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.