American vs. British English: Spelling, Vocabulary, and Usage

02/05/2026 Learning & Grammer created by Sprachcaffe Team

Differences between Great Britain and America aren't limited to the size of the country, the culture, and the food. The language also differs – even though English is spoken in both countries.

While the differences aren't huge, small mistakes or misunderstandings can still sometimes occur when using British English in the USA or vice versa.

Don’t Mix British and American English: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid mixing British and American English. It's easy to do, as the differences are usually smaller than you might initially think.

To help you avoid this, we'll show you some key differences! American English (AE) and British English (BE) often differ in vocabulary, spelling, pronunciation, and, less frequently, grammar.

To the extensive vocabulary list »

AE	BE	German
vacation	holiday	vacation
chips	crisps	chips
fries	chips	fries
soccer	football	football
lift	elevator	elevator
check	bill	the invoice
garbage	rubbish	garbage
stove	cooker	stove
movie	film	film
apartment	flat	apartment
rent	hire	rent
match	game	competition
mom	mum	mother
bill	note	banknote
subway	underground	subway

England

London

Combine top-tier English lessons with afternoon strolls past world-famous museums, parks and landmarks.

The Spelling

While American words end in "-or" , British words usually end in "-our".

Examples :
color (AE) | colour (BE) | Farbe |
flavour (AE) | flavour (BE) | Geschmack |
neighbor (AE) | neighbour (BE) | Nachbar
While American words end in "-er" , British words usually end in "-re".

Examples :
theater (AE) | theatre (BE) | Theater
meter (AE) | metre (BE) | Meter
center (AE) | centre (BE) | Zentrum
While American words end in "-ize" , British words usually end in "-ise".

Examples :
apologize (AE) | apologize (BE) | entschuldigen
organize (AE) | organise (BE) | organise
realize (AE) | realise (BE) | wirklichen
In American English, words often have only one consonant, while in British English they have two.

Examples :
traveled (AE) | travelled (BE) | gereist |
jewelery (AE) | jewellery (BE) | Schmuck
| candeled (AE) | cancelled (BE) | abgesagt
Other spelling variations:
cozy (AE) | cosy (BE) | gemütlich
catalog (AE) | catalogue (BE) | Katalog

The Pronunciation

Americans pronounce all "r" sounds clearly, while the British often only pronounce the "r" as the first sound in a word. If the "r" is in the middle of a word, it is usually barely audible; the emphasis is more on the vowel (far sounds like "fa").

In American English, the letter "t" sounds more like a "d" (better sounds like "bedder"). In British English, the "t" is clearly audible.

In some words, such as dance or can't , the "a" is pronounced like an "ä" in American English, but more like a long "a" in British English.

There are many differences in pronunciation. To examine these more closely, it's helpful to listen. For example, watch an American film and then a British film; you'll quickly notice the differences in pronunciation.

Grammar

In some cases, there are differences in the prepositions:

• In American English, for example, people say "on the weekend", while in British English, "at" is almost always used when referring to a time period, i.e., "at the weekend".

• In American English, "write" always stands alone, while in British English one also says "write to," as in "I promised to write to her a letter."

The past participle of "to get" differs:

• AE: get | got | gotten
• BE: get | got | got

Collective nouns (such as "team") can be plural in British English when referring to individual members. In American English, they must be singular:

• AE: The team is good.
• BE: The team are good.

Want to learn a British or American dialect? On a language course abroad, you'll learn to speak like a native! Discover language courses with Sprachcaffe in the USA or England now »

Vocabulary list: British and American English

We've compiled a comprehensive vocabulary list of British and American English for you. It's sorted alphabetically, so you can quickly find the word you're looking for. If you happen to be missing a word or two, feel free to let us know and we'll add it. We hope you enjoy comparing and learning English !

British vs. American English from A to E

A
accelerator	gas pedal, accelerator	accelerator
aerial (TV, radio)	antenna, aerial	antenna
American Indian	Native American	Native Americans
anorak	jacket, parka	anorak
at the weekend	on the weekend	on the weekend
aubergine	eggplant	aubergine

B
Bank Holiday	national holiday	holiday
barrister	attorney	lawyer
to bath	to bathe	to bathe
bill	check	the invoice
am	garbage can, trash can	trash can
biro	ball-point pen	Ballpoint pen
biscuit	cookie	biscuit
boat	trunk	trunk
brace	suspenders	suspenders

C
candy floss	cotton candy	cotton candy
caravan	trailer	caravan
caretaker	facility manager	building supervisor
catalogue	catalog	catalog
center	center	center
chemist	drugstore, pharmacy	drugstore, pharmacy
chips	French fries	French fries
city centre	downtown, city center	city center
colour	color	color
cooker	stove	stove, cooker
cozy	cozy	cozy
cot	crib	crib
courgette	zucchini	zucchini
crisps	potato chips	potato chips

D
dinner jacket	tux, tuxedo	smoking
diversion	detour	detour
double cream	heavy cream	cream
draught	draft	draft
drawing pin	thumbtack	thumbtack
driving licence	driver's license	driver's license
dummy	pacifier	pacifier
duvet	comforter	quilt

E
engaged	busy	busy (phone)
enquiry	inquiry	inquiry
expiry date	expiration date	expiry date

British vs. American English from E to L

F
fancy dress	costumes	carnival costume
Father Christmas	Santa Claus	Santa Claus
favourite	favorite	Favorite(…)
to fill in	to fill out	fill out (form)
film	movie	film
fire brigade	fire department	Fire department
fish fingers	fish sticks	fish fingers
flannel	washcloth	washcloth
flat	apartment	apartment
flavour	flavor	the taste
football	soccer	football
fortnight	two weeks	two weeks (14 days)

G
garden	yard	garden
gents	men's room	Men's toilet/room
goods train	freight train	freight train

H
harbour	harbor	Harbor
headteacher	Principality	Headmaster
hire	rent	rent
hire purchase	installation plan	Rent-to-own, installment payment
hockey	field hockey	hockey
holiday	vacation	holidays, vacation
hoover	vacuum (cleaner)	Vacuum cleaner
humor	humor	humor

I
icing sugar	powdered sugar	icing sugar
indicator	blinker, turn signal	turn signal, indicator light
inverted commas	quotation marks	quotation marks

J
jacket potato	baked potato	Baked potato
jewellery	jewelry	Jewelry
Joe Bloggs	Joe Blow	Max Mustermann
jumble sale	yard sale	flea market
jumper	sweater	Sweater

K
kilometers	kilometers	kilometers

L
ladybird	ladybug	ladybug
letterbox, postbox	mailbox	mailbox
lift	elevator	elevator
litre	liter	liter
lorry	truck	truck
lost property	lost and found	lost and found

British vs. American English from M to R

M
Mackintosh	raincoat	raincoat
managing director	CEO (chief executive officer)	Managing Director
mashed potato	mashed potatoes	mashed potatoes
match	game	competition
maths	math	mathematics
mobile	cellphone	mobile phone
Motorbike	motorcycle	motorcycle
motorway	highway, autobahn	Highway
mum	mom	mother

N
nappy	diaper	diaper
Neighbour	neighbor	neighbor
note	bill	banknote
notice board	bulletin board	bulletin board
license plate	license plate	license plate

P
pants	underpants	underwear
paraffin	kerosene	petroleum
pavement	sidewalk	sidewalk
pedestrian crossing	crosswalk	pedestrian crossing
pepper	bell pepper	paprika
petrol	gas	petrol
phone box	phone booth	phone booth
plan	airplane	airplane
polo neck	turtleneck	turtleneck
post	mail	post
post code	zip code	post code
postman	mailman	postman
pram, pushchair	baby buggy, stroller	stroller
prawn	shrimp	shrimp
primary school	elementary school	primary school
program	program	program

Q
queue	to line up	queue
quid	buck	1 pound, 1 US dollar

R
railway	railroad	railroad
reception	front desk	reception
ring	call	call
roadway	pavement	street
backpack	backpack	backpack
rubber	eraser	eraser
rubbish	garbage	garbage

British vs. American English from S to Z

S
share	stock	share
shop	store	load
shop assistant	sales clerk	salesperson
sick	nauseated	disgusted, to feel sick
single ticket	one-way ticket	single ticket
solicitor	attorney	lawyer
sports day	field day	sports day
stock	inventory	inventory
subway	underpass	underpass
sultana	raisin	raisin
sweet shop	candy store	confectionery shop

T
tap	faucet	faucet
taxi	cab	taxi
term	semester	half-year, semester
theatre	theater	theater
timetable	schedule	timetable
tin	can	can
toilet, loo	bathroom, restroom	toilet
town centre	downtown, city center	City center
torch	flashlight	flashlight
trainers	sneakers	sneaker
tram	streetcar	tram
trolley	cart	Handcart
trousers	pants	trousers
tyre	tire	tire

U
underground, tube	subway	subway
underlay	carpet pad	substrate

W
waistcoat	vest	vest
wallet	billfold	wallet
wardrobe	closet	wardrobe
wash	wash up	(to wash one self

Z
Zebra Crossing	crosswalk	Zebra Crossing
zip	zipper	zipper