dis, dat, dem and dere instead of this, that, them and there. They also say Y'all instead of all of you but we understand what they mean.

I love the vagaries of language and the humor of colloquialisms...

My wife is from the southern United States and when we were first married used to ask if I would "carry her to the store" (a common colloquialism in her part of the country) to which I would reply; I can't carry you that far but I'll drive you in the car if you would like. (It didn't take long for her to quit using that expression)

Answer 4

i admire your plan it sounds good. Im gaining expertise of jap on the 2nd i'm applying Rosetta stone, Human jap, and a few audio books. I studied on and rancid for some months, yet i ultimately began going hardcore this month. when I first awaken I learn for some hours and then some extra at night. So i think of I better lots extra this month than I even have interior the previous few mixed. i think of i visit be on the component of fluent in approximately 2 months, yet i do no longer think of i visit be thoroughly fluent till i pass to Japan or discover jap friends to speak to.

Answer 5

Here are some more--

US
elevator, cell phone, apartment, bathroom, truck,
car trunk, bus, call up on phone, costume, mail

UK
lift, mobile, flat, loo, lorry, boot, coach, ring up, fancy dress,
post

I do lots of knitting: US, gauge, yarn over (YO)
UK, tension, yarn round needle(YRN)
Also,knitting needles sizes are different

Fun, isn't it

Answer 6

One other question: What does OZ stand for?

Answer 7

Don't forget

Diaper's ; USA
Nappies ; Australia

Pacifier ; USA
Dummy ; Australia

Answer 8

In the US you request a wake up call
In the UK, they "knock you up"
"knocked up" in US is preganant!
We in the US say chips, UK, crisps

Answer 9

Japanese says Arigato for thank you,
but American might hear it as Alligator.

Answer 10

jello is a brand of gelatin.