In Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost, set in the English country side, he writes, “ We really have everything in common with American nowadays except, of course, language.”
No one bothered to share this with me before I hopped across the pond. Maybe people haven’t read the book, or people didn’t believe it because it’s a fictitious book. Either way it would have been helpful to know because Mr. Wilde is indeed correct. British English and American English use the same language but different words, which in turn can make for some interesting conversations.
I would like to bring to your attention the diverse differences in the word usage between these two English speaking countries. Whether you come to London for business, holiday/vacation, or to study it would be best for anyone to know a handful of these words.
Now, my interpretation may be different from someone else. Remember Great Britain has had the English language far longer than America, allowing for more variation than American English. I will stop here before I get into philosophy and semiotics but note that some British English speakers may not agree with my translations… if we I may call them that.
Here we go:
In America when you don’t feel good you would say, “ I am sick or I feel sick.”
In England you would say, “I am ill”, or potential, “I am poorly or I am feeling poorly.”
Whilst feeling sick, in America you may ask for some Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, or other medicine for making pain go away.
In England you most likely will here someone ask you for parcetymol. (A word that spell check doesn’t even recognize). They mean anything similar to the drugs listed above.
In America you use the vacuum to vacuum the house.
In England you use the hoover to hoover your room. No need to capitalize.
In America when you cook some thing on the stove you put the pot on the burner.
In England you would say hob. You must say it in a British accent though.
In America you would say cigarette.
In England it is a fag. This is a key one to remember so you are not taken of guard or offended when someone asks you for one.
In America the thing that has pedals, two wheels, and handle bars is a bike and with that you could in theory bike anywhere.
In England it is a little more complicated but sounds far classier. You own a bike in which you cycle on. So you would cycle to work, and you may even call yourself a cyclist if you choose to not have a car.
In America we have the USPS(United States Postal Service), yet we still call the stuff delivered at our door the mail. We have mail boxes but yet we go to the post office.
Well just like in Harry Potter you have the post in England. Just don’t use the word mail and you will be good.
And this is just skimming the surface. Stay tuned for more, much more.
Always remember, you may share the same language but that does not insinuate a shared understanding.
My Cup of Tea 