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British English/American English - English lesson

British English vs. American English

I) A few spelling rules

-OUR => -OR

(-OUR)	(-OR)
colour	color
favourite	favorite
honour	honor

-SE => -ZE:

(-SE)	(-ZE)
analyse	analyze
criticise	criticize
memorise	memorize

-L => -LL

(-L)	(-LL)
enrolment	enrollment
fulfil	fulfill
skilful	skillful

-RE => -ER:

(-RE)	(-ER)
centre	center
metre	meter
theatre	theater

-OGUE => -OG:

(-OGUE)	(-OG)
analogue	analog
catalogue	catalog
dialogue	dialog

-AE => -E-:

(-AE-)	(-E-)
encyclopaedia	encyclopedia
manoeuvre	maneuver
mediaeval	medieval

-QUE => -CK:

(-QUE)	(-CK)
cheque	check
chequer	checker

-GE- => -G-:

(-GE-)	(-G-)
ageing	aging
arguement	argument
judgement	judgment

-ENCE => -ENSE:

(-ENCE)	(-ENSE)
defence	defense
licence	license

II) VERBS ENDING IN : VOWEL + L
When you add something (for example -ING):
In British English: 'll'
In American English: 'll' only if the stress is on the second syllable.

INFINITIVE	British English	American English
counsel	counselling	counseling
equal	equalling	equaling
model	modelling	modeling
quarrel	quarrelling	quarreling
signal	signalling	signaling
travel	travelling	traveling
excel	excelling	excelling
propel	propelling	propelling

III) A FEW DIFFERENT WORDS

British English	American English
Torch	Flashlight
Petrol	Gas
Football	Soccer
Biscuit	Cookie
Nappy (on a baby)	Diaper (on a baby)
Tin (of food)	Can (of food)
Lift	Elevator
Lorry	Truck
Bonnet (of a car)	Hood (of a car)
Boot (of a car)	Trunk (of a car)
Rubber	Eraser
jewellery	jewelry
draught	draft
pyjamas	pajamas
plough	plow
programme	program
tyre	tire

And...

British English	American English
aluminium	aluminum
an aerial	an antenna
a flat	an apartment
a lift	an elevator
an aubergine	an egg-plant
autumn	autumn / fall
a motorway	a highway
a dodgem	a bumper-car
candy floss	cotton candy
a biscuit	a cookie
a tin	a can
a pair of braces	a pair of suspenders
a pub	a bar
a lorry	a truck
a cinema	a movie theater
the cinema	the movies
a tramp	a bum
the boot	the trunk
to be angry with	to be mad at / to be angry with
a courgette	a zucchini
a cooker = an oven	an oven
a CV	a résumé
a pudding = a sweet	a dessert
rubbish	garbage
a dustman	a garbage collector
petrol	gas(oline)
a postman	a mailman
a film	a movie = a film
mad = crazy	crazy
a waistcoat	a vest
mum	mom
a merry-go-round	a carousel
trousers	pants
a carpark	a parking lot
a chemist's shop	a pharmacy = a drugstore
a dust bin	a garbage can
a robe	a dressing-gown
a mobile phone	a cell phone = a mobile phone
a dummy	a pacifier
a vest	an undershirt
a pavement	a sidewalk
a holiday = holidays	a vacation

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UK -> US:
catalogue ->

disaster ->

centre ->

analyse ->

cheque ->

---

US -> UK:
traveling ->

draft ->

program ->

tire ->

wonderful ->