BRITISH vs AMERICAN ENGLISH Brit-Am 1/2A

"The British and Americans are divided by a common language" - George Bernard Shaw

SPELLING DIFFERENCES BRITISH AMERICAN -re centre

meagre manoeuvre metre , kilometre, ecc

er center meager maneuver meter , kilometer , ecc.

-ell Travelling / travelled / traveller cancelling / cancelled , ecc.

el traveling / traveled / traveler canceling / canceled , ecc.

-our colour / honour / humour / labour / favourite / glamour , ecc.

or labor / honor / humor / favorite / glamor , ecc.

-ise organise / realise / recognise ma -ize è accettato)

ize organize / realize / (- ise è preferibile

-amme : programme

-am : program

basic intermediate advanced

-ogue analogue catalogue dialogue

og analog catalog dialog

-ce licence / offence -se : defense / license / offense

cheque

grey

jewellery

pyjamas

speciality

storey

tyre

check (a check for $250 )

gray

jewelry

pajamas

specialty

story (piano di un edificio)

tire (pneumatico)

GRAMMAR DIFFERENCES FORM BRITISH AMERICAN

PRESENT PERFECT

I've lost my key. Can you help me look for it?

I've just had I've just had lunch I've already seen that film Have you finished your homework yet?

I lost my key. Can you help me look for it?

I've just had lunch I already saw that film. Did you finish your homework yet?

HAVE Have you got a car? He hasn't got any friends. She's got a beautiful new home.

Do you have a car? He doesn't have any friends. She has a beautiful new home.

GET He's got much better at playing tennis.

He's gotten much better at playing tennis

DATES 11th June 1998

11/06/98

06/11/98

WORD DIFFERENCES Brit-Am 2/2A

ONE MEANING, TWO WORDS ONE WORD, TWO MEANINGS

BRITISH AMERICAN WORD BRITISH AMERICAN

Aeroplane airplane aereo a bill

il conto di un ristorante, ecc.

una banconota a dollar bill

aerial antenna antenna dumb

muto

stupido That’s a dumb idea!

wallet billfold portafoglio first floor primo piano pianterreno

sweets candy dolciume a flat

appartamento

forato (rif. a pneumatico)

cupboard closet armadio gas

gas

carburante per auto the gas station

company company firm società mad

Folle. It’s a mad idea.

arrabbiato She’s mad with him.

nappy diaper pannolino (per bimbi) mean

avaro

cattivo, crudele The robber was mean.

biscuit cookie biscotto pants slip, mutandine pantaloni

maize corn, sweetcorn mais purse borsellino borsa da donna

surgery doctor’s office ambulatorio vest maglia intima panciotto

lift elevator ascensore to wash up lavare i piatti lavarsi le mani

autumn fall / autumn autunno

tap faucet rubinetto

torch flashlight torcia elettrica

motorway freeway autostrada

chips, French fries patatine fritte

crisps potato chips patatine in busta

rubbish garbage, trash spazzatura

tramp hobo vagabondo

Interval intermission intervallo

number plate license plate targa

Railway railroad ferrovia

toilet Restroom (public) toilette (pubblica)

pavement sidewalk marciapiede

neat (drink) straight liscio (bevande)

underground subway metropolitana

cooker stove fornello

lorry truck autocarro

boot trunk baule

subway underpass sottopassaggio

holiday vacation vacanza

zed zee lettera ‘Z’

zip zipper

cerniera