🇺🇸 🇬🇧 The MOST CONFUSING Differences Between British and American English

Greg and Vanessa explain the most confusing differences between British English and American English vocabulary to help you find out whether you speak British English or American English! They'll also answer the common question, "If I use British English with an American, will they understand me??"
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► CHAPTERS:
00:00 Do you speak British or American English?
1:02 Do Americans understand British English?
1:43 Do British people understand American English?
3:01 Cookie or Biscuit?
3:59 Baby vocabulary in British and American
5:08 Dummy in British and American English
5:49 Bin or Trash Can?
6:19 Soccer or Football?
7:17 Difference between holiday and vacation
8:28 Lift or Elevator?
9:27 Pavement or Sidewalk?
10:20 Line or Queue?
10:57 Cart or Trolley?
11:51 Trunk or Boot?
12:13 Toilet v Bathroom?
14:18 What is the meaning of potty?
► TRANSCRIPTION
Hi, I'm Vanessa from speakenglishwithvanessa.com. Do you speak British or American English? Let's find out.
I am so excited about this video. I asked my KZbin viewers what they wanted to learn about. And one of the most popular questions was: what's the difference between British and American English? And I couldn't think of a better person to help us with this than Vanessa from Speak English with Vanessa. If you don't know me, I'm Greg, I'm British, but I lived in the United States for three years. And believe me, I can tell you that there are some very confusing differences between British and American English. And we're going to look at the most confusing in this video. But before we do, I have a question from one of my KZbin viewers for you, Vanessa. And that is: if I use British English with an American, will they understand me? So, Vanessa, what do you think?
The short answer is yes, Americans can understand people who speak British English. We all speak English. Some people might contest that fact, but in general, Americans can understand British English. Now sometimes they might ask you, what did you say? What was that? If you use a specific British English word, like the words you're going to learn in this lesson. But you know what? That's not the end of the world. It's okay if someone asks you that. You can clarify and maybe it's a chance for you to learn an American English word. So what do you think, Greg? Do you think that British people can understand American vocabulary?
Yeah, because we watch so many American films and television programs and listen to American music, we are exposed to a lot of American English. When I lived in the States, I used a lot of American vocabulary so that people understood me more easily. And in fact, I still use some American vocabulary now. I'll tell you which inside this lesson. So let's have a look at the most confusing differences between British English and American English. And when you've watched this video, I recommend you watch that video to learn 21 very common idioms in British English. Vanessa, are you ready?
Yeah. Let's do it.
Okay. So here is how it's going to work. First, I'm going to put an image on screen, and then you have to think how you would say that word. Then Vanessa will tell you how they say it in American English. And I will tell you how we say it in British English. And let's find out if you speak American or British.
[... Due to character limit, the rest of this transcription is unavailable]
► Thanks, as always, for your LIKES, COMMENTS and SHARES!! 🙏
🔴 SUBSCRIBE to if you want to learn advanced English grammar and pronunciation and master English conversation!
Your English Teachers,
~ Greg & Vanessa 😀
#englishwithgreg #speakenglishwithvanessa #AmericanEnglish #BritishEnglish #EnglishVocabulary #ESL

[@SpeakEnglishWithVanessa]

Thanks so much for having me on your awesome channel, Greg! 😊🥳

[@EnglishWithGreg]

It was so much fun working with you, Vanessa! You’re a star. ⭐️

[@julianoaquino856]

Thank you to teache me english, professor Greg. Believe me, I am learning a lot, watching your videos.

[@user-jv6ip9pe6t]

Thank you for the useful lessons

[@user-jv6ip9pe6t]

You deserve to follow your channel

[@zakariatito9318]

Well i leaned both but nowadays I'm trying to learn an American English it's more popular but it's okay if i learned a bit about British but hey Greg you got a very beautiful voice 😂❤️

[@wirthynek]

Letters in Queue are not silent. They are just waiting their turn.

[@franklingrx]

Soccer was not an Americanism and was originally a slang in England for what is now football... "The term soccer comes from Oxford "-er" slang, which was prevalent at Oxford University in England from about 1875, and is thought to have been borrowed from the slang of Rugby School. The slang also gave rise to rugger for Rugby football, fiver and tenner for a five-pound and ten-pound note, and the now-archaic footer for association football.[9] The word soccer (which arrived at its final form in 1895) was first recorded in 1889 in the earlier form of socca"

[@davidburrow5895]

It should be pointed out that a "bathroom" in America is almost always in a home (or sometimes in a private space like a hotel). No one would call the place you show with men's/women's symbols on it a bathroom. A public facility is most often called a "restroom" in America, though other euphemisms like "the facilities" are also used. In pretty much any English-speaking country it will be easily understood if you ask "where's the ladies' room" or "where is the men's room"?

[@zigzidee]

Man I love you with all my heart, you are a real life hero, please don't stop teaching. Even that you speak British, you do it extremely comfortable for people's mind ears

[@DVZ_2022]

As a foreigner, I`ve been using the mixed vocabulary because i absorb materials are comes across from different sources. Therefore, I have a complete mess with words. Plus, many words i've been chosen that are consonant with those borrowed into my native language from english, french or german languages.

[@champikakodippili9848]

Both of you are my favourite English language teachers, Greg and Vanessa. Thank you so much for this wonderful video.😊

[@JanChodura68]

I have the same. It is not about that others are worse. But that enthusiasm of Vanessa and Greg is something extra.

[@dawnpalacios8312]

Soccer is word was coined in Oxford and used in England up to 1980s. Canada, South Africa, Australia, and few other countries use soccer word because they have have their version of the word. When talk to my international friends I use football instead of soccer.

[@jensschroder8214]

The teacher always made an effort to teach us British English, but through the media we learned American English. As a German, I mix British and American English as it suits. Sometimes it's with the aubergine or eggplant. But aubergine also fits in British, French and German.

[@jensschroder8214]

In English is better to use apartment instead of British English flat. Apartment fits in American English , French and German But count: G, 1, 2, 3

[@thor2795]

In spanish is Berenjena, more close to aubergine than eggplant. First time i heard eggplant i was like WTF are u saying?

[@unknowndevice8947]

@@jensschroder8214 in england they also used apartment but flat is more used so you can say apartment i uk

[@ghachas]

Both you guys are amazing English language teachers. I wanna speak English fluently. God bless you.

[@keegan1660]

In the southern US, the grocery cart is almost exclusively called a "buggy." That drove me nuts when I moved here.

[@ajs11201]

Buggy is also used in the Midwest. I've heard "cart" and "buggy" used interchangeably in much of middle America.

[@ESLove]

Hey, Greg! Your English accent is soo charming! I live in Russia and I can hear many similarities in Russian pronunciation and yours I'd like to see your collaboration with Lucy (English with Lucy). I bet it would be extraordinarily amazing if you two were discussing differences between Lucy's lovely traditional UK accent and the enchanting accent of the young lad from the North

[@lubashamakarus1537]

A great video, thank you! It's been so pleasant to listen to Vanessa and you, Greg! The differencies are really cofusing, but now after your lesson a lot of things have fallen into line.

[@furzkram]

Bank holidays = days on which banks are not working (= don't process transactions). In Germany we call them either a nationwide or a regional "Feiertag" which literally means "celebration day".

[@ajs11201]

In the U.S., if we wanted to be official about it, we'd likely refer to those days the banks are closed as federal holidays. There are also local holidays as well as religious holidays--many of which overlap, of course.

[@alkante2962]

The most charming and with clear explanations video of its kind, thank you

[@richboy716]

It sounds perfect when you are both gathering to teach us today the language that we dream to speak thanks for everything

[@deividcastro4370]

Two of my favourites teachers here! Great video. 🙂

[@luisabersani]

Thank you both ! This is a very useful lesson and I had a lot of fun ! You're amazing 😀😀

[@OleksiiZhuravlov]

It was fun and very helpful! Thanks to both of you! ❤

[@rubyrubitta7207]

Your voice is so clearly that why I enjoyed learning English with you guys, thanks for sharing with as some is your experiences ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@user-lx4ox9yx2i]

Thumbs up! I appreciate that. Lots of good stuff! Incredible lesson from incredible teachers. Quite clear! Do not stop! Cheers!

[@morganjonasson2947]

i am swedish and have a friend who, while not a native speaker, has lived in the us for most of his childhood, so he had alot more exposure than me presumably (while i have all my exposure from the internet). one day we talked about buildings and i mentioned the word "pillar". he did not understand pillar. after five minutes he realized what i meaned and said "its a COLUMN". i understood what he meant by column but could not stop laughing, because a column can also be the vertical row at a spreadsheet. i used pillar not only because it sounds more swedish ("pelare"), but also because its more specific. i of course were talking about the concrete legs holding up the roof of a building.

[@LinoMalefo-km3sy]

Thanks for this lession ❤😊

[@billfaint6736]

When bank holidays came in in the UK it was the only days that banks closed, hence bank holidays. Historically, in the UK, houses were built so that the ground floor was exactly that, compressed soil. The next storey was literally 'the first floor'.

[@athisaksarthuprakul6901]

Thank you very much. Both of you talk very clearly.

[@xKen.]

Amazing content greg! Loving it.

[@saharinaustralia]

your channel is absolutely amazing. thanks for that

[@annabeckwith]

I speak mainly British English. I come from Spain and in this country we're exposed to British English from a very early age (if you live in the south of Spain that's the main language!!!😂) For the last thirty odd years I've been speaking more Australian English (my hubby is an Aussie!😂) You should make a video about the differences between British English and Australian English, believe me , there are quite some differences! Anyway, thank you for these videos, they're very entertaining! Keep up with the good work! CHEERS!!!🙏👌

[@english-ube]

I never expected to hear such helpful video . you are the best

[@diongreenlee4158]

It was often called soccer in Britain until the early 20th century, but football eventually became the more popular name. New Zealand, Ireland, Nigeria, South Africa, Liberia, American Samoa, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Singapore, US Virgin Islands (of course,) all call the sport soccer or use both names. American football is actually a combination of "soccer and rugby. There is also a historical reason why we call the sport soccer.

[@sadiati356]

Really enjoyed and appreciated

[@inwon3086]

Hi Greg, thank you so much for this video. This is interesting!☺ Hi Vanessa, it's great to see you here. Thank you for the lesson too.☺

[@kaanth2007]

Amazing and great explanation

[@JaimeGonzalez-vh6qt]

Wowwww, I just loved this collaboration. Definitely my favorite English teachers ever, I'm suscribed to both of you. Hi from Mexico!!! 🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@sanioliveira5946]

Wow! This video is great. I really like It and learned a lot. Thank you, Vanessa and Greg. God bless you so much.😃

[@lovelylifestyle4800]

WOW !! you two are my favorites ! it was a bit suprised for me watching you together linking each other's lesson❣️

[@lovelylifestyle4800]

thanks for reading my message❣️

[@zeinaalsaleh8320]

Thank you for a nice and useful video.

[@renanlima6434]

Great explanation. Thank you both.

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Glad it was helpful!

[@3lahraktaqurafismi810]

Omg that was really instructive. I used to say both vocabularies in British and in American and I thought they are just synonyms. For example I thought that the pavement is the synonym of sidewalk and I learned it that way.. Thanks both of you. That was really interesting

[@jeremieg5027]

Great video 👏🏻 thanks

[@Carmeec.lu1495]

Wow that's awesome! Thank you Greg for featuring Vanessa here it help a lot. Our english in the Philippines , most likely American English

[@psychology.easysteps.4678]

This is great video, thank you 😊

[@ajs11201]

At 5:15 I can offer a bit more explanation. In the U.S., a "dummy" is actually a stand-in for something else. Department stores use "dummies" or "mannequins" to model clothes. Printers use a "dummy" as a mock-up copy for the final publication. In this context, a dummy for a baby's pacifier makes sense in that it's a substitute for a breast or nipple.

[@dianariv1755]

It was a greeeeeat video... thanks a lot!!!

[@armisalonga4539]

that was a good combination with Vanessa, are you having another more to come? I think it was much better as for me, anyway thanks to both of you,

[@user-ld6to6ww5t]

I liked the way you explained us these things, it was funny and useful.

[@skk6151]

Great fun to watch this video. Looking forward to the next one. 😁

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Glad to hear it. It was fun to make / edit 😀

[@cacobesoain]

Wonderful video, I love that more KZbinrs participate by sharing what they know with each other. I find it great. Greetings also to Vanessa, I follow her too. Greetings from Chile

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@sharifovmukhammad477]

Great lesson Thanks

[@lunallena947]

Thanks.Learning more from you. Chao

[@user-pi9pm2ov9h]

I love British vocabularies and pronunciation. I always watch your video to study English . That's very good ☺️

[@alexlitvin1297]

Good to know it, thanks for the video, you both are amazing 😉

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Thanks, Alex 😀

[@lenivonbayern1222]

Thank you for your lessons. I was in Cardiff and London last week🇬🇧. I thought my knowledge was enough. So, most people understood my English. Except in Wales. Things were already getting better in London. The people there are very relaxed in dealing with tourists.🌈

[@SBSinEnglish]

So confusing! By the way, thanks for your explanation about the common differences between BRE and AME English.

[@roserpuig3394]

Thanks so much!!!

[@andreasbark793]

In Swedish we are on "Semester" when it´s a holiday /vacation here. The totally opposite from English. Funny to know. The Swedish word for the English "semester" is "Termin" when you are in school.

[@andyroberts4387]

In Britain we call them terms.

[@alexandrearaujodecarvalho]

My pleasure.

[@albaalba8255]

You speak with very good pronunciation and I understand you very well. When I have traveled to the United States, I have spoken with people who speak without pronouncing well, too quickly, and with very particular expressions.

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Thank you so much to Vanessa for joining me in this video! You're the best! ⭐️ 🙏 Subscribe to her channel here: kzbin.info

[@user-Amal90]

Excellent 😍😍really appreciate your explaination and will watch the video now .. thanx a million

[@janaja7199]

absolutly perfeekt!!!

[@berenice-6003]

Whaou! wonderfull! I loved it, thanks to you two.

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Merci, Bérénice 😀

[@MuhammadRiaz-hm1zf]

Sir, please tell monophthongs and diphthongs differences in British and American English.Also explain short and long vowel sounds which are different in both the countries.You are a fantastic teacher of first ranking. Thanks a lot.

[@manickammk1023]

Thank you very much sir

[@sirineikram509]

Best video ever We want part 2 Im learning new vocabulary as well correcting words 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@EnglishWithGreg]

😂 Well, there's plenty more to talk about on this topic!!

[@mjl8115]

OMG. This is so surprising to me. As a Polish learning British English for years I know most these words used in the US and the UK, but I mostly use Americans! BTW, when I heard you for the first time Greg, I was guessing you are from Northern England. And I was right. It's because when I was a youngster I listened to The Toy Dolls music. I love that pronunciation. :)

[@Olivia-qe1dy]

AMAZING AND FUNNY . You guys made my day. I AM A BIG FAN OF YOURS!!!Thank u so much for this and all the great videos!¡👍😆

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Great!! 😀 Thanks for your nice comment!

[@lizethcalderon5833]

Woow!! It's amazing to see two of my favorite English teachers together. And this class it's kind of funny you know. I mean I'm a native Spanish speaker, I'm Mexican and something similar happens between spanish from Mexico and Spanish from Spain. For example a torta in spanish from Spain means a cake and a torta in Mexican spanish is a piece of salty bread that you can combine with ham, a piece of breaded steak, eggs, and you can put mayonnaise, lettuce, onion, tomato and chili on it and you can also put marmalade and cream or Philadelphia cheese it's similar to a bagel 😁 So, thanks so much for your video guys it's absolutely great, I loved it because when I read an article sometimes I find British terms and I have to make a research to find out the meaning. PS. I apologize if I made spelling mistakes, I'm just trying to fix and improve my broken English. Have a nice day ☺️✨

[@polyanthajones8168]

In German we use the word "toilet" for the room as well. And it is not uncommon for teenagers at school to meet in the washroom in the break. So you might overhear people saying things like "Let's meet in the toilet after this lesson". Do American exchange students imagine them floating around together like Moaning Myrtle?

[@Smurphmurph]

Yes, that is the image that would come to mind!

[@heidrunbockholt5449]

A very interesting video, I like it very much!!! 🙂

[@franklingrx]

trolley is a type of self propelled slow speed open train-car-bus used on rails or tires on city streets... often used for tourism or urban transportation in AE

[@magicenglish9864]

thanks a lot that was absolutely useful😍🤗

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Glad you enjoyed it! 👍🏼

[@rafaelguadalupeortizvasque2120]

Great idea to colaborate, both are amazing😀👍👏👏

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Thank you so much 😊

[@aashas_englishforall111]

Vanessa and Greg.....wow.... lovely 🥰🥰🥰. Stay blessed 💗

[@fatmaadan1408]

Fantastic!

[@ladymary6531]

Thank you! 👍👍👍

[@EnglishWithGreg]

You're welcome! 😀

[@shielaharilal5923]

Thanks alot Greg and Vanessa! Very interesting. I came to the USA from British Guyana. We used to speak the British English. In the beginning it was a little bit difficult for me. It took me a while to speak the American English. Some of the words I couldn't understand. But eventually after a few months I was able to speak. Very interesting and I loved both the British and American accent. I can speak with both accents. God 🙏.

[@galinap.3286]

Great choice of color for your ears with this t-shirt!:)) I like it! Useful and interesting video, thank you both!

[@EnglishWithGreg]

It's actually a white t-shirt, but the reflection off my ears just makes it seem red. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@galinap.3286]

@@EnglishWithGreg 😄👍

[@pywak6971]

wow two of my most favorites KZbinrs have made video together. I know for sure it is the best resource of English ever!

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Ahh, thanks! What a nice comment! 😀

[@alexandrearaujodecarvalho]

Don't give up the fight!

[@thomaslau8806]

There are also: washroom, restroom, lavatory, outhouse and the can which can be used as bathroom/toilet.

[@ferencnorberttoth4991]

Good. I learnt them. In Uk everything that has a wheel is a trolley. :) When I lived in Ireland, my workmate said: I'm going to the bathroom.... I: Where, you cannot have/take a bath or shower here. :D International English. : WC :D, on the plain it is the lavatory. Or: I'm going to spend a penny.

[@InGuitarra-ko1vs]

Increíble video Greg

[@PauloVitor-ug4yj]

I'm Brazilian and I love learning British English

[@lais9671]

I'm learning american english

[@tobiu922]

Thank you, Greg and Vanessa, for this great vocabulary lesson. I learned a lot and am not so confused now 😄.

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Glad you enjoyed it 😀

[@drsayed2223]

@@EnglishWithGregglad or happy sir Greg

[@marjorielynch6891]

In the uS south a cart is sometimes called a buggy.

[@christ-ambassadorlawrence.]

I love British accent.

[@jcellwood]

In my experience, Americans probably won't understand the term "loo," but British people definitely look at you strangely if you say "restroom." Also, most of the really fun confusion comes with words that are innocuous on one side of The Pond, but obscene on the other side. My then-fiancée announced to a British Bible study group that she had fanny fatigue. She meant she had a numb bum, but they took it as overuse of her genitalia. 😳

[@maksk9030]

Thanks

[@chrisrudolf9839]

The funny thing about bathroom and toilet is that they both developed as euphemisms to avoid mentioning the actual "throne", toilet just became so common as a polite replacement that the original words practically vanished from everyday language (and the Americans apparently needed a new euphemism to replace the old one). toilet originally derives from french and originally means a small towel you would use for cosmetics, the meaning was extended to the whole of doing your morning routine and also subsequently to the room where you would do it. We can still see it in the french term "eau de toilette" which (hopefully) isn't water from the loo, but deodorant. In German, we had a similar development and use "Toilette" nowadays almost exclusively like the British English toilet, but there is still the slightly oldfashioned idiom "seine Morgentoilette machen" (literally "to do your morning toilet", which means "to do your morning routine" of cleaning, combing, putting on make up etc.). When asking where the place is, we would use the word Toilette (or WC for water closett) in polite German, but there is a tendency to avoid the word and use other euphemisms when informing others that you have to go there. Most common euphemisms are "ich muss aufs (stille) Örtchen" or "ich muss mal wohin" ("I have to go to the small (silent) place" or "I just need to go somewhere"

[@lovelylifestyle4800]

in Philippines we usually use the word comfort room or CR and sometimes we say conference room when we're just kidding😉but we normally use American English than British English coz we have their culture😉I remembered my British friend saying lantern to me when I asked her ... where is the flashlight?

[@sujithbalendra7011]

This. is. so. amazing. English. video. lessons. that. i. enjoyed. with. pleasure. so. much. I. never. expected. English. video. lessons. something. like. this. with. Vanissa. and. you. together. this. way. i. really. appreciate. you. Thank. you.

[@kevinlabrada8489]

Hi Greg and Vanessa. I understood the differences elevator in American English and lift of British English. And I understand because Vanessa was confused when she went to Europe. But I don't understand because she confused in the lift to go up because if she push the button 3 she goes to third floor. I understand if she confused to go up to stairs. But I don't understand she confused to go up to lift. Thanks Vanessa and Greg.

[@SJain-gj8xk]

Very Interesting

[@theottomanemperor1767]

Thank you very much sir. I'm Zubair Al mahmud from Bangladesh.

[@marcothevoice]

This video is very funny, I enjoyed watching it. It's interesting as well. 🤣🤣🤣

[@banafshe33]

This is fantastic

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Thanks Banafsheh! Glad you enjoyed it! 😀

[@alicefuse2906]

Hi! I've loved this video... but I am extremely confused now because I've realized I speak a mixture of both BE and AE... enough to confuse everyone :D A question, if I may: is it correct to call the pacifier/dummy a "soother"? That is the name I read on the box... is it BE, AE or something else?

[@deokhun-davidkim6975]

Greg will be one of the mega ESL youtubers soon, Congratulation!

[@MrSztyrlic]

Dummy is also in the "bridge" card game the set of cards of one of the players, displayed on the table for all the others to see.

[@watashibr]

Fantastic video! It seems that American English is easier for British people and British English is harder for American people. Well I love both “Englishes” (can I pluralize the English word?), my native language is Portuguese. By the way, in the elevator or lift, the floors we use are like in British English, Ground, 1st Floor, 2nd Floor... Now sidewalks or pavement, we use like in American English, but a little different, instead “walk on the side of the street, road…” we use something like "calçada" which means a place where people "wearing shoes” can walk. Pavements are the materials used to build streets, roads and so on. Very cool video, you should record more like this one. Thank you very much, Greg and Vanessa.

[@davidmathieson9751]

You could also use pushchair for pram, of course.