English, translated.

from JoeUser Forums

I've been asked quite a bit recently about the different words we Brits use for stuff. I thought I'd write a blog about it. I'm just randomly throwing things out as I think of them, so I'm bound to miss a lot.  If you can think of any more, feel free to add them.

Chips = french fries

Crisps = chips

Biscuits = cookies (when I first came to the states someone told me we were having biscuits and gravy for breakfast and didn't understand why I was so disgusted!)

Scones = biscuits

Jelly = Jello

Jam = jelly

Path or pavement = sidewalk

Petrol = gas

Gas = propane

Tomato sauce = ketchup

Brown sauce = A1

Tart = slut

Slag = whore

Ponce = Playa'

Football = soccer

Rounders = baseball (sort of)

Netball = basketball (again, sort of)

Gearbox = transmission

Telly = Boob Tube

Boob Tube = halter top

"knock me up" = ring someone's door bell or knock on their door.

"give me a ring/bell" = call me on the telephone.

Then we get into the spelling differences -

Tyre = tire

Kerb = curb

Cheque = check

Programme = TV program or show

Colour = color

Favourite = favorite

 

That's all I can think of at the moment.  I'll add more as I recall them.

 

 

 

misc
5,181 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
So similar yet... so different.

Cookies and gravy... I'd be disgusted too =D
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top

Cushions = throw pillows

Pictures = movies

Wanker = idiot, moron, jackass...you get the idea.

To wank = to masturbate

 

Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
I know, I know!

boot = trunk of the car

bonnet = hood of the car

screen = windshield

The Dole = Public assistance, welfare

spanner = wrench

-- B
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
One might also think to include terms relating to automobiles such as Bonnet, etc. I'd do so but I've forgotten the lot of them

Some things I picked up from an ER episode set in London: (no guarantees to acuracy)

Trauma vs. Emergency Room

"Male" or "Female" are not used as nouns but rather adjuctives only
Proper description of the patient is "Man" or "Woman"

If I remember some of the others I'll post up
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
Nice, now we can finally understand English in this country!...lol

~Zoo
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top

Dharma I think you should go into the highly efficient use of the terms snogging, shifting, shagging and pulling (some of those might be more Irish than English--I'm not really sure), instead of the American "hook up."


 

Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
One more for your list: gaol = jail

Another aspect is pronunciation: e.g. bouy is pronounced boy in England but booey in the US
And you could also write a whole blog on the pronunciation of British towns like Leicester, Towcester and Worcester etc etc
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top

you learn something new everyday here... Some of these I was familiar with from long nights watching Red Dwarf, Dr. Who, and of course Benny Hill....

Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
So, Grey, if you watched Red Dwarf, you'd be smiliar with the term 'smeghead'...but do you know what smegma is?
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top

Sir Syrrus got me thinking about medical terminologies and related things that are different..

in England, we say "in hospital" instead of "in THE hospital".

Casualty = ER

'open your bowels' = poop

appendicectomy = appendectomy

migraine is sometimes pronouned 'mee-grain'.

drip = IV

Pronunciations of towns: Worcester = wuss-ter...ergo it's 'wuss-ter-sheer sauce'

Leicester = Less-ter

Towcester = Toaster.

Bicester (where I'm from) = Biss-ter.

Birmingham = burr-ming-um.

Hertfordshire = Hart-ford-shire, not 'hurt-ford-shire'

Basically, pronounce 'shire' when it comes as part of a County name (Lancashire, Buckinghamshire etc) as 'sheer'.

More to follow...