Brit. and Amer. | englishcourse

British and American English

Check the following video and learn some peculiar characterstics between British and American English.

There are many British words which are different to American words.
For example:

A lorry is a slimmer truck.
A lift is an elevator.
A fortnight is two weeks.
A chemist is a person who works in a drugstore.
A dual carriageway is a freeway.

Link: http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/americanbritish.htm

Image retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/teacherarianamartins

More than 1500 million of people speak English around the world. Hogg and Denison (2006) point out that English was originated in Britain during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is spoken as a first or second language in many countries. English is the first language in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas and Barbados. On the other hand, India, Pakistan, South Africa and Nigeria have adopted English as an official language.

Hogg, R. and Denison, D. (2006) A history of the English Language. CambridgeCUP.

CLICK on the book to know about the history of the English language

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La siguiente información me parece de suma importancia para todos aquellos cuyo interés se centre en identificar y en comprender ciertas diferencias entre el inglés británico y americano.

En mi opinión, la mayoría de los estudiantes del idioma inglés no alcanzamos a identificar las diferencias entre estos tipos de inglés por múltiples razones. La confusión es mayor cuando leemos o escuchamos algo totalmente diferente a lo que nos están enseñando. De aquí mi interés en compartir la siguiente información. Pon especial atención en las palabras de la parte de vocabulario que normalmente vienen en nuestros libros de inglés tales como autum, lift, trunk, underground y entonces sabrás a que me refiero - respecto a la parte confusa del idioma inglés.

British and American English based on the Oxford dictionary.

Both types of English differ in pronunciation, vocabulary, spelling and grammar.

Pronunciation / Pronunciación. Buffet (British) / ˈbʊfeɪ / or / ˈbʌfeɪ /. (American) / bəˈfeɪ /

Tomato (British) / təˈmɑ:təʊ / . (American) / təˈmeɪtəʊ /

In British English the consonant /r/ is pronounced only when it goes before a vowel for example: red /red/ and rabbit /'ræbɪt/. In all other cases the /r/ is silent for example: Car / cɑ: /, learn /lɜ:n/, chair /tʃeə:/ and over /ˈəʊvə:/ .

In American English the /r/ is ALWAYS pronounced. / En inglés americano el sonido /r/ SIEMPRE se pronuncia.

Vocabulary

Inglés Británico / Inglés Americano = Significado en español

British / American = Meaning in Spanish

Aerial / Antenna = Antena

Anticlockwise / Counterclockwise = Sentido contrario del reloj

Aubergine / Eggplant = Berenjena

Autum / Fall =Otoño

Bank Holiday / National Holiday = Día de feria

Bank Note / Bill = Billete

Bill / Check = Factura

Biscuit / Cookie = Galleta

Block of Flats / Apartament Building = Edificio de apartamentos

Bonnet / Hood = Capote del coche

Boot / Trunk = Cajuela del auto

Braces / Suspenders = Tirantes

Built-in Wardrobe / Walk-in closet = Vestuario

Capitalise / Capilatize = Capitalizar

Caravan / Trailer = Caravana

Caretaker / Janitor or Custodian =Encargado de Edificio

Car Park / Parking Lot = Aparcamiento

Carrier Bag / Shopping Bag = Bolsa de compras

Catalogue / Catalog = Catálogo

Cellar / Basement = Sótano

Centre / Center = Centro

Chat Show / Talk Show = Entrevistas

Chemist / Druggist or Pharmacist = Farmacéutico

Cheque / Check = Cheque

Chips / French Fries = Papas Fritas

Colour / Color = Color

Conscription / Draft = Servicio Militar

Corn / Grain = Cereal

Cul-de-sac / Dead End = Calle sin salida

Current Account / Savings Account = Cuenta corriente

Defence / Defense = Defensa

District / Precint = Distrito

Diversion / Detour = Ruta Alternativa

Dual Carriageway / Divided Highway =Autopista de dos carriles

Engaged / Busy = Ocupado

Estate Agent / Relator = Agente Inmobiliario

Flat / Apartament = Apartamento

Football / Soccer = Fútbol

Foyer / Lobby Hall = Vestíbulo

Full Stop / Period = Punto (In writing. En escritura)

Garbage / Rubbish = Basura

Headmaster / Principal = Director

Hoarding / Billboard = Cartel publicitario

Holidays / Vacations =Vacaciones

Honour / Honor = Honor

Ill / Sick = Enfermo

Joint / Roast = Carne asada

Kerb / Curb = Cordón de la Vereda, bordillo

Labour / Labor = Trabajo

Lift / Elevator =Ascensor

Light / Lite = Luz

Lorry / Truck = Camión

Luggage / Baggage = Equipaje

Maize / Corn = Maíz

Managing Director / President = Director general de una compañia

Motorway / Freeway or Highway = Autopista

Murder / Homicide or Hit = Asesinato

Nappy / Diaper = Pañal

News Cutting / News Clipping = Recortes de Prensa

Night / Nite = NocheNought / Zero = Cero

Number plate / License Plate = Placa

Outside Lane / Fast Lane = Carril Rápido

Pants / Underpants or Briefs = Calzoncillos

Paraffin / Kerosene = Queroseno

Pavement / Sidewalk =Vereda

Petrol / Gasoline = Gasolina

Policeman / Cop = Policía

Potato Crisps / Potato Chips = Patatas en bolsa

Pram / Baby Carriage = Carricoche para bebes

Prision / Penitentiary = Cárcel

Programme / Program = Programa

Pushchair / Stroller = Silla de paseo para niños pequeños

Queue / Line = Cola o linea de personas formadas

Railway / Railroad = Vía del tren

Return Ticket / Round Trip Ticket = Ticket de ida y vuelta

Road or Roadway / Pavement Pavimento

Roundabout / Traffic or Circle or Rotary = Rotonda (Glorieta, plaza circular)

Rowing Boat / Row Boat = Bote a Remo

Rubber / Eraser = Goma de borrar

Rubbis bin / Trash Can = Basurero

Sellotape / Scotch or Adhesive Tape = Cinta Scoth

Share / Stock = Acción financiera

Sick / Dizzy = Mareado

Single/ One-way = Descartable (A one-way ticket: Un boleto de ida)

Slowcoach / Slowpoke = Vago / Perezoso

Spanner / Wrench = Llave inglesa mecánica

Staircase / Stairway = Escaleras

Stalls / Orchesta Seats = Escenario o plateas

STD Code / Area Code = Código de Area

Sweet / Candy = Caramelo

Simming Custome / Swimsuit = Traje de baño

Tap / Faucet = Llave de agua

Taxi / Cab = Taxi

Tea Towel / Dishcloth = Trapo de cocina

Theatre / Theater = Teatro

Through / Thru = A través de

Tights / Pantyhose = pantis o medias

Tin / Can = Lata

T-junction / Intersection = Cruce de rutas (cruce, intersección)

To be in Plaster / To be in a Cast = Fractura

To Fancy / To Like = Gustar

To Let / To Lease or To Rent = Alquilar

To Post / To Mail = Enviar por correo

To Ring Up / To Call Up = Llamar por teléfono

To Telegram / To Wire = Enviar telegrama

Toilet / Bathroom = Baño

Torch / Flashlight = Linterna

Traffic Lights / Stop Lights or Traffic Signals = Semáforos

Tramway / Streetcar = Tranvía

Traveller / Traveler = Viajante

Trousers / Pants = Pantalones

Underground / Subway = Subterráneo

Van / Panel Truck = Camión de reparto

Vest / Undershirt = Camiseta

Waistcoat / Vest = Chaleco

Wardrobe / Closet = Ropero

Whore or Tart / Hooker or Street Walker = Prostituta

Windscreen / Windshield = Parabrisas del auto

Zebra Crossing / Crosswalk = Paso de peatones

Spelling / Ortografía.In verbs which end in “L” and are not stressed on the final syllable, the “L” is not doubled in the “ing” form and the “past participle”:

Los verbos que terminan en "L" y que no se estresan en la sílaba final, la "L" no se dobla con la terminación "ing" así como tampoco en el "pasado participio" del verbo:

(British) Travel-travelled-travelled and travelling. Cancel-cancelled-cancelled and cancelling. (American) Travel-traveled-traveled and canceling. Cancel-canceled-canceled and canceling. British words that end in “tre” changes to “ter” for American English. Example: Centre to center, theatre to theater.

Las palabras británica que terminan en "tre" cambian por "ter" en el inglés americano. Ejemplo: Centre to center, theatre to theater.British words ending in “our” change to “or” / Las palabras Britanicas que terminan en "our" cambian por "or": Colour to color.

British words ending in “ogue” change to “”og” as in dialogue to dialog. British verbs have endings with “ize” or “ise” such as realize or realise, but in American English “ize” is only possible as in realize.

Grammar: Present perfect / simple past

The adverbs “already”, “just”, and “yet” can be used in British English for the present perfect, but they can be used for the simple past in American English.

Los adverbios "already = ya", "just = recién", y "yet = aún o todavía" pueden ser usados en el ingles británico para la forma de presente perfecto, pero esos mismos adverbios se usan en la forma del pasado simple en el inglés americano.

British: I have already given her the present. = Ya le he dado su regalo.

I’ve just seen her. = Recién la he visto.

Have you heard the news yet? = ¿Ya has escuchado las noticias?

American: I already gave her the present. = Ya le dí su regalo.

I just saw her. = Le acabo de ver.

Did you hear the news yet? = ¿Ya escuchaste las noticias?

Have / have got

In British English it is possible to use “have got” or “have” to express the idea of possession. In American English only “have” can be used in questions and in negative sentences:

Positive: I have / have got a computer (British and American English)

Question: Have you got a computer? Yes, I have. (British English)

Negative: I haven’t got a computer. (British English)

Question: Do you have a computer? Yes, I do. (American English)

Negative: I don’t have a computer. (American English)

GOT / GOTTEN. (El verbo GET en sus formas GOT y GOTTEN).

In British English the past participle of get is got. In American English the past participle of get is gotten.

Prepositions and adverbs / Preposiciones y adverbios.

Some of them have different uses. / Estas son algunas diferencias y usos.

Example:Stay at home (British) = Quedarse en casa.

Stay home (American) = Quedarse en casa.

WATCH OUT!! OJO!!

Form of the adverb / Forma del adverbio.

In INFORMAL American English the adverbs ending with “ly” is often not used. / En el inglés americano INFORMAL, los adverbios con terminación "ly" NO son muy comunes.

Example: He looked at me really strangely (British)

He looked at me really strange (American)

NOTA para los estudiantes: Estas 2 expresiones en español significan "El me miro de manera muy extraña".

Shall

Shall is used for future and for polite offers in British English:

I shall / will be here tomorrow (future)

Shall I open the window? (Polite)

Instead of shall we use “will” for future and “should” for polite offers:I will be here tomorrow (Future)

Should I open the window? (Polite)

Irregular verbs / verbos irregulares.

In American English the past simple and the past participles of the verbs are normally formed with “ed”. In British English they can be formed with “ed” or “t”.

They burned the documents (American)

They burned / burnt the documents (British)

When the verbs are used as adjectives the British use the “t” form but Americans use “d”:

A spoilt child (British)

A spoiled child (American)

Burnt toast (British and American)

Go / come and…In American the connector “and” is often omitted. / En el inglés americano a menudo se omite el conector "and = y".

1. Go and take a look outside (British) = Ve y echa un vistazo allá afuera.

2. Go take a look outside (American) = Ve y echa un vistazo allá afuera.

Click to go to a larger list of words from American to British English

Click to go to a larger list of words from British to American English

This is one of the British colloquial ways to speak.

Esta es una de las formas coloquiales en la que muchos británicos hablan.

- Now, (1)I’m gonna give you some slangs, some American slangs. (2)We’re gonna take turns, (3)we'll see how much you know and how much I know.
- OK.
- OK? (4)The first one I’m gonna give you is flossing. Do you know what flossing means?
- You mean actually flossing?
- No! It's slang.
- It’s slang.
- I...you... I mean, You do know what actual flossing is.
- I know. (7)I know the American’s opinion of British dental practice. But yes, I do know what that is.
- Flossing.
- (8)That would be something close-fitting and...uh… no. I know. I don’t know…
- No. Oh, there was...
- That would be...
- (9)That was to really show you how wrong you were!
- Wait. That’s kind of rubbing it in, (11)that's sort of aggressive.
- Yeah, really, it was aggressive. I’m sorry, 'cause I could’ve just say no. But we just... (12)in America we like to really rub it in.
- With a Claxon!
- Ah, it’s showing off, flossing.
- Really?
- Yeah, (13)showing off is flossing!
- OK.
- Yes!
- (14)All right! What sound does it make when you’re right? It’s a... it's buzz...
- Ding! Like that! Yea. Which is... it's probably a different sound in England.
- It is, yeah. Well, whatever right’s in England…

- Shin Wag! shin wag! ++++ say again.
- Shin Wag?
- Yeah!
- That would be… uh.. uh.. a blundering idiot! A shin wag. You shin wag! No?
- No! It's... it’s actually, it's... it's a verb, and it means to chat, literally to-to wag your chin. It's actually very literal... it’s not very...
- Shin wag!
- Chin, chin, chin wag. (15)Did I mispronounce it?
- I think that’s why... I would’ve never gotten it wrong.
- Oooh….
- I just couldn’t understand the thick British accent.
- Should we look at that in slow motion?
- Yeah. chin wag, of course!
- Yes.
- That does sound like.., all right!
- So we’re tied?
- Yes! Tied at nothing.

- Ba-donka-donk!
- Means to pass someone on a motorcycle and then see a police car and brake suddenly, right?... No.
- (16)It’s an extremely curvaceous female behind.
- Right!
- Ba-donka-donk!
- Right. We definitively don’t have those in ++++.
- You don’t have?
- No, Is it Ba...Ba-donk-…. Ba-donka-donk!
- Ba-donka-donk.
- (17)It’s a fantastic word!
- Ain't it great? You'll use it from now on! … I enjoy your Ba-donka-donk, honey! All right?
- That’s fantastic.

- Shuffed to bits!
- Chuft...?
- Shuffed to bits.
- Shuft to bits.
- Chuffed.
- Chuffed.
- Yeah.
- Like "chin"?
- Yes, if you like...
- Chuffed to bits.
- Yeah.
- Oh, just exhausted!
- No, no! It’s-it's to be really pleased, to be really pleased by..., to be thrilled by something. I’m chuffed to bits!
- That’s what I meant.
- I’m really delight by...
- Fine.
- Chuffed to bits by...
- Alright.
- I would be chuffed to bits by your ba-donka-donk, for example.
- Yes… we’re gonna end on this one because everyone has learned this watching the show cause I’ve helped them.

- Shawty.
- Shawdy?
- Shawty.
- Uh...
- Shawty. Shawty had them Apple Bottom jeans, boots with the fur.
- Uhm...
- Shawty had them baggy sweat pants, Reeboks with the straps... turn around and give them…
- Is this all one word?
- Shawty.
- Right.
- She hit the floor, she hit the floor…
- Yeah, none of this is helping!
- Shawty got low low low low...
- No. I'm not gonna...
- Shawty is a young kid or a woman.
- Really?
- Yep
- I wouldn't know.
- No.

Hugh Laurie: the British accent vs the American accent.

Some phrases translation

TRADUCCIÓN de algunas fráses.

1.I'm gonna give you some slangs= Te voy a decir algunas frases coloquiales.

2. We're gonna take turns= Nos vamos turnando.

(3). veremos cuanto sabes y cuanto sé yo.

(4). La primera que te diré es 'flossing'.

5. Do you know what flossing mean?= Sabes qué significa 'flossing'?

6. You mean actually flossing= En realidad quieres decir 'flossing'?

(7). Sé la oipinión americana de la práctica dental británica.

(8). Sería algo como "muy ajustado".

(9). Eso fue para demostrarte que tan equivocado estabas.

(10) Eso fue como si me lo restregaras en la cara.

11. that's sort of agressive= Fue algo agresivo.

(12). en america, nos gusta de verdad restregarselos.

13. Showing off is flossing= presumir es lo que significa 'flossing'.

(14). Ah, qué bien. Cuál es el sonido que indica que tú estás en lo cierto?

(15). Lo pronuncié mal

(16). Significa que es una mujer con buenas curvas detrás.

17. It's a fantastic word!= es una palabra fantástica.

Meanings

FLOSSING= The act of using a thread covered with wax (called "dental floss) to clean the in-between parts of your teeth.

CLOSE-FITTING= Tight (literally).

RUBBING IT IN= to tell someone about their mistakes or defects in a very obvious, direct and probably repeatedly manner.

SHOWING OFF= to impress someone else.

BLUNDERING= Who makes mistakes.

YOU SHIN WAG!= It is very common in English to insult somebody using "YOU + noun", for example: "shut up, you idiot!". It makes the insult sound stronger.

WAG= To move something from side to side, for example: a dog wagging its tale when it's happy.

CHAT= Talk to someone in a casual relaxed conversation.

MISPRONOUNCE= Pronounce wrongly.

WE'RE TIED?= In a competition, "a tie" is when both teams or people have the same score.

BRAKE= to reduce speed or stop your vehicle.

CURVACEOUS= (formal) With a lot of curves.

BEHIND= it is considered an euphemism= Bottom. The part of your body where you sit. The end of your back. THRILLED= Very excited.

SHAWTY= (American slang).= "Shorty". This word originally comes from American black English, and they don't pronounce the /r/ if it's not followed by a vowel (the same as British).

YEP= (coll.) Yes.

The Cockney Rhyming Slang is the secret language of some Londoners.

Pay attention to these videos so that this style won't be foreign to you.

GOOD LUCK!

Cockney Rhyming Slang is one of the ways to speak by some people of the East End of London.

Look at the following paragraphs.

Cockney Rhyming Slang: 'Allo me old china - wot say we pop round the Jack. I'll stand you a pig and you can rabbit on about your teapots. We can 'ave some loop and tommy and be off before the dickory hits twelve.

Standar English: Hello my old mate (china plate) - what do you say we pop around to the bar (Jack Tar). I'll buy you a beer (pig's ear) and you can talk (rabbit and pork) about your kids (teapot lids). We can have some soup (loop de loop) and supper (Tommy Tucker) and be gone before the clock (hickory dickory dock) strikes twelve. (Adapted from Cockney Rhyming Slang Dictionary).