There is an old saying that America and Britain are “two nations divided by a common language.” No one knows exactly who said this, but it reflects the way many Brits feel about American English.

Pronunciation

There are many pronunciation differences between American and British English. Typically, the differences are in vowel sounds, consonant sounds, stress and intonation.

Vlowel differences:

  • In British English, the letter a is pronounced as /ɑː/ in words like bath, dance and laugh. In American English, it is pronounced as /æ/.
  • In British English, the letter i is pronounced as /ɪ/ in words like either and neither. In American English, it is pronounced as /aɪ/.
  • In British English, the letter o is pronounced as /ɒ/ in words like hot and not. In American English, it is pronounced as /ɑː/.
  • In British English, the letter o is pronounced as /əʊ/ in words like go and home. In American English, it is pronounced as /oʊ/.
  • In British English, the letter u is pronounced as /juː/ in words like new and music. In American English, it is pronounced as /uː/.

Other differences:

  • In British English, the letter r is pronounced only when it is followed by a vowel sound. In American English, the letter r is pronounced in all positions. For example, the word car is pronounced as /kɑː/ in British English, but /kɑːr/ in American English.
  • In British English, the letter t is pronounced as a clear /t/ sound. In American English, it is often pronounced as a flap /ɾ/ sound, which sounds similar to a quick /d/ sound. For example, the word better is pronounced as /ˈbɛtə/ in British English, but /ˈbɛɾər/ in American English.
  • In British English, the letter l is pronounced as a clear /l/ sound. In American English, it is often pronounced as a dark /ɫ/ sound, which is pronounced with the back of the tongue raised. For example, the word milk is pronounced as /mɪlk/ in British English, but /mɪɫk/ in American English.
  • In British English, the letter h is pronounced in all positions. In American English, it is often silent at the beginning of words. For example, the word herb is pronounced as /hɜːb/ in British English, but /ɜːrb/ in American English.
  • In British English, the ee is pronounced as /iː/ in words like been and leisure. In American English, it is pronounced as /ɪn/ and /ɪʒɚ/, respectively.
  • In British English, the y is pronounced as /ɪː/ in words like family, economy, bravery and technology. In American English, it is pronounced as /iː/.

These are some common words that are pronounced differently in American and British English:

  • Adidas (əˈdiːdəs / ˈɑdidɑs)
  • address (ˈædres / əˈdrɛs)
    • As a noun, both pronunciations are acceptable in both varieties of English
    • As a verb, the second syllable is stressed in both varieties of English
  • adult (əˈdʌlt / ˈædʌlt)
    • As a noun, both pronunciations are acceptable in both varieties of English
  • advertisement (ˈædvɜːrtaɪzmənt / ədˈvɜːrtɪzmənt)
  • after (ˈæftər / ˈɑːftə)
  • ask (æsk / ɑːsk)
  • aunt (ænt / ɑːnt)
  • ballet (ˈbæleɪ / bæˈleɪ)
  • basil (ˈbæzəl / ˈbɑːzəl)
  • bath (bæθ / bɑːθ)
  • been (bɪn / biːn)
  • beta (ˈbeɪtə / biːtə)
  • better (ˈbɛtər / ˈbɛtə)
    • tt is pronounced as a flap /ɾ/ in American English
  • bonnet (ˈbɑnɪt / ˈbɒnɪt)
  • bowl (boʊl / bəʊl)
  • brochures (ˈbroʊʃʊrz / ˈbrəʊʃərz)
  • butter (ˈbʌtər / ˈbʌtə)
    • tt is pronounced as a flap /ɾ/ in American English
  • can’t (kænt / kɑːnt)
  • car (kɑːr / kɑː)
  • chance (tʃæns / tʃɑːns)
  • class (klæs / klɑːs)
  • common (ˈkɑː.mən / ˈkɒm.ən)
  • computer (kəmˈpjuːtər / kəmˈpjuːtə)
  • current (ˈkɜːrənt / ˈkʌrənt)
  • data (ˈdætə / ˈdeɪtə)
    • Only /ˈdeɪ.tə/ is acceptable in British English
    • Both pronunciations are acceptable in American English
  • dance (dæns / dɑːns)
  • direct (daɪˈrekt / dəˈrekt)
  • either (ˈiːðər / ˈaɪðə)
  • example (ɪɡˈzæmpəl / ɪɡˈzɑːmpəl)
  • finale (fɪˈnæli / fɪˈnɑːli)
  • garage (ɡəˈrɑːʒ / ˈɡærɪdʒ)
  • glass (ɡlæs / ɡlɑːs)
  • half (hæf / hɑːf)
  • herb (ɜːrb / hɜːrb)
  • Jaguar (ˈdʒæɡwɑːr / ˈdʒæɡjuːər)
  • laugh (læf / lɑːf)
  • leisure (ˈliːʒər / ˈlɛʒər)
  • mask (mæsk / mɑːsk)
  • mascara (mæˈskɛrə / məˈskɑːrə)
  • mobile (moʊbiːl / məʊbaɪl)
  • neither (ˈniːðər / ˈnaɪðə)
  • Nike (ˈnaɪki / ˈnaɪk)
  • novice (ˈnɑːvɪs / ˈnɒvɪs)
  • pass (pæs / pɑːs)
  • pasta (ˈpæstə / ˈpɑːstə)
  • path (pæθ / pɑːθ)
  • possible (ˈpɑːsəbəl / ˈpɒsəbəl)
  • research (ˈriːsɜːrtʃ / rɪˈsɜːtʃ)
    • As a noun, both pronunciations are acceptable in both varieties of English
    • As a verb, the second syllable is stressed in British English, but the first syllable is stressed in American English
  • respide (ˈrɛspɪd / rɪˈspaɪd)
  • route (raʊt / ruːt)
  • schedule (ˈskedʒuːl / ˈʃedjuːl)
  • status (ˈstætəs / ˈsteɪtəs)
  • supermarket (ˈsjuːpərˌmɑrːkɪt / ˈsuːpəˌmɑːkɪt)
  • telecom (ˈtel.ɪ.kɑːm / ˈtel.ɪ.kɒm)
  • them (ðem / ðəm)
  • tomato (təˈmeɪtoʊ / təˈmɑːtoʊ)
  • vaccine (ˈvækˌsiːn / ˈvɑkˌsiːn)
  • vase (veɪs / vɑːz)
  • via (ˈviːə / ˈvaɪə)
  • vitamin (ˈvaɪtəmɪn / ˈvɪtəmɪn)
  • water (ˈwɔːtər / ˈwɒtər)
  • zebra (ˈziːbrə / ˈzɛbrə)
  • …

Vocabulary

The most noticeable difference between American and British English is vocabulary. There are hundreds of everyday words that are different:

  • allowance / pocket money
  • aluminum / aluminium
  • autumn or fall / autumn
  • apartment / flat
  • apartment building / block of flats
  • attorney / barrister
  • backpack / rucksack
  • backside / bottom
  • band-aid / plaster
  • bangs / fringe
  • bathing suit / swimming costume
  • bill or check / bill
  • cafeteria / canteen
  • can / tin
  • candy / sweets
  • cell phone / mobile phone
  • chest / cabinet
  • chips / crisps
  • closet / wardrobe
  • cookie / biscuit
  • corn / maize
  • counter-clockwise / anti-clockwise
  • crib / cot
  • crosswalk / zebra crossing
  • detour / diversion
  • diaper / nappy
  • drape / curtain
  • drugstore / chemist’s
  • dust bin / trash can
  • eggplant / aubergine
  • elementary school / primary school
  • elevator / lift
  • eraser / rubber
  • facuet / tap
  • fall / autumn
  • flashlight / torch
  • flyover / overpass
  • freeway / motorway
  • french fries or fries / chips
  • garbage (trash) / rubbish
  • garbage can, trash can / dustbin
  • garbage collector / dustman
  • gas (gasoline) / petrol (fuel)
  • gearshift / gear-lever
  • gray / grey
  • hat / bonnet (clothing)
  • hight way / motorway
  • high school / secondary school
  • hood / bonnet (car)
  • intersection; crossroads (rural) / crossroads
  • ladybug / ladybird
  • line / queue
  • mail / post
  • mailbox / postbox
  • math / maths
  • movie / film
  • overpass / flyover
  • pacifier (binky) / dummy (for baby)
  • pajamas / pyjamas
  • pants / trousers
  • pants / underwear
  • parking lot / carpark
  • poop / poo
  • potato chips / crisps
  • principal / headteacher
  • railroad / railway
  • recess / break time
  • restroom or bathroom / toilet or lavatory
  • resume / CV
  • takeout / takeaway
  • tie / draw
  • tire / tyre
  • trailer / caravan
  • trailer truck / articulated lorry
  • truck / lorry
  • trunk / boot
  • semester / term
  • schedule / timetable
  • sidewalk / pavement
  • silverware / cutlery
  • sneakers / trainers
  • soccer / football
  • stroller / pushchair or pram
  • subway / underground
  • sweater / jumper
  • test / exam
  • trunk / boot
  • undershirt / vest
  • vacation / holiday or hols
  • vest / waistcoat
  • windshield / windscreen
  • wrench / spanner
  • zip code / postcode
  • zuccini / courgette
  • …

Spelling

There are hundreds of minor spelling differences between British and American English. You can thank American lexicographer Noah Webster for this. Below are three rules you can follow:

  • -or / -our (Most words)
    • behavior / behaviour
    • color / colour
    • favor / favour
    • honor / honour
    • humor / humour
    • labor / labour
    • neighbor / neighbour
  • -er / -re (Most words)
    • center / centre
    • liter / litre
  • -ize / -ise (Many verbs)
    • analyze / analyse
    • organize / organise
    • realize / realise
    • recognize / recognise

Grammar

There are a few grammatical differences between the two varieties of English.

Collective nouns

Singular in American English, but in British English, it can be singular or plural.

  • The team is good / The team are(is) playing tonight

Auxiliary verbs

Auxiliary verbs, also known as helping verbs, are verbs that help form a grammatical function. They “help” the main verb by adding information about time, modality and voice.

  • “I will go home now.” / “I shall go home now.”
  • “Should we go now?” / “Shall we go now?”
  • “You do not need to come to work today.” / “You needn’t come to work today.”

Past tense verbs

There are some small differences with past forms of irregular verbs.

Americans tend to use the –ed ending; Brits tend to use the -t ending:

  • burned / burned or burnt
  • dreamed / dreamed or dreamt
  • learned / learned or learnt

In the past participle form, Americans tend to use the –en ending for some irregular verbs. Americans use both got and gotten in the past participle. Brits only use got.

  • “I have never gotten caught.” / “I have never got caught.”

Tag questions

A tag question is a grammatical form that turns a statement into a question. For example, “The whole situation is unfortunate, isn’t it?” or, “You don’t like him, do you?”

The tag includes a pronoun and its matching form of the verb be, have or do. Tag questions encourage people to respond and agree with the speaker. Americans use tag questions, too, but less often than Brits.

References