English to English translator

Kirsty_UK

I'm northern UK and I've never ever called trousers "pants", nor have I heard anyone say that... :S
Also call a bread roll a bread cake....
Also, a bun is a small cupcake... not bread!!!

The pants is the american version.

I'm from yorkshire/derbyshire. And we call a cupcake type thing a bun like you (usually an iced bun), if it's bread, we'd call it a roll. Bread buns tend to be the ones you stick burgers in.

sunshine79

if a handbag is a purse, what do americans call actual purses that you keep money in?

I think they call it a pocket book? I think....????

evenidomhnaill

other differances

check= bill
blinkers= indicators
A brew= cup of tea
Buggy= pushchair or pram
money= yoyo's, dough, dosh
fall= autum
pavement=footpath

britachu

if a handbag is a purse, what do americans call actual purses that you keep money in?

A wallet.

TheGoktor

if a handbag is a purse, what do americans call actual purses that you keep money in?

A wallet.

Is that for men and women? In the UK, men use wallets and women use purses to keep their money in. Or, in my partner's case, pockets! :laugh:

Those cats in your av are gorgeous!

LimeyTart

if a handbag is a purse, what do americans call actual purses that you keep money in?

A wallet.

Is that for men and women? In the UK, men use wallets and women use purses to keep their money in. Or, in my partner's case, pockets! :laugh:

Those cats in your av are gorgeous!

Yep, many women use it as well.

ilsie99

I'm northern UK and I've never ever called trousers "pants", nor have I heard anyone say that... :S
Also call a bread roll a bread cake....
Also, a bun is a small cupcake... not bread!!!

The pants is the american version.

I'm from yorkshire/derbyshire. And we call a cupcake type thing a bun like you (usually an iced bun), if it's bread, we'd call it a roll. Bread buns tend to be the ones you stick burgers in.

Wait, so a cupcake is a bun, and a roll is cake?! My head just exploded

maria1993

any dessert food = pudding or pud

That explains why toward the end of Pink Floyd Another Brick In the Wall the teacher says "If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding.How can you have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?"

I was always like, pudding?.. Whats so special about pudding? But if its any dessert, I understand it

girlface68

I love that Loot in the boot, I think I may borrow that....:happy:

marber

In Yorkshire so we have buns and breadcakes in this house as well.

another one for the mums - dummy = pacifier

and for the sporty hockey here involves grass, a ball and a short curved stick that can only be right handed and you cannot do a backhand. We have to say Ice Hockey not just hockey.

Jorra

if a handbag is a purse, what do americans call actual purses that you keep money in?

A wallet.

Is that for men and women? In the UK, men use wallets and women use purses to keep their money in. Or, in my partner's case, pockets! :laugh:

Those cats in your av are gorgeous!

Women put wallets in their purses.
Or you could say women put their purses in their handbags...which just sounds weird to me.

healthyjen342

This is interesting! Thanks for posting!

Fesse

being a canadian who is both dating an englishman & having lived in the UK (and moving back soon!)....i've got a little list!

north america (gotta include canada :P) ---> UK

nap = kip

5-6pm meal (supper, dinner, etc.) = tea (yes, tea can refer to actual tea and dinnertime...utterly confusing!)

elevator = lift

ciggarette = *kitten* (or just ciggarette, but *kitten* is also used alot)

bathroom, washroom = toilet, loo or WC "bathroom or washroom" rarely/never used.

toilet paper = toilet roll or loo roll

paper towel = kitchen roll

sleeping in = lie in

oat cake/oat bar = flapjack

cookie = biscuit (actually, my boyfriend insists that cookies and biscuits are 2 different things)

generally idiotic type of person (jerk, moron, *kitten*, etc) = tosser, wanker, etc

f**k off = bugger off

*kitten* that! = bugger that!

picking up ladies = out on the pull/pulling

making fun of/ mocking = taking the piss, taking the mickey,

a joke = pisstake

are you kidding me?! = are you having a laugh?

informal hello "hey", "hi" = you alright?

something really great = lush, gorgeous, looooovely, etc

coffee with milk = flat white (actually more of aussie thing, but it's catching on in the UK). also, generally people order a latte or a cappucino and not a coffee anyways....

underwear = knickers or pants (yes, pants)

pants = trousers

aw, isn't that adorable, cute, endearing = awwww blesss!

big weekend breakfast = full english

sneakers = trainers

coffee maker = "um, we use a cafetiere!" (french press)

the boys = the lads

hiking = "um....do you mean....walking..in ...a forest?"

car = a contraption half the size of 99% of north american cars. cramming and squishing will occur.

gasoline/gas = petrol

diaper = nappy

yard sale/ estate sale = car boot sale

trunk (of a car) = the boot

cilantro = coriander

zucchini = courgette

any dessert food = pudding or pud

mixed greens = salad (if it's an actual type of salad, you refer to it as such..."nicoise salad", etc

bacon sandwich = bacon sarnie, bacon butty, bacon bap. generally, breakfast sandwiches can be called "butty" or "bap"

french fries between two pieces of bread (yes, a french fry sandwich) = chip butty

beer = lager, ale, beer

movie theater/theatre = cinema

highway = motorway





.....and, that's all I can think of off the top of my head!

Thanks for mentioning Canada!! Some of these we use in the Maritimes!! Cheers

BettyMargaret

boot = trunk (of a car)

So what's the equivalent of junk in the trunk?

Loot in the boot?

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!

BettyMargaret

if a handbag is a purse, what do americans call actual purses that you keep money in?

A wallet.

Is that for men and women? In the UK, men use wallets and women use purses to keep their money in. Or, in my partner's case, pockets! :laugh:

Those cats in your av are gorgeous!

Women put wallets in their purses.
Or you could say women put their purses in their handbags...which just sounds weird to me.

lol... unless it's just for coins, then it's called a change purse!

BettyMargaret

I have never laughed so hard at a post! STILL laughing @ loot in the boot!

zojo78

Aubergine = eggplant
Fringe = bangs

milaxx

arugula = rocket
sweater = jumper

zojo78

i always wondered what broil meant. I assumed it was close to boiling something

Me too! When Bob and Jill suggested broiling chicken I just thought that sounds disgusting!!! Finally I know what they're on about!! Lol

ilsie99

Oh also, doesn't bangers = sausage?

Also, could someone please tell me what the heck spotted d*ck is?!

suzycreamcheese

spotted **** is a steamed pudding. I think its got raisins in it, and you have it with custard

kerriknox

I have no doubt that many an international incident has been caused by our British neighbors asking their unwary American friends if they could bum a *kitten*.

LOL!!!!!

Becca_007

if a handbag is a purse, what do americans call actual purses that you keep money in?

I think they call it a pocket book? I think....????

Some of us refer to it as a 'billfold'. A billfold in the US holds bills and change. :happy:
ETA! Lovin this thread!! My Mum was from England so it's wonderful to hear all these words again.

sue26

Canadian UK

truck = lorry
stroller = pushchair
garbage = rubbish
soother = dummy
child = kid

RoadDog

Bladdered = Drunk

Throw a Wobbly = Have a Tantrum

Pavement Pizza = Vomit

Cheeky = Flippant

suzycreamcheese

Bladdered = Drunk

Throw a Wobbly = Have a Tantrum

Pavement Pizza = Vomit

Cheeky = Flippant

bladdered/pissed/blotto/steaming/wrecked

throw a wobbly, have a paddy

vomit/upchuck

lauz45

This is fun I could do this all day!

There's a few for getting drunk - getting pissed, getting slaughtered, getting gazebo'd (for the michael mcintyre fans!), but I just saw on Geordie Shore (lol) that they say 'getting mortal' in Newcastle. That's weird.

Roundabout - circle in the middle of the road that people drive around to go left and right, non-existant in the US I believe!
Intersection - junction
Biscuit - bread roll (as far as i'm aware, that's what they look like to me!)
Bell pepper - pepper
Barette - hair slide/clip
Candy - sweets
Cell Phone - mobile phone (normally shortened to 'mobile')
Drugstore - pharmacy
Dumpster - Skip
Fanny pack - bum bag
Gasoline - Petrol
Heavy cream - double cream
Mail - post
Parking lot - car park
Saran wrap - cling film
Shredded cheese - grated cheese
Ground beef - mince beef
Blush - blusher
That's garbage - that's rubbish!
Cash register - till
Pantyhose - tights (I think? That's what i've thought since Pretty Woman anyway)
Dish soap - washing up liquid
Vacuum Cleaner - hoover (brand name but everyone says it)
Movie - film
Sneakers - trainers
Hey, how are you? - Alright mate?


I'll stop now! I've been a bit obsessed with the US since..forever. One day i'll go, and i'll have to walk around the supermarkets (grocery stores!) looking at all the weird flavours


Not really the same thing but I like it when Rachel from Friends accidentally makes english trifle with beef!

ilsie99

"alright mate?" sounds way cooler than "how's it going?"

Our (the US's) biscuits are closer to a scone, which I have no idea what that is in the UK. Possibly just a scone. Either that or a "nibbly bun" or something.

My favorite is when Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber says he's having tea and strumpets.

hcollett

I have no doubt that many an international incident has been caused by our British neighbors asking their unwary American friends if they could bum a *kitten*.

Ha ha brilliant! actually sat here laughing at my computer

kimmerroze

This is fun I could do this all day!

There's a few for getting drunk - getting pissed, getting slaughtered, getting gazebo'd (for the michael mcintyre fans!), but I just saw on Geordie Shore (lol) that they say 'getting mortal' in Newcastle. That's weird.

Roundabout - circle in the middle of the road that people drive around to go left and right, non-existant in the US I believe!
Intersection - junction
Biscuit - bread roll (as far as i'm aware, that's what they look like to me!)
Bell pepper - pepper
Barette - hair slide/clip
Candy - sweets
Cell Phone - mobile phone (normally shortened to 'mobile')
Drugstore - pharmacy
Dumpster - Skip
Fanny pack - bum bag
Gasoline - Petrol
Heavy cream - double cream
Mail - post
Parking lot - car park
Saran wrap - cling film
Shredded cheese - grated cheese
Ground beef - mince beef
Blush - blusher
That's garbage - that's rubbish!
Cash register - till
Pantyhose - tights (I think? That's what i've thought since Pretty Woman anyway)
Dish soap - washing up liquid
Vacuum Cleaner - hoover (brand name but everyone says it)
Movie - film
Sneakers - trainers
Hey, how are you? - Alright mate?


I'll stop now! I've been a bit obsessed with the US since..forever. One day i'll go, and i'll have to walk around the supermarkets (grocery stores!) looking at all the weird flavours


Not really the same thing but I like it when Rachel from Friends accidentally makes english trifle with beef!

we have round abouts.. you just don't see them very often, and usually we have to go around them once or twice before we get it. or we go backwards on them lol. They are usually on one lane.

Pantyhose are really thin tights where as tights are really thick... both names are used in the US another name for panty hose is nylons.