VOCABULARY CLASH

American Vs British English: Did You Know How These 10 Words Differ?

On July 4, 1776, when the Thirteen Colonies signed the Declaration of Independence, America declared to the world that from that day onward, the United States and Britain were two distinct sovereign countries. This separation not only marked the birth of a nation but also symbolized the construction of a new American identity, composed of a new culture, traditions, and, perhaps more importantly for this article, slang.

Over 240 years have passed since the Declaration of Independence and, in that time, American and British vocabulary have grown so far apart that they can sometimes feel like two entirely different languages. We have decided to compile the 10 most radical differences between American and British slang in the hope that, should you find yourself on the opposite side of the pond, you can turn to this handy guide for help. Enjoy!

Credit: Andreas Rasmussen

Need to shine a light in a dark place? Grab that helpful flashlight! This quintessential camping item is the perfect companion for when moonlight is not enough to illuminate your lovely campsite. Having said that, the word used in the United Kingdom for this tool seems slightly archaic, almost as if you had to light a flashlight on fire to be able to use it.

In case you haven’t guessed by now, British people call flashlights "torches". This word is obviously inspired by this modern gadget's predecessor since a torch is a stick with a flammable material on one end that’s lit to provide a light source.

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This is one of the most divisive differences on this list. Should a British person ask an American for some "chips", he might be handed a Pringles can, to his extreme bewilderment. The answer is the rather simple but extreme difference between the terms the U.S. and the United Kingdom use to describe this fast-food staple.

What we Americans call French fries are known as "chips" by British people. Not only that, the chips you might find in a bag of Lays are commonly known in the U.K. as "crisps". While this dissimilarity is rather well-known (after all, Britain’s signature dish is their world-famous "fish & chips"), keep this in mind the next time you are craving fries in the United Kingdom.

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Just like a flashlight, a trailer is a camper’s best friend. While tents provide us with some priceless outdoor memories, they aren’t nearly as comfortable or mobile as a good trailer is. And although they may not be as luxurious as their close cousin the motorhome, a trailer is definitely an excellent option for those restless travelers hell-bent on freely roaming through America.

Now, should these fictional travelers want to discover the gorgeous landscapes the United Kingdom has to offer, they might want to look into investing in a trustworthy caravan. The British term for trailers seems to lean more towards the companionship side of this type of vehicle. It’s not a rare sight to see several numbers of caravans parked in the same location, filled with people enjoying the company of fellow travelers.

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Regardless of its meaning, doesn’t the word "trash" sound a bit too aggressive? Granted, it is used to describe those things that are discarded, so its usage as a derogatory term seems only natural. And it's not like we can use any other synonym: "garbage" or "waste" sound just as bad. However, the British slang term for "trash" might be a tad less off-putting to American ears.

Instead of going to the nearest trash can, if there’s anything you need to discard in England, you throw it into the rubbish bin. Let’s be honest here: Doesn’t the word "rubbish" sound a little more whimsical? In any case, it might be that we are too used to its American counterpart. After all, if someone tells you that your cooking is "rubbish", they’ll probably offend you just the same.

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Here’s a little reminder: Should you ever find yourself in a high-speed chase through the busy streets of London, remember that you won’t make your driver go any faster by yelling "Step on the gas!" Granted, you probably won’t need this information unless you are Jason Bourne, but it should be said that the only thing this will result in is your driver’s perplexity.

Fuel in the United Kingdom is commonly known as "petrol", consequently, a gas station is called a "petrol station." However, British people do use the term gas to describe the gaseous fuel that is used for cooking and heating.

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Another entry related to the world of cars, the place where you put your suitcases before a long and memorable road trip is described in different terms in the United Kingdom and America. If someone from Britain asks an American to check on the car "boot", he might doubtfully take a look at the car’s wheels, hoping to see some stylish type of footwear there.

English people call the boot what we Americans know as the trunk. The difference doesn’t end here, though. In the U.K., a "car boot sale" describes when someone showcases items for sale from the back of their car. Much like American "garage sales", this term is now synonymous with all second-hand sales, regardless of where they are sold.

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This one is rather well-known, but it was too good not to include. Your local "watering hole" can be a place to enjoy yourself, a place where everyone knows you, and where you can spend some quality time with friends and family. While we know these places as bars in America, their British equivalents literally have this sense of community and sharing hidden in their name.

Did you know that the British slang word "pub" is actually a shortened version of another term? Most of these iconic English bars share a similar aesthetic, as well as a history that dates back to at least the 17th century. In those days, pubs were known as "public houses", but they still served the same function: To provide the town with a fun and welcoming environment in which the community could gather.

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Have you ever wondered where "eggplants" got their name? This dark-purple vegetable doesn’t really look like any edible egg we can think of, so you might be wondering which similarity (if any) inspired the name. Well, the answer is rather simple: While the most commonly consumed eggplants have this characteristic purple color, the white variety grown in America and Australia during the 18th century did, in fact, resemble hen eggs. And while this term is the most widely used in the English-speaking world, people in the United Kingdom know this delicious vegetable by another name.

Funnily enough, the birthplace of the English language uses the French word aubergine to describe the eggplant. This word seems to be the most commonly accepted in Europe since other countries like Germany and the Netherlands also use it.

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Sneakers are so stylish nowadays that it's easy to forget that they are mainly designed as sportswear. Their primary function is to provide a comfortable and supportive footing for physical exercise. The British slang term for these athletic shoes perfectly describes this purpose: They are known as "trainers" for a reason. However, have you ever wondered why we call them "sneakers" in America?

Most historians believe that the term was coined by an advertising agent named Henry Nelson McKinney, who, in 1917, realized that the rubber soles of these shoes were particularly quiet when walking, especially compared to loud dress shoes. Funnily enough, when the first version of this shoe was created in the 19th century, it was simply known as the "plimsoll."

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We’ll end with two of the most dissimilar entries in this article. "Pants" and "Trousers" describe exactly the same thing: an item of clothing for the lower half of our body. However, they sound insanely different, and with good reason: Although they both have identical meanings, their etymological roots are completely different.

The British term "trousers" comes from the Old English word trouzes, which in turn comes from the Gaelic word triubhas, which roughly translates to "close-fitting shorts". Pants, on the other hand, is a shortened version of "pantaloons", a 17th-century word used to describe clothing that closely resembled tights. Interestingly, this term was inspired by a central character in a 16th-century Italian comedy called Pantalone, who wore similar garments.

AMERICAN ATHLETIC PANTHEON

USA, USA! Relive Ten Iconic Moments in American Sports History!

Credit: Vince Fleming

Sports fans really are something else. There’s a reason many teams consider their supporters an extra player: the amount of energy and enthusiasm they bring to each game is sometimes the determining factor that separates winning from losing.

Whether you were watching from the sidelines or glued to the edge of your couch, you can probably remember a few memorable moments on which your favorite teams and athletes were able to shine. But, just in case, we have compiled ten of our all-time favorite sports moments that made us realize how outstanding American athletes are. Enjoy!

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The year was 1974 and, in the city of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a 32-year-old challenger by the name of Muhammad Ali entered the ring to fight the undefeated and undisputed heavyweight champion George Foreman. Around the world, approximately one billion people tuned in to watch what many still believe to be the greatest boxing match in the 20th century - the now-legendary "Rumble in the Jungle."

What’s more memorable about this fight is how surprising it was: Ali won by knockout in the eighth round, beating 4-1 odds that favored Foreman. "The Greatest" showed his impressive tactics and speed, which proved to be more than enough to face Foreman’s outstanding power. After the fight, both opponents became close friends, and walked together to the stage of the 1996 Oscars for the documentary "When We Were Kings."

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Who doesn’t love a good underdog story? From David and Goliath to every Rocky film, some of our favorite stories feature uneven fights in which the little guy manages to overcome and defeat a fearsome foe. And sports are no exception, as the 1980 Winter Olympics ice hockey game between the United States and the Soviet Union shows. A game that is now known under a name that reflects its true underdog nature: the "Miracle on Ice."

In the medal round of the Winter Olympics held in Lake Placid, New York, the hosting United States team faced the Soviet Union, a four-time gold medalist juggernaut. The Soviet Union team was the favorite to win: their players had more experience, against their younger and mostly amateur American opponents. However, the American team's marvelous performance allowed them to win the game 4-3. They then went on to win the gold medal by defeating Finland in the finals.

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Michael Jordan’s 14-year career with the Chicago Bulls helped him become a global icon, and to be considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time. It stands to reason that the last playoff game with the Bulls would be a moving occasion for every basketball fan. However, no one was expecting Jordan’s "last dance" to be as nail-biting as it was.

The 1998 NBA finals faced Jordan’s Chicago Bulls against the Utah Jazz, and, by Game 6, the Bulls were leading by 3 games to 2. The Utah Jazz, however, were winning this final match by 86-85 and, with 20 seconds on the clock, it seemed they were going to claim victory. It was at the very last play of the game that Jordan was able to shoot a two-pointer that flew over the head of Bryon Russell and hit nothing but net. It seems only logical that Jordan’s last shot won his beloved team another championship.

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If there is one trope that sports movies seem to love, it is the final play that earns the protagonist’s team victory. That final hurrah on which everything our hero has learned comes to fruition condensed into a single, perfect play that leaves everyone shocked. While almost a cliche at this point, these scenes tend to be extremely iconic and convey an extreme feeling of satisfaction and excitement to the audience. Luckily, if you happen to be a San Francisco 49ers fan, you can fall back on a real-life, game-winning final play that seems to come straight from a movie.

If you mention "The Catch" to any die-hard football fan, they will instantly know that you are talking about quarterback Joe Montana’s fantastic play in the 1981 NFC Championship Game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. With 58 seconds left on the clock, Montana evaded the Cowboy’s defense and made a 6-yard touchdown pass that was caught at the back of the end zone by wide receiver Dwight Clark. Thanks to this last-minute effort, the 49ers were able to defeat the Cowboys by a single point, ending the game 28-27.

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Tiger Woods is considered by many to be the greatest golfer of all time. While that is a matter of personal opinion, what can’t be denied is that he is one of the biggest athletes in modern history: He holds numerous records, he was ranked as the world’s top player for almost 11 years, and he won 13 of golf’s major championship during his career. For many of his fans, what makes Woods the best are those amazing shots that show the full extent of his talent, and few are as iconic as his incredible 16th shot during the 2005 Masters.

In what ended up being his 4th Masters win, Tiger Woods hit this now legendary shot on the 16th hole of the final round. According to his caddie Steve Williams, Tiger was able to sink this shot from the rough by aiming to a ball mark "the size of a dime", an almost impossible feat that cemented Woods in golf history.

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While several tennis matches between male and female players have been called "the battle of the sexes" throughout the decades, the 1973 exhibition match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs is probably the most well-known. This match was not only a fine demonstration of tennis between two excellent players, but it also helped open the discussion about gender equality in this sport.

In 1973, 55-year-old former tennis champion Bobby Riggs challenged the world's number one female player Billie Jean King to a match, declaring that a male player past his prime such as himself would still be able to beat the best female player. While many believed the match to be a publicity stunt, King took the challenge seriously and ended up defeating Riggs in three sets.

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The Red Sox vs Yankees rivalry is perhaps the most well-known sports feud. They are two of America’s most emblematic baseball teams and have competed for over 120 seasons in the MLB's American League. After the Red Sox sold baseball legend Babe Ruth to the Yankees, the Red Sox entered an 86-year losing streak that became known as "the Curse of the Bambino", which for many marks the beginning of the rivalry between both teams. Luckily, the Boston team was able to break this curse in 2004, in a match that is considered one of the biggest comeback stories of all time.

What was amazing about this win was that no one was expecting the Red Sox to break their dry spell in this match: They were down three games to none in the playoffs, and everyone was expecting the Yankees to easily win. But thanks to some amazing teamwork and an incredible home run by David Ortiz, the Red Sox were able to defeat "the Evil Empire" and advance to their first World Series since 1986.

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Few things are as satisfying in the world of sports as a good old home run. There is something magical about the deafening sound a bat makes after it hits, and the way the cheers from the crowd gradually increase as soon as they realize that the baseball is leaving the field. On October 3, 1951, a home run hit by New York Giants outfielder Bobby Thomson not only allowed his team to win that year’s National League pennant, but it also became a cultural phenomenon forever inscribed on baseball history as the "Shot Heard 'Round the World".

The Giants were facing their cross-town rivals the Brooklyn Dodgers in the final game that would settle a 1-1 tie. Thomson’s game-ending home run sent a fastball sent by Dodger’s pitcher Ralph Branca, which went flying down the left field and landed in the lower-deck stands. The nickname "Shot Heard 'Round the World" came from how such an unbelievable and dramatic hit was viewed and heard by millions of Americans across the country.

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Just like "The Catch", this last-minute, game-changing pass became so legendary that it received a nickname worthy of its magnificence: This catch by Pittsburgh Steelers fullback Franco Harris is now known as "The Immaculate Reception." However, this play is not without its controversy, as any Oakland Raiders fan will be happy to tell you.

In 1972, the Steelers were facing the Raiders in the AFC divisional playoff game. With only 22 seconds left in the game, Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw a long pass to running back John Fuqua, who was covered by Raiders safety Jack Tatum. Miraculously, the ball bounced on Tatum’s helmet, and it was later caught by Harris, who ran for a touchdown just before the game ended. To this day, Raiders fans believe that the ball bounced on Fuqua, making the pass incomplete. It stands to reason that NFL Films chose the Immaculate Reception as both the greatest and the most controversial play of all time.

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We’ll end this article with a moment of national pride. As the country with the most medals in history, America is always eagerly waiting for the next Olympic Games to see its amazing athletes shine. And while all Olympic stories are to be commended, the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona provided the stage on which one of the greatest sports teams ever assembled was presented: the U.S. Olympic basketball team, better known as "The Dream Team."

This was the very first American team to feature active professional players like Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and Michael Jordan. The Dream Team completely dominated all eight matches, winning the gold medal by defeating Croatia 117–85. The team was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2009, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010, and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017.