Different words for the same things depending on which country you're in.

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Replies

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,620 Member
    Heh...how did I know the whole fanny thing would be mentioned? :laugh:

    Aussies: I'm going to use the toilet.
    US/Canada: I am going to use the bathroom.

    I do realise that in the US/Canada, the w/c and bath tub/shower are mostly in the same room. In Australia, these can be separate rooms. I honestly prefer the separate rooms.

    In my part of the US, no one would ever use the term "w/c".

    I got in a confusing online conversation with a British guy once about what I'd called a "yard gnome". In his view, factories & such had yards, whereas homes had gardens. To me (and I think most USians?), a regular suburban house has a yard, and may have some areas thickly planted with flowers or vegetables which would be the garden.

    Also, some of the supposed US/Canada distinctions are not exactly that - in my part of the US (Michigan, where Canada's a close neighbor), some of us use some of the "Canadian" terms - pop, Timmy's, etc.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    nutmegoreo wrote: »
    Ah tank tops are knitted pullovers (sleeveless sweaters) that our mums used to make us wear in the 70s.

    Ugh. Yes, and no matter what you called them, children across the globe were dressed in those hideous things. Stripes, plaids, and paisleys (or the lucky child in an inoffensive solid) in lovely shades of harvest gold, avocado, and sunburnt sienna and orange. We had a matching macrame owl hanging on the wall :D

    I loved the macrame owl!

    Did you have a frog, pot scrubber holder?

    Hmm, don't remember. But now I want to go through old photo albums and find pictures of my parents' 70s/early80s decor. I know we had dark wood paneled walls, too. And green carpet in the bathroom.

    My basement still has all that old panel board. I painted it. There was a wall in my front entrance that had it as well when I bought the house. Ripped that out pretty fast. Along with a half wall that had the open shelves going to the ceiling.
  • CurlyCockney
    CurlyCockney Posts: 1,394 Member
    Ah tank tops are knitted pullovers (sleeveless sweaters) that our mums used to make us wear in the 70s.

    Ugh. Yes, and no matter what you called them, children across the globe were dressed in those hideous things. Stripes, plaids, and paisleys (or the lucky child in an inoffensive solid) in lovely shades of harvest gold, avocado, and sunburnt sienna and orange. We had a matching macrame owl hanging on the wall :D

    I had Fair Isle ones, but now I wish I'd had a matching owl! We had macrame hanging flower pot holders, which my brothers used for target practice!

    Lol, I loved our macrame owl so much, my mom found an owl vest/pullover/jumper for me. It was more like the early 80s, and it was outdated, but I rocked that sweater.

    Another difference, our grade school uniforms were called jumpers. It was like a knee length dress with bib suspenders attached (white blouse worn under it). Totally different thing than a sweater.

    Haha those 80s picture jumpers, my mum made me lots of them! We called those dresses with bib and straps 'tunics' when I was at infant school.

    Suspenders are what women use to hold stockings up! Well, I suppose men can use them for that too if they are so inclined...

    Ha, we call your suspenders "garters". They come in ladies version (garter belt) or sock garters for men (wrap around the calf, but not worn much anymore, unless hipsters do that, lol).

    Brides wear a blue garter (a froufrou circle of material around their thigh), but only one for some reason? What you call suspenders we call braces I think.
  • williams969
    williams969 Posts: 2,528 Member
    Ah tank tops are knitted pullovers (sleeveless sweaters) that our mums used to make us wear in the 70s.

    Ugh. Yes, and no matter what you called them, children across the globe were dressed in those hideous things. Stripes, plaids, and paisleys (or the lucky child in an inoffensive solid) in lovely shades of harvest gold, avocado, and sunburnt sienna and orange. We had a matching macrame owl hanging on the wall :D

    I had Fair Isle ones, but now I wish I'd had a matching owl! We had macrame hanging flower pot holders, which my brothers used for target practice!

    Lol, I loved our macrame owl so much, my mom found an owl vest/pullover/jumper for me. It was more like the early 80s, and it was outdated, but I rocked that sweater.

    Another difference, our grade school uniforms were called jumpers. It was like a knee length dress with bib suspenders attached (white blouse worn under it). Totally different thing than a sweater.

    Haha those 80s picture jumpers, my mum made me lots of them! We called those dresses with bib and straps 'tunics' when I was at infant school.

    Suspenders are what women use to hold stockings up! Well, I suppose men can use them for that too if they are so inclined...

    Ha, we call your suspenders "garters". They come in ladies version (garter belt) or sock garters for men (wrap around the calf, but not worn much anymore, unless hipsters do that, lol).

    Brides wear a blue garter (a froufrou circle of material around their thigh), but only one for some reason? What you call suspenders we call braces I think.

    Brides do that here, too. Just one, lol. At some wedding receptions, there's a big event where the groom has to pull it off the bride's leg in front of everyone. Then he tosses it to the bachelors. Eh, I'm glad we eloped.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    For once I can go to bed safe in the knowledge that a thread I'm interested in will still be here when I wake up (hopefully!)

    Night all :-)
    Here's hoping!
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Ah tank tops are knitted pullovers (sleeveless sweaters) that our mums used to make us wear in the 70s.

    Ugh. Yes, and no matter what you called them, children across the globe were dressed in those hideous things. Stripes, plaids, and paisleys (or the lucky child in an inoffensive solid) in lovely shades of harvest gold, avocado, and sunburnt sienna and orange. We had a matching macrame owl hanging on the wall :D

    I had Fair Isle ones, but now I wish I'd had a matching owl! We had macrame hanging flower pot holders, which my brothers used for target practice!

    Lol, I loved our macrame owl so much, my mom found an owl vest/pullover/jumper for me. It was more like the early 80s, and it was outdated, but I rocked that sweater.

    Another difference, our grade school uniforms were called jumpers. It was like a knee length dress with bib suspenders attached (white blouse worn under it). Totally different thing than a sweater.

    Haha those 80s picture jumpers, my mum made me lots of them! We called those dresses with bib and straps 'tunics' when I was at infant school.

    Suspenders are what women use to hold stockings up! Well, I suppose men can use them for that too if they are so inclined...

    Ha, we call your suspenders "garters". They come in ladies version (garter belt) or sock garters for men (wrap around the calf, but not worn much anymore, unless hipsters do that, lol).

    Brides wear a blue garter (a froufrou circle of material around their thigh), but only one for some reason? What you call suspenders we call braces I think.

    Brides do that here, too. Just one, lol. At some wedding receptions, there's a big event where the groom has to pull it off the bride's leg in front of everyone. Then he tosses it to the bachelors. Eh, I'm glad we eloped.

    We have that and then some... also glad to have skipped the traditional wedding (we did the JP and invited a few to join us).
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    edited December 2016

    LOL That's awesome, but raquetball and squash are two different games up here (western Canada).

    My brother travelled Australia about 10 years ago. He wore a hat with a popular Canadian brand of clothing (does the olympic teams' clothing.) Roots. Bit unfortunate.

    Driving through Death Valley once we stopped to use a toilet at a gas station. We asked to use the washroom. The attendant just stared at us. Had no clue.
    jgnatca wrote: »
    The Canadian toque.

    https://goo.gl/images/w3dndW

    Coo loo coo coo coo coo coo cooo. My boys know Bob and Doug's 12 days of Christmas better than the true song.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32CwrOZVobo

    I'll put my Canadian on.... Today we went tobaganning on a hill a few clicks away. There was wickedly cool chinook so the kids wore balaclavas and toques. One friend showed up in runners and almost froze. I brought nanimos and butter tarts for the kids to eat. They happily ate it all because I lost the elastic for the wrap. I forgot the serviettes though so they looked a mess. My youngest's nose was running like a tap - wished we had kleenex. Anyways, after a couple of hours the kids were cold so we had to head'r. I was still warm in my kangaroo jacket though. Hung out on the chesterfield for the rest of the afternoon.

    Pretty Canadian, eh?
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    edited December 2016
    VKetoV wrote: »
    "I said give me a god **** liter cola!"

    You spelldeded it wrong! It's LitRe :lol:
    Ah tank tops are knitted pullovers (sleeveless sweaters) that our mums used to make us wear in the 70s.

    I had to wear knitted pullovers (vest), but also those hideous skivvies (pollerneck in American??) that mostly only came in brown, yellow or green back then.

    w89532g7lger.jpg


  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    VKetoV wrote: »
    "I said give me a god **** liter cola!"

    You spelldeded it wrong! It's LitRe :lol:
    Ah tank tops are knitted pullovers (sleeveless sweaters) that our mums used to make us wear in the 70s.

    I had to wear knitted pullovers (vest), but also those hideous skivvies (pollerneck in American??) that mostly only came in brown, yellow or green mostly back then.

    w89532g7lger.jpg


    Turtleneck
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,693 Member
    As a Canadian who moved to Australia in 2009 ... I had to learn a whole new language. My first year here I was constantly coming home and asking my husband what on earth certain terms meant. But I'm almost fluent now. :)

    arvo
    barrack
    bluey
    chook
    etc. etc.

    Even "bring a plate" still sounds weird to me.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    As a Canadian who moved to Australia in 2009 ... I had to learn a whole new language. My first year here I was constantly coming home and asking my husband what on earth certain terms meant. But I'm almost fluent now. :)

    arvo
    barrack
    bluey
    chook
    etc. etc.

    Even "bring a plate" still sounds weird to me.

    Good Arvo to you, what footy team do you barrack for. We had a roast chook for dinner last night, might get chilly later so will have to the throw the bluey on.
    I gave up the durries/*kitten* 12mths ago, good thing as I always drank too much goon juice when i smoked. Might have a barbie later :lol:

  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    nutmegoreo wrote: »
    And lets not get started on how New Zealanders pronounce certain words...

    Warning do NOT watch if you have a dirty mind! :wink:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6c4Nupnup0

    Well you know with that type of disclaimer, us pervs are going to be in there like a dirty shirt.

    How dare you, I have a clean and pure mind. I found nothing wrong with this.

    (Why are you laughing at me?)
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    As a Canadian who moved to Australia in 2009 ... I had to learn a whole new language. My first year here I was constantly coming home and asking my husband what on earth certain terms meant. But I'm almost fluent now. :)

    arvo
    barrack
    bluey
    chook
    etc. etc.

    Even "bring a plate" still sounds weird to me.

    Good Arvo to you, what footy team do you barrack for. We had a roast chook for dinner last night, might get chilly later so will have to the throw the bluey on.
    I gave up the durries/*kitten* 12mths ago, good thing as I always drank too much goon juice when i smoked. Might have a barbie later :lol:

    Over here we "cheer" or "root" for a team.

    I understand that "rooting" for a team would have a quite different meaning in Australia. ;)
  • williams969
    williams969 Posts: 2,528 Member
    malibu927 wrote: »
    nutmegoreo wrote: »
    And lets not get started on how New Zealanders pronounce certain words...

    Warning do NOT watch if you have a dirty mind! :wink:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6c4Nupnup0

    Well you know with that type of disclaimer, us pervs are going to be in there like a dirty shirt.

    How dare you, I have a clean and pure mind. I found nothing wrong with this.

    (Why are you laughing at me?)

    Me, too. I don't get it. Deck maintenance is a dirty job. A dirty, dirty job.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    malibu927 wrote: »
    nutmegoreo wrote: »
    And lets not get started on how New Zealanders pronounce certain words...

    Warning do NOT watch if you have a dirty mind! :wink:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6c4Nupnup0

    Well you know with that type of disclaimer, us pervs are going to be in there like a dirty shirt.

    How dare you, I have a clean and pure mind. I found nothing wrong with this.

    (Why are you laughing at me?)

    Me, too. I don't get it. Deck maintenance is a dirty job. A dirty, dirty job.

    As long as your deck isn't going bad. Very, very bad. :open_mouth:



    malibu927 wrote: »
    nutmegoreo wrote: »
    And lets not get started on how New Zealanders pronounce certain words...

    Warning do NOT watch if you have a dirty mind! :wink:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6c4Nupnup0

    Well you know with that type of disclaimer, us pervs are going to be in there like a dirty shirt.

    How dare you, I have a clean and pure mind. I found nothing wrong with this.

    (Why are you laughing at me?)

    I'm laughing with you, not at you. Cause it's just so believable. :laugh:
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    Machka9 wrote: »
    As a Canadian who moved to Australia in 2009 ... I had to learn a whole new language. My first year here I was constantly coming home and asking my husband what on earth certain terms meant. But I'm almost fluent now. :)

    arvo
    barrack
    bluey
    chook
    etc. etc.

    Even "bring a plate" still sounds weird to me.

    Good Arvo to you, what footy team do you barrack for. We had a roast chook for dinner last night, might get chilly later so will have to the throw the bluey on.
    I gave up the durries/*kitten* 12mths ago, good thing as I always drank too much goon juice when i smoked. Might have a barbie later :lol:

    Over here we "cheer" or "root" for a team.

    I understand that "rooting" for a team would have a quite different meaning in Australia. ;)

    We have a saying over here to describe a wombat (which can also be used for some people

    who live out in the bush)..

    It " Eats,roots and leaves"

  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    Machka9 wrote: »
    As a Canadian who moved to Australia in 2009 ... I had to learn a whole new language. My first year here I was constantly coming home and asking my husband what on earth certain terms meant. But I'm almost fluent now. :)

    arvo
    barrack
    bluey
    chook
    etc. etc.

    Even "bring a plate" still sounds weird to me.

    Good Arvo to you, what footy team do you barrack for. We had a roast chook for dinner last night, might get chilly later so will have to the throw the bluey on.
    I gave up the durries/*kitten* 12mths ago, good thing as I always drank too much goon juice when i smoked. Might have a barbie later :lol:

    Over here we "cheer" or "root" for a team.

    I understand that "rooting" for a team would have a quite different meaning in Australia. ;)

    We have a saying over here to describe a wombat (which can also be used for some people

    who live out in the bush)..

    It " Eats,roots and leaves"

    There's a book here:
    eats, shoots and leaves

    https://www.amazon.com/Eats-Shoots-Leaves-Tolerance-Punctuation/dp/1592402038/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=M97VP3ZGWKVPQD9YP5CR
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    Machka9 wrote: »
    As a Canadian who moved to Australia in 2009 ... I had to learn a whole new language. My first year here I was constantly coming home and asking my husband what on earth certain terms meant. But I'm almost fluent now. :)

    arvo
    barrack
    bluey
    chook
    etc. etc.

    Even "bring a plate" still sounds weird to me.

    Good Arvo to you, what footy team do you barrack for. We had a roast chook for dinner last night, might get chilly later so will have to the throw the bluey on.
    I gave up the durries/*kitten* 12mths ago, good thing as I always drank too much goon juice when i smoked. Might have a barbie later :lol:

    Over here we "cheer" or "root" for a team.

    I understand that "rooting" for a team would have a quite different meaning in Australia. ;)

    We have a saying over here to describe a wombat (which can also be used for some people

    who live out in the bush)..

    It " Eats,roots and leaves"

    There's a book here:
    eats, shoots and leaves

    https://www.amazon.com/Eats-Shoots-Leaves-Tolerance-Punctuation/dp/1592402038/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=M97VP3ZGWKVPQD9YP5CR

    Haha yes, that comma makes all the difference.

  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    nvmomketo wrote: »

    LOL That's awesome, but raquetball and squash are two different games up here (western Canada).

    My brother travelled Australia about 10 years ago. He wore a hat with a popular Canadian brand of clothing (does the olympic teams' clothing.) Roots. Bit unfortunate.

    Driving through Death Valley once we stopped to use a toilet at a gas station. We asked to use the washroom. The attendant just stared at us. Had no clue.

    in Australia we get petrol (and gas) from the petrol station
    put rubbish in the rubbish bin (not trash or garbage)

    we have caravan parks, not trailer parks. a trailer is a thing you attach to a towball on the back of the car to transport stuff.

    entrée is the first part of a meal (like a starter), then main, then dessert.
  • CooCooPuff
    CooCooPuff Posts: 4,374 Member
    edited December 2016
    I saw your previous thread about watermelon and rockmelon and asked myself what the heck is a rockmelon. :p
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    CooCooPuff wrote: »
    I saw your previous thread about watermelon and rockmelon and asked myself what the heck is a rockmelon. :p

    I work in a grocery store and we have two types...cantaloupes and honeyrocks, which are bigger. And then my mom calls them muskmelons.
  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    edited December 2016
    The other day, I heard 'Yobbo" for the first time in a loooong time. Made me laugh.
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    Fanny pack and bum bag are an interesting one. Apparently 'fanny pack' has a quite different meaning in Australia. :D

    Yep... I was the "immature 12 year old" when I moved to Canada. :laugh:
    in aus we have wine in bag in a box, we call it cask wine (perhaps boxed wine in the US?) ...but it can also be called a goon bag

    OMG....Goon.
    I don't know why this reminded me of passion pop!!

    AnvilHead wrote: »
    Machka9 wrote: »
    As a Canadian who moved to Australia in 2009 ... I had to learn a whole new language. My first year here I was constantly coming home and asking my husband what on earth certain terms meant. But I'm almost fluent now. :)

    arvo
    barrack
    bluey
    chook
    etc. etc.

    Even "bring a plate" still sounds weird to me.

    Good Arvo to you, what footy team do you barrack for. We had a roast chook for dinner last night, might get chilly later so will have to the throw the bluey on.
    I gave up the durries/*kitten* 12mths ago, good thing as I always drank too much goon juice when i smoked. Might have a barbie later :lol:

    Over here we "cheer" or "root" for a team.

    I understand that "rooting" for a team would have a quite different meaning in Australia. ;)

    HAHAHA... imagine...ROOT beer. o_O
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    It made me think of passion pop too @cerise_noir , and then my mind went back to my 13 year old self barfing it all back up again lol
  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    It made me think of passion pop too @cerise_noir , and then my mind went back to my 13 year old self barfing it all back up again lol
    Oh dear lord! LOL.
    I was introduced to it at Uni.... Yeah

    I hear passion pop is now in cans. Jeez, too long enough. :expressionless:
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    Rocket took me a while, when I was traveling years ago.

    An easy one: french fries=chips

    Yep. (US/UK): fries/chips, but chips/crisps. How about pants/trousers but underwear/pants. Silly differences that could confuse tourists, lol.

    Yes I definitely had to learn that trousers and pants thing real quick.
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    Don't you call the flat work surface in a kitchen the benchtop, @Christine_72 ? Im the US, a bench is something one sits on at a park or a person has in his workshop/toolshed for woodworking or fixing things, lol.

    Edit, the kitchen surface is a counter in the US, which I suppose makes zero sense for a name, too lol.

    My wife (British) calls it a worktop.
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    Heh...how did I know the whole fanny thing would be mentioned? :laugh:

    Aussies: I'm going to use the toilet.
    US/Canada: I am going to use the bathroom.

    I do realise that in the US/Canada, the w/c and bath tub/shower are mostly in the same room. In Australia, these can be separate rooms. I honestly prefer the separate rooms.

    As for the coffee creamer thing. I am pretty sure I've seen coffee whitener in Oz.


    jgnatca wrote: »
    Cool that you started this:

    Canada - US

    pop - soda
    burger - dinner plate
    poutine - "who the *kitten* puts cheese curds on fries???"
    double-double (coffee with double sugar, double cream)
    Timmy's - Dunkin' Doughnuts

    Canada - Australia

    fifty-fifty (10% cream)

    As an Aussie who lives in Quebec, the home of Poutine.

    It depends on the poutine. There's a place down the road that makes the most incredible poutine. The cheese is actually curd cheese which works well with the gravy. I've had bad poutine, but this poutine...oh my god. Delicious.

    Toilet and bathroom both work for me, but what about latrine or lavatory?
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