Vocabulary

- The largest differences between British and American English lie in the choice of vocabulary.
Some words mean different things in the two varieties, for example:
Mean: American English - angry, bad humored, British English - not generous, tight-fisted.
American English: Don't be so mean to your sister!
British English: She's so mean she won't even pay for a cup of tea.
- There are many examples of the same thing being referred to by different words depending on
if you are using American or British English. Here are just a few more examples of two different
words being used to refer to the same thing:
 Fries (American) vs. chips (British)
 cotton candy (American) vs. candyfloss (British)
 apartment (American) vs. flat (British)
 garbage (American) vs. rubbish (British)
 cookie (American) vs. biscuit (British)
 green thumb (American) vs. green fingers (British)
 parking lot (American) vs. car park (British)
 pants (American) vs. trousers (British)
 windshield (American) vs. windscreen (British)
 Elevator ( American) vs. lift (British)
 Garbage (American) vs. rubbish (British)

 Vacation (American) vs. holiday (British)

 Truck (American) vs. lorry (British)
 Fall (American) vs. Autumn (British)
 Mad (American) vs. Angry ( British)
 Sick ( American) vs. Ill (British)