The most noticeable difference between American and British English is vocabulary. There are hundreds of everyday words that are different. Some examples: …….Which words do you use?
British English
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American
English
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British
English
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American English
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A
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accelerator
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gas pedal, accelerator
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D
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dinner jacket
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tux, tuxedo
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aerial (TV, radio)
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antenna, aerial
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directory enquiries
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directory assistance
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Alsatian
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German shepherd
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diversion
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detour
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American Indian
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Native American
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draughts
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checkers
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anorak
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jacket, parka
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drawing pin
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thumbtack
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at the weekend
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on the weekend
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dressing gown
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(bath) robe
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aubergine
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eggplant
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drink driving
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drunk driving
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driving licence
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driver's license
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B
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bank holiday
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national holiday,
federal holiday
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dummy
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pacifier
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barrister, solicitor
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lawyer, attorney
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base rate
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prime rate
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E
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earth wire
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ground wire
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to bathe
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to bath
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engaged
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busy
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beetroot
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beet
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enquiry
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inquiry
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bill
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check
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everywhere
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everyplace, everywhere
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bin, dustbin
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garbage can/trash can
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expiry date
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expiration date
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biro
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ball-point pen
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biscuit
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cookie
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F
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Father Christmas
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Santa Claus
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bonnet
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hood
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favourite
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favorite
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boot
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trunk
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to fill in
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to fill out
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braces
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suspenders
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film
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film, movie
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(round) brackets
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parentheses
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fire brigade
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fire department
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first floor
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second floor
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C
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candy floss
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cotton candy
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flannel
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face cloth
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car park
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parking lot
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flat
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apartment
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caravan
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trailer
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flavour
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flavor
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caretaker
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janitor
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fortnight
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two weeks
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catalogue
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catalog
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full stop
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period
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centre
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center
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chemist's shop
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drugstore, pharmacy
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G
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garden
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yard
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chips
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French fries
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gear lever
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gear shift
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city centre
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downtown, city center
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Gents
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Men's Room
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cloakroom
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checkroom, coatroom
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goods train
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freight train
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clothes peg
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clothespin
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ground floor
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first floor
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colour
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color
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cooker
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stove
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(bathing) costume
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swimsuit
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crips
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potato chips
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British English
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American English
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British English
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American English
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H
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harbour
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harbor
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N
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nappy
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diaper
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headmaster, headteacher
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principal
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national insurance number
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social security number
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to hire
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to rent
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neighbour
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neighbor
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hire purchase
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installment plan
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note
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bill
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holiday
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vacation
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notice board
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bulletin board
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hoover
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vacuum cleaner
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number plate
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license plate
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humour
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humor
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P
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a pack of cards
|
a deck of cards
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I
|
icing sugar
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powdered sugar
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a packet of cigarettes
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a pack of cigarettes
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indicator
|
blinker, turn signal
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pants
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underpants
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inverted commas, quotation marks
|
quotation marks
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pavement
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sidewalk
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pedestrian crossing
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crosswalk
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J
|
jacket potato
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baked potato
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petrol
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gas
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jewellery
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jewelery
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phone box
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phone booth
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jumble sale
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yard sale
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plane
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airplane
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jumper
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sweater
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polo neck
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turtle neck
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post
|
mail
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K
|
kilometre
|
kilometer
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post code
|
zip code
|
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postman
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mailman
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L
|
ladybird
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ladybug
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pram, pushchair
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baby carriage, baby buggy, stroller
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to lay the table
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to set the table
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prawn
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shrimp
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letterbox, postbox
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mailbox
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primary school
|
elementary school
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lift
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elevator
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programme
|
program
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litre
|
liter
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lorry
|
truck
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Q
|
to queue
|
to line up
|
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lost property
|
lost and found
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quid
|
buck
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M
|
mackintosh
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raincoat
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R
|
railway
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railroad
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managing director
|
CEO (chief executive officer)
|
reception
|
front desk
|
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mashed potato
|
mashed potatoes
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to ring
|
to call
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match
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game
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roundabout
|
traffic circle, rotary
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maths
|
math
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rucksack
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backpack
|
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mobile (phone)
|
cellphone
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rubber
|
erazor
|
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motorbike
|
motorcycle
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rubbish
|
garbage
|
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motorway
|
freeway, highway, expressway, interstate
|
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mum
|
mom
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British English
|
American English
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British English
|
American English
|
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S
|
share
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stock
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U
|
underground, tube
|
subway
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shop
|
store
|
undertaker
|
mortician
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shop assistant
|
sales clerk
|
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sick
|
nauseated
|
V
|
vest
|
undershirt
|
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single ticket
|
one-way ticket
|
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Sorry.
|
Excuse me.
|
W
|
wallet
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billfold
|
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spanner
|
wrench
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wardrobe
|
closet
|
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sports day
|
fields day
|
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public school
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private school
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Y
|
year
|
grade
|
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stock
|
inventory
|
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sultana
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raisin
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Z
|
zebra crossing
|
crosswalk
|
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sweet shop
|
candy store
|
zip
|
zipper
|
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T
|
tap
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faucet
|
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taxi
|
cab
|
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term
|
semester
|
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theatre
|
theater
|
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timetable
|
schedule
|
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tin
|
can
|
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toilet, loo
|
bathroom, rest room
|
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town centre
|
town center
|
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torch
|
flashlight
|
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trainers
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sneakers
|
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travelled
|
traveled
|
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trolley
|
cart
|
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trousers
|
pants
|
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tyre
|
tire
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EXERCISE: From the lists below, choose the pair of words that have the same meaning and identify them as American English or British English.
Example: AmE - cookie = BrE – biscuit
closet queue vacation fall bonnet sweets thumb tack
bill caravan flashlight subway postman baggage movie underground luggage elevator cupboard hood mailman torch check line lift curtains film candy gas
autumn petrol holiday trailer drawing pin
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ANSWERS:
EXERCISE: From the lists below, choose the pair of words that have the same meaning and identify them as American English or British English.
Example: AmE - cookie = BrE – biscuit
closet - cupboard : vacation - holiday : fall - autumn : thumb tack - drawing pin: flashlight - torch : subway - underground : baggage - luggage : movie - film : drapes - curtains : elevator - lift : hood - bonnet : mailman - postman : check - bill : line - queue : candy - sweets : gas - petrol : trailer - caravan
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