British Vs American English

British Versus American English

What are the main differences between British and American English?

There are many differences but British (BrE) and American (AmE) English generally differ in three main ways:

1) Vocabulary: autumn (BrE) vs. fall (AmE) & holiday (BrE) vs. vacation (AmE)

2) Spelling: colour (BrE) vs. color (AmE) & organise (BrE) vs. organize (AmE)

3) Pronunciation:

•Stress: advertisement /ədˈvɜː.tɪs.mənt/ (BrE) /æd.vɚ.’taɪz.mənt/ (AmE)

•Vowel sounds: privacy /ˈprɪ.və.si/ (BrE) /ˈpraɪ.və.si/ (AmE)

British vs American English Video (with a practice activity)

A short video on the key differences between the two Englishes.

If you can’t access this YouTube video in your country, go here

Video Worksheet: click here

British vs American English Full Lesson (new 2025)

This lesson focuses on the key differences between British and American English. It presents the three main areas of difference: vocabulary, spelling and pronunciation. Each area includes a presentation section and practice activities. Example. Level: ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Vocabulary

There are many words in British English that are different in American English:

autumn (BrE) vs. fall (AmE) & holiday (BrE) vs. vacation (AmE)

Other examples

•Biscuit (BrE) vs. cookies (AmE)

•Football (BrE) vs. soccer (AmE)

•Garden (BrE) vs. backyard (AmE)

Vocabulary Exercise

Here are 12 British vocabulary words that are all different in American English. See if you know the differences?

British English	American English
Rubbish
Mobile Phone
Pavement
Off-licence
Trainers (sport’s shoes)
Carpark
Chemist / pharmacy
Motorway
University
The Underground
Post code
a Tap

British English	American English
Rubbish	Trash
Mobile Phone	Cell Phone
Pavement	Sidewalk
Off-licence	Liquor Store
Trainers (sport’s shoes)	Sneakers
Carpark	Parking Lot
Chemist / pharmacy	Drug Store
Motorway	Freeway
University	College*
The Underground	Subway**
Post code	Zip Code
a Tap	Faucet

*College and University is used interchangeably in AmE

** Subway means under-road passage in BrE

Spelling

There are many words in British English that are spelt differently in American English:

colour (BrE) vs. color (AmE) & organise (BrE) vs. organize (AmE)

Other examples

• Maths (BrE) vs. math (AmE)

• Jewellery (BrE) vs. jewelry (AmE)

• Grey (BrE) vs. gray (AmE)

Spelling Exercise

Here are 12 British vocabulary words that are all different in American English. See if you know the differences?

British English	American English
Theatre / centre
counsellor
sceptical
Programme
Aeroplane
Practise (verb)
Licence (noun)
Ageing
Anaesthesia
Generalisation
Speciality
Artefact

British English	American English
Theatre / centre	Theater / center
counsellor	Counselor
sceptical	Skeptical
Programme	Program
Aeroplane	Airplane
Practise (verb)	Practice
Licence (noun)	License
Ageing	Aging
Anaesthesia	Anesthesia
Generalisation	Generalization
Speciality	Specialty
Artefact	Artifact

Pronunciation

There are many words in British English that are pronounced differently in American English:

Aluminium
/ˌæl.jʊˈmɪn.i.əm/ (BrE) /əˈluː.mə.nəm/ (AmE)

Other examples:

Laboratory:
/ləˈbɒr.ə.tər.i/ (BrE) /ˈlæb.rə.tɔːr.i/ (AmE)
Status
/ˈsteɪ.təs/ (BrE) /ˈstæ.t̬əs/ (AmE)
Oxygen
/ˈɒksɪdʒən/ (BrE) /ˈɑːksɪdʒən/ (AmE)

Pronunciation Exercise

Here are 12 British words that are all pronounced differently in American English. See if you know the differences?

Word	British English	American English
Advertisement	/ədˈvɜː.tɪs.mənt/	/ˌæd.vɚˈtaɪz.mənt/
Privacy	/ˈprɪv.ə.si/	/ˈpraɪ.və.si/
Laboratory	/ləˈbɒr.ə.tər.i/	/ˈlæb.rə.tɔːr.i/
Tomato	/təˈmɑː.təʊ/	/təˈmeɪ.toʊ/
Vitamin	/ˈvɪt.ə.mɪn/	/ˈvaɪ.t̬ə.mɪn/
Patent	/ˈpeɪ.tənt/	/ˈpæt.ənt/
Semi	/ˈsɛ.mi/	/ˈsɛ.maɪ/
Schedule	/ˈʃedʒ.uːl/	/ˈskedʒ.uːl/
Data	/ˈdeɪ.tə/	/dæt̬.ə/
Project	/ˈprɒdʒ.ekt/	/ˈprɑː.dʒekt/
Controversy	/kənˈtrɒvəsi/	/ˈkɒntrəvɜːrsi/
Oregano	/ˌɒr.ɪˈɡɑː.nəʊ/	/ɔːˈreɡ.ə.noʊ/

Vowel Sounds

i) /ɒ/ (BrE) → /ɑː/ or /ɑ/ (AmE)

Example words:

·lot /lɒt/ → /lɑːt/

·stop /stɒp/ → /stɑːp/

Explanation: The short rounded /ɒ/ in BrE is replaced by an unrounded open back /ɑː/ in AmE.

iv) /juː/ (BrE) → /uː/ (AmE)

Example words:

·tune /tjuːn/ → /tuːn/

·student /ˈstjuːd(ə)nt/ → /ˈstuːdənt/

Explanation: AmE tends to drop the /j/ glide after /t/, /d/, /n/, simplifying the diphthong.

ii) /æ/ (BrE) → /æ/ or /ɑː/ (AmE)

Example words:

·dance /dæns/ → /dæns/ or /dɑːns/

·ask /ɑːsk/ → /æsk/

Explanation: BrE use broad /ɑː/ in words like bath, dance, whereas AmE uses /æ/.

v) /əʊ/ (BrE) → /oʊ/ (AmE)

Example words:

·go /ɡəʊ/ → /ɡoʊ/

·home /həʊm/ → /hoʊm/

Explanation: The diphthong shifts slightly in articulation, with the AmE version starting further back and more rounded.

iii) /ɪə/, /eə/, /ʊə/ (BrE) → simplified vowels in AmE

Example words:

·idea /aɪˈdɪə/ → /aɪˈdɪr/

·there /ðeə/ → /ðer/

·tour /tʊə/ → /tʊr/

Explanation: AmE often replaces centring diphthongs with r-coloured vowels due to rhoticity.

vi) /ɑː/ (BrE) → /æ/ or /ɑ/ (AmE)

Example words:

·glass /ɡlɑːs/ → /ɡlæs/

·path /pɑːθ/ → /pæθ/

Explanation: The “broad a” found in BrE is not typically used in AmE, which favours /æ/.

Consonant Sounds

i) /t/ Flapping in American English

Example: butter

·BrE: /ˈbʌtə/

·AmE: /ˈbʌɾɚ/

Explanation: In AmE, /t/ between two vowels is often pronounced as a “flap” [ɾ], which sounds like a quick /d/. This doesn’t occur in standard BrE.

iii) /r/ Pronunciation (Rhoticity)

Example: car

·BrE: /kɑː/

·AmE: /kɑːr/

Explanation: Standard BrE is non-rhotic, meaning /r/ is not pronounced unless followed by a vowel. AmE is rhotic, so /r/ is pronounced in all positions.

ii) /j/ Dropping After /t/, /d/, /n/ in AmE

Example: Tuesday

·BrE: /ˈtjuːzdeɪ/

·AmE: /ˈtuːzdeɪ/

Explanation: In BrE, a /j/ (as in yes) is often inserted after /t/ and /d/ before a /uː/ sound. This glide is usually dropped in AmE.

iv) Glottal Stop /ʔ/ in BrE

Example: bottle

·BrE /ˈbɒʔl/

·AmE: /ˈbɑːɾl/

Explanation: In some regional BrE accents, /t/ is replaced with a glottal stop /ʔ/. This is less common in AmE, where a flap /ɾ/ is used instead.