Different terminologies by country.....
Replies
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US: quilt cover/cover
AUS: doona
NZ: duvet (said as doovay)
United State has Duvet covers. But they're the cover that goes over a white comforter. You can pull it off and wash it separately like a sheet.0 -
One big difference: in Australia thongs are footwear - what other places call flip-flops.
Thongs are not underwear here.
They used to call them thongs in the US. In fact, my mom still calls them thongs and has to correct herself sometimes. Not sure when the term changed.
Yes,in the 70s-80s, thongs were sandals that went between your toes. Then whenever girls started liking perma-wedgies, they became thongs and shoes became flip flops, or just sandals.
I know, I'm old.
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In the US, sweet potatoes and yams are two different but similar spuds. One is yellow, the other is white, but, both are sweet. They do get confused as the same thing here as well.
Where I'm from in the U.S. sweet potatoes are orange potatoes and yams are a dish that you make with them. haha
Yams and Sweet Potatoes are two completely different root vegetables that happen to end up with the same look, texture, and taste when cooked. So they can be prepared in the same way and nobody will tell the difference. However nutritionally they are very different.
We see a lot of different stuff just going from various parts of the US to others. I originally grew up in South Florida and moved to Pittsburgh in my 20s. The differences in the way people speak made me feel like I moved to a totally different country. In South Florida, a sandwich served on a long, cylindrical shaped piece of bread is called a sub. Up here it's a hoagie. Unless you get it from Subway, then people will call it a sub.
In the US tea is a drink made from tea leaves. In the UK tea is a full meal that happens to be served with tea (the drink) accompanying it.
You also see a lot of similar things in the car industry. For example the brands Acura, Lexus, and Infinity do not exist in Japan. These brands were basically invented solely for the Western market so that they can sell some of their cars at a higher premium. The Lexus IS series in Japan is called the Toyota Altezza. The Acura RSX is the Honda Integra. The Infiniti G35 is the Nissan Skyline.
Also many GM cars sold in the US are actually foreign produced cars sold under different GM owned brand names in other countries. The Pontiac GTO was originally sold under the Holden brand name in Australia as the Monaro.0 -
Not by country, but by race....I work at a hotel and notice that black people will ask me for a cover, instead of a blanket. Also will ask for a face towel...I can never remember if that is a hand towel or a washcloth so I just give them a set of bath, hand and washcloth.
(Please don't jump my *kitten* about making reference to me being prejudice, etc....I so am not...it is just something I have noticed and find interesting.)
I don't think "cover" is a race specific word... I am white and say cover... To me a cover is what is on your bed.. a blanket is thinner and smaller and used mostly on a couch or other parts of the house.
I haven't heard anyone refer to a bed blanket as a 'cover', altho we do say 'pull up the covers' when we get in bed, meaning all the sheets and blankets. If we were to ask, we would ask for a blanket, or a quilt. The thick, pretty top covering is called a comforter, and was not a part of our vocabulary before the 90s around here.
In East Texas, there was a distinct difference in dialect between the black and white cultures when I was growing up, but the cultures have merged quite a bit since then, and the language has as well. Now it is more of where you grew up, and the people you hang around, rather than skin color.
That's basically were I was going with that.. That some of the US vocabulary is more about location rather than race... I was born and raised in GA, the hubs was born and raised in Vermont. Same country, but we have a few arguments on what a few things are called..
For instance: What he and everyone else calls conditioner (hair), I and my family have always called cream rinse..0 -
I got confused when I spent Christmas in Western Australia a few years ago. We were laying the table and I was asked to get the bonbons out of the bag by the front door. I was looking for them for ages. All I could find was bags with Christmas Crackers in.
When I went back to tell them, they all looked at me like I was the weirdo!!
It's weird how languages evolve when you consider Britain, Australia and America speak "English" yet there are so many variations between the countries and even the state's/counties. No wonder none native speakers get confused. I am English and it confuses the he'll out of me sometimes.0 -
I have now read through this entire discussion and found it very interesting. Dear son went travelling years ago and when he returned, he brought home his Aussie partner. They lived with us for a few months and I found out a few things that were interesting from the Aussie dialect.
Firstly, the "garden" in Aussie is basically the backyard or outside space around your home. In my life, the "garden" has always represented the plot where we grew either vegetables or flowers and we would call them the generally the garden for vegetables or flower garden. That took me by surprise as they brought a house which had a huge "garden" and I keep looking in the backyard to find the "garden" plot....silly me!
Also, my DIL and my son call their baby (my g-baby)..........bubs or bubba. Further, she would change the baby's "nappie" as opposed to our diaper.
And I love chock....
When they lived with us, she would also walk down to the shops....we also just called them going to the store (s) or going downtown...(downtown kinda symbolized where all the stores were before big box stores and malls took over).
We have stores that just sell liquor which we call "liquor stores" or "wine and beer stores" or in Saskatchewan....liquor board store (cause it is owned by the province). Dear DIL used to call them "bottle shops".
That's my little input for this interesting thread!
Speaking of Saskatchewan (a province in Canada), they are unique, they call "hoodies" or long sleeved sweaters with a hood and a front pocket a ''BUNNY HUG". Not sure of that origin however, I think Aussies may call them "kangaroo jackets" because of the front pocket.0 -
We have stores that just sell liquor which we call "liquor stores" or "wine and beer stores" or in Saskatchewan....liquor board store (cause it is owned by the province). Dear DIL used to call them "bottle shops".
When I lived up north, they called them 'package stores' or 'state stores'.0 -
It is funny how only US bad words are filtered here, but you can type bloody and bollocks all day long!
I never knew that! Well bloody is quite tame really, the other makes me (not really).0 -
In Australia the word "fanny" is a vulgar term for a woman's...ahem! Whereas here it's just a polite word for "butt". My mom used it a lot when I was growing up. :laugh:
Oh wow, that is a new one for me. So I guess Aussie tourists don't wear 'Fanny bags' on vacation?
We call them Bum Bags :laugh:
So do we in the UK, and the US word is really naughty! I don't even dare type it0 -
US: quilt cover/cover
AUS: doona
NZ: duvet (said as doovay)
UK: Duvet is the quilt, quilt cover is the slip on cover that you put it in. When I was a kid, they were called continental quilts, and I remember being distraught when my mum bought me one! (I still have that very quilt!)US: redneck
AUS: Derro or Bogan
UK: we don't really have an equivalent, I don't think. It's not what we'd say about rural, farming communities anyway - in as much as rednecks refer to poor uneducated people, we'd be more likely to talk about urban communities - particularly young people - in the same vein and the terminology changes from time to time - currently we'd probably talk about chavs.
In terms of maybe having bigoted or reactionary views, we'd probably talk about "little Englanders".
That's in spite of a vigourous divide between urban and rural populations, lack of mutual understanding, and righteous indignation on both sides, all drawn into sharp relief over recent debates leading to the ban on fox hunting and the consequent (perceived) attack on rural tradition.0 -
It's weird how languages evolve when you consider Britain, Australia and America speak "English" yet there are so many variations between the countries and even the state's/counties. No wonder none native speakers get confused. I am English and it confuses the he'll out of me sometimes.
Well, but I aways say, we share a largely but not entirely common vocabulary and grammar. Other than that we speak completely different languages! I think it's fascinating!0 -
We have stores that just sell liquor which we call "liquor stores" or "wine and beer stores" or in Saskatchewan....liquor board store (cause it is owned by the province). Dear DIL used to call them "bottle shops".
When I lived up north, they called them 'package stores' or 'state stores'.
We call them Off Licences.0 -
I have now read through this entire discussion and found it very interesting. Dear son went travelling years ago and when he returned, he brought home his Aussie partner. They lived with us for a few months and I found out a few things that were interesting from the Aussie dialect.
Firstly, the "garden" in Aussie is basically the backyard or outside space around your home. In my life, the "garden" has always represented the plot where we grew either vegetables or flowers and we would call them the generally the garden for vegetables or flower garden. That took me by surprise as they brought a house which had a huge "garden" and I keep looking in the backyard to find the "garden" plot....silly me!
Also, my DIL and my son call their baby (my g-baby)..........bubs or bubba. Further, she would change the baby's "nappie" as opposed to our diaper.
And I love chock....
When they lived with us, she would also walk down to the shops....we also just called them going to the store (s) or going downtown...(downtown kinda symbolized where all the stores were before big box stores and malls took over).
We have stores that just sell liquor which we call "liquor stores" or "wine and beer stores" or in Saskatchewan....liquor board store (cause it is owned by the province). Dear DIL used to call them "bottle shops".
That's my little input for this interesting thread!
Speaking of Saskatchewan (a province in Canada), they are unique, they call "hoodies" or long sleeved sweaters with a hood and a front pocket a ''BUNNY HUG". Not sure of that origin however, I think Aussies may call them "kangaroo jackets" because of the front pocket.
In the UK too, the plot of land around the house is the garden. You only have a yard if you live in a tiny city terraced house with a very tiny little yard at the back, walled in, and probably concreted over.
Our babies wear nappies. (or one nappy at a time usually :laugh: )
We would say "go to the shops" or "pop to the shops" - that kind of implies a quick trip to local shops, like popping out to a local baker or corner shop, most probably for groceries. "Going shopping" or "Going in town" suggests a bigger shopping excursion to a shopping centre, or city centre, for other items like clothes, or going to a big supermarket for a big grocery shop.0 -
US - AUS
sweater = jumper (or sloppy joe as my dad calls them, I don't think young people call them that now)
sneakers = runners/joggers/sand shoes (another old one my dad uses)
tracksuit pants = trackies/tracky dacks
sunglasses = sunnies
panties = undies (I don't call anything panties unless they're very fine lingerie. Otherwise, it's all undies to me lol)
swim wear = cossies/swimmers/togs (though togs is something the kiwis around me seem to use more often!)
pumps = high heels. I don't think I've ever heard anyone call heels "pumps" in Australia.
Can anyone think of anymore clothing related terminologies? I'm blank right now xD
UK: We wear jumpers too. Or pullover. Or jersey. Sand shoes is a particular type of shoe I think, otherwise I think sneakers would be trainers here. But we have a myriad of names for the shoes that you wore at school for sports! Plimsolls; sandshoes; daps; trainers; pumps; probably loads more names, and they vary from region to region.
We don't have tracksuit pants - we have tracksuit bottoms.
Sunglasses are the same, or shades.
Ladies would wear knickers and panties would, as for you, be something particularly slinky or skimpy!
Chaps would wear pants, shorts or (my dad's generation) Y Fronts.
Swimming costumes might also be cossies here. Men wear trunks.
What we call pumps would be flat shoes here!
Hose would be tights - only where the two legs are joined otherwise they're stockings, and if they don't come over your knee they're pop socks. The really short ones are footsies.
Suspenders would be braces - or else they woud be holding up women's stockings.
When it's wet and muddy we wear wellies - short for wellingtons (rubber boots).
Oh, and when we get out of bed or out of the bath, we wear a dressing gown, not a robe.
Aussie/NZ equivalents????0 -
I guess the "cover" vs "blanket/comforter" thing particularly piqued my interest because I work in a hotel. It isn't just the black people where I live...its black people from all over who stay here. I am not saying white people don't say it....I just have yet to hear it...in several years. I typically agree that words or phrases are not solely related to one's race, but rather region/socioeconomic upbringing, but in this case, it doesn't fit....I have heard it from travelers from all over the country.
I wrote a paper in college on "Ebonics/African American Vernacular English". I loved writing that paper, it was so fascinating and enlightening and my professor actually uses it now as an example for students. Cover vs blanket and face towel were the seeds that grew the idea for that paper...0 -
I guess the "cover" vs "blanket/comforter" thing particularly piqued my interest because I work in a hotel. It isn't just the black people where I live...its black people from all over who stay here. I am not saying white people don't say it....I just have yet to hear it...in several years. I typically agree that words or phrases are not solely related to one's race, but rather region/socioeconomic upbringing, but in this case, it doesn't fit....I have heard it from travelers from all over the country.
I wrote a paper in college on "Ebonics/African American Vernacular English". I loved writing that paper, it was so fascinating and enlightening and my professor actually uses it now as an example for students. Cover vs blanket and face towel were the seeds that grew the idea for that paper...
Growing up I've always heard "covers" used to refer to the full combination of blanket/comfortor/bedsheets. However if you're referring to an individual piece rather than the collective then you refer to it by proper name. From the US by the way, born in Miami, FL.0 -
USA (Michigan) born and raised here but after marriage to my military man we spent time stationed in both Japan (Okinawa) and England (Mildenhall). Anyway... when shopping in a DIY store (can't remember the name. Do It All maybe?) we were going to be getting several item and needed a way to carry them. Had a heck of a time finding a shopping cart. There weren't any in the store that we could see so we asked. After giving a description it was decided that we were looking for a trolly.
So...
Northern USA=cart
Southern USA=buggy
UK=trolly
Any more differences in other parts of the world?
US=stroller
UK=pram
AUS and elsewhere=?
US=napkin
UK=serviette
AUS+ =?
US=pastor/preacher/minister
UK=vicar?
Elsewhere=?0 -
We have stores that just sell liquor which we call "liquor stores" or "wine and beer stores" or in Saskatchewan....liquor board store (cause it is owned by the province). Dear DIL used to call them "bottle shops".
When I lived up north, they called them 'package stores' or 'state stores'.
We call them Off Licences.
Good old " just nipping down to the offy"0 -
USA (Michigan) born and raised here but after marriage to my military man we spent time stationed in both Japan (Okinawa) and England (Mildenhall). Anyway... when shopping in a DIY store (can't remember the name. Do It All maybe?) we were going to be getting several item and needed a way to carry them. Had a heck of a time finding a shopping cart. There weren't any in the store that we could see so we asked. After giving a description it was decided that we were looking for a trolly.
So...
Northern USA=cart
Southern USA=buggy
UK=trolly
Any more differences in other parts of the world?
US=stroller
UK=pram
AUS and elsewhere= We use both..... Pram is more for very young infants to lie down in. Stroller usually has a fixed backrest position and the child sits up in it....for when the child is a little older.
US=napkin
UK=serviette
AUS+ = Both
US=pastor/preacher/minister
UK=vicar?
Elsewhere= Priest0 -
Thanks for keeping this thread going guys.
I just remembered this and thought it was perfect for here:
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