British Equivalents
I was in a work group known as the "Solution Center." They decided to change the spelling to "Solution Centre," thinking that would make us more global. I decided we ought to be as consistent as possible, so I encourged my coworkers to adopt other changes. . . .
NOTE: For a more authoritative source, not to mention more extensive--oops, I mentioned it--you should look into The Septic's Companion: A British Slang Dictionary. It was written by a Scotsman living in America. You won't find out what a "septic" is on this page; you need to see the book!
| SPELL THIS . . . | LIKE THIS . . . | |
|---|---|---|
| acknowledgment | => | acknowledgement |
| aluminum | => | aluminium (al-yoo-MIN-ee-um) |
| analyze | => | analyse |
| artifact | => | artefact |
| apologize | => | apologise |
| behavior | => | behaviour |
| capitalize | => | capitalise (kuh-PIT-uh-lize) |
| center | => | centre |
| candor | => | candour |
| catalog | => | catalogue |
| clue | => | clew |
| color | => | colour |
| defense | => | defence |
| dependent independent | => | dependant independant |
| diarrhea | => | diarrhoea |
| dispatch | => | despatch |
| favor favorite | => | favour favourite |
| fiber | => | fibre |
| harbor | => | harbour |
| honor | => | honour |
| humor | => | humour |
| inquire inquiry | => | enquire enquiry |
| jail | => | gaol |
| Jeffrey | => | Geoffrey |
| jeweler | => | jeweller |
| judgment | => | judgement |
| labor | => | labour |
| maneuver | => | manoeuvre |
| minimize | => | minimise |
| neighbor | => | neighbour |
| odor | => | odour |
| organize organization | => | organise organisation |
| plow | => | plough |
| prize | => | prise |
| program | => | programme |
| pajamas | => | pyjamas |
| realize | => | realise |
| recognize | => | recognise |
| rumor | => | rumour |
| savior | => | saviour |
| specialize | => | specialise |
| standardize | => | standardise |
| tire | => | tyre |
| traveled traveling | => | travelled travelling |
| PRONOUNCE THIS . . . | LIKE THIS . . . | |
|---|---|---|
| again | => | uh-GAIN |
| been | => | BEAN |
| Bethlehem | => | BED-lum |
| Buckingham | => | BUCK-num |
| controversy | => | cun-TRAH-ver-see |
| debris | => | DEB-ree |
| decal | => | DECK-uhl |
| distributor | => | Diss-truh-BYOO-tur |
| draw drawing | => | DROR DROR-ing |
| figure | => | FIG-grr |
| film | => | FILL-um |
| formidable | => | for-MIDD-uh-bull |
| garage | => | GAIR-uhj |
| helicopter | => | HELL-ee-cop-tur |
| hurricane | => | HUR-uh-cun |
| idea | => | eye-DEER |
| invalid | => | IN-vuh-Leed |
| jaguar | => | JAG-yuh-wer |
| laboratory | => | luh-BOAR-uh-tree |
| lieutenant | => | lef-TENN-unt |
| manatory | => | MAN-duh-tree |
| methane | => | MEE-thain |
| migratory | => | my-GRAIT-uh-ree |
| military | => | MILL-uh-tree |
| missile | => | MIS-syle |
| mobile phone | => | MOH-byle Foan |
| pentagon | => | PEN-tuh-g'n |
| potato | => | puh-TAH-toh |
| predecessor | => | PREE-duh-Sess-er |
| privacy | => | PRIH-vuh-see |
| process | => | PROH-sess |
| progress | => | PROH-gress |
| project (n.) | => | PROH-jekt |
| resource | => | ruh-ZOARCE |
| rigor mortis | => | RYE-gur MOR-tis |
| router | => | ROOT-er |
| schedule | => | SHED-jool |
| simultaneous | => | sihm-uhl-TAIN-ee-uss |
| situation | => | sitch-ee-AY-shun |
| status | => | STAY-tus |
| tomato | => | tuh-MAH-toh |
| INSTEAD OF THIS . . . | SAY THIS . . . | |
|---|---|---|
| advice columnist | => | agony aunt |
| among | => | amongst |
| apartment | => | flat |
| around (as in "go around," etc.) | => | round |
| attorney or lawyer | => | barrister (higher court)
solicitor (lower court) |
| baby buggy | => | pram |
| billfold | => | notecase |
| billion trillion quadrillion etc. | => | milliard billion trillion etc. |
| bold (attitude) | => | cheeky |
| bottom (anatomy) | => | bum |
| brunch | => | elevenses |
| built-in | => | inbuilt |
| can (food storage) | => | tin |
| candy | => | lollies |
| carnival | => | fun fair |
| Checkers (game) | => | Drafts |
| chewing gum | => | chewy |
| close to eight o'clock | => | close on eight o'clock |
| cigarette | => | fag |
| civilian life | => | civvy street |
| cookie | => | biscuit |
| couch / sofa / davenport | => | chesterfield |
| crazy | => | dilapidated |
| dessert (in general) | => | pudding |
| diaper | => | nappy |
| divided highway | => | dual carriageway |
| dreamed | => | dreamt |
| eighth note 16th note 32nd note 64th note | => | quaver semiquaver demisemiquaver hemidemisemiquaver |
| eight-thirty | => | half-eight |
| elevator | => | lift |
| envision | => | envisage |
| eraser (pencil) | => | rubber |
| especially | => | specially |
| flashlight | => | torch |
| forgo this | => | give this a miss |
| friend | => | mate |
| french fries | => | chips |
| garbage | => | rubbish |
| garbage can garbage man | => | dustbin dustman |
| garter belt | => | suspenders |
| gasoline | => | petrol |
| ground (electrical systems) | => | earth |
| guy | => | bloke |
| half step (music) | => | semitone |
| hang up (the phone) | => | ring off |
| headcheese | => | brawn |
| hemorrhoids | => | piles |
| high gear (of a vehicle) | => | top gear |
| highway | => | motorway or carriageway |
| hit (a computer key) | => | tap |
| hood (of a vehicle) | => | bonnet |
| I'd rather not . . . | => | I don't say but what I hadn't rather . . . |
| idiot | => | muppet |
| in the hospital | => | in hospital |
| intersection (city street) | => | junction |
| it has to do with . . . | => | it is to do with . . . |
| January 1, 2000 (etc) | => | 1st January, 2000 (etc) |
| learned | => | learnt |
| line | => | queue |
| low gear or first gear (of a vehicle) | => | bottom gear |
| mail route | => | posty route |
| memo | => | chit |
| minute | => | click |
| moment | => | crack |
| mom or mother | => | mum |
| morning | => | forenoon |
| motorcycle | => | motorbike |
| nerd | => | swot |
| outfit (clothing) | => | costume |
| pharmacist | => | chemist |
| potato chips | => | crisps |
| pry | => | prise |
| pruning shears | => | secateurs |
| railroad | => | railway |
| residential area | => | housing estate |
| restroom or bathroom | => | loo |
| right away | => | straightaway |
| run (in a stocking) | => | ladder |
| sedan | => | saloon |
| sausage | => | banger |
| shopping cart | => | trolley |
| slash (punctuation mark) | => | stroke |
| slowdown (n. meaning traffic jam) | => | go-slow |
| smelled | => | smelt |
| sneakers | => | plimsolls |
| soccer | => | football |
| so-so | => | quite good |
| Solitaire (card game) | => | Patience |
| spa | => | hydro |
| specialty | => | speciality |
| spelled | => | spelt |
| spoiled | => | spoilt |
| subway | => | tube |
| summon | => | knock up |
| suspenders | => | braces |
| sweater | => | jumper |
| take-out | => | take-away |
| television or TV | => | telly |
| That takes the cake! | => | That takes the biscuit! |
| The group is . . . | => | The group are . . . |
| The line is busy. | => | The line is engaged. |
| ticktacktoe | => | noughts and crosses |
| tidbit | => | titbit |
| tired | => | knackered |
| traffic circle | => | roundabout |
| trash | => | rubbish |
| truck | => | lorry |
| trunk (of a vehicle) | => | boot |
| try it | => | give it a go |
| tuna | => | tunny |
| turn around | => | turn round |
| umbrella | => | brolly |
| underpants (men's) | => | pants |
| underpants (women's) | => | knickers |
| undershirt | => | singlet |
| underwear | => | smalls |
| vacation | => | holiday |
| wallet | => | notecase |
| wake someone up | => | knock someone up |
| week from tomorrow | => | tomorrow week |
| while | => | whilst |
| windshield | => | windscreen |
| wrench | => | spanner |
| yard | => | garden |
| You're putting me on! | => | You're getting me on! |
| Z | => | zed |
| zipper | => | zip fastener |
| => |
| THE RUSSLER |
|---|
| Word Wild Web |
| Dumb Things People Say |
| Lien À Trois |
| Elmwood Court |