English English & American English

[Lila]

You can throw Canadian English in there too if you want. ;)

We were discussing some of the differences in our language in the 'About Forum' section. Thought I'd bring it over here.

Our last discussion was about Football and Soccer... I mean, Football.

;)

Lila

[DansMarineTank]

Maybee if i get some pictures together you guys can name them in american?

http://gallery.n3dst4.com/albums/userpics/rx-8/normal_RX8%20031.jpg

We call the bit at the front, under which the engine is housed, a bonnet.

http://www.atlanticpowermaster.com/images/car-boot-fit.jpg

We call the bit at the back, that lifts and reveals storage space a boot

http://www.britishcouncil.org/ism-ukinfocus-petrol-330x220-2.jpg

A gentleman is filling his car with petrol

http://www.europcar.ie/images/Photos150x150/gear_stick.jpg

This is called a gear knob

back to the football thing, Ipswich (UK), the small town i live in, actually has an american football (NFL) team the Ipswich Cardinals I may give them a look. I am a footballer 5ft 10" 10 stone 5Lb but i bet if i was to wear more armour than Sir Lancelot i would be able to play American Football.

http://www.towndock.net/salty/img/knight.jpg

[msouth468]

The engine is under the hood.

The storage place is a trunk.

Fill the car with gas.

The shifter is the fourth.

And, if you were playing with 400 pound linemen you would want allot of armor too.

[Lila]

I learned 'bonnet', 'boot' and 'loo' when I was in Jr. High.

That's a hood.

A trunk.

Gas.

Gear shift (or stick)

And that is not football pads, darling. That's a suit of plate armor. Sorry, armour.

;)

Lila

[Galaxie]

I think rugby is the toughest sport out there. Those guys are just insane and don't wear any padding. English football, being just soccer, isn't any rougher than NBA basketball. You are allowed to bump a little, but get a foul called if its excessive.

There was a comment made earlier about some NFL guys being excessively large. Well, there are multiple defensive and offensive linemen going to the Pro Bowl who are in the 340+ pound range. 300 pounds is the norm. Its amazing how quick these big guys are, and it typically takes two 250 lb players to guard them....or another 340 pounder. They have a singular job function: don't let anyone get by them...and they do it well. They are professionals, so stay as huge as they need to be.

...back to language... "knickers" ....is this the English word for underwear or do people in America use it?

[Lila]

knickers...I use it sometimes. When conversing with the English.

There's a saying they have the I like to use (cept round my husband. He hates when I use their slangs). 'That just gets on my t*ts'.

LOL. That cracks me up.

I also use, 'P*ss take' or 'taking the p*ss'.

They've got some cool slangs! What?

[Tyler718]

...back to language... "knickers" ....is this the English word for underwear or do people in America use it?

Isn't that a basketball team in New York. :D

"T"

[reiverix]

Does Scots-English count :p:

I've learned to adjust my way of speaking through the years. It was hard to say soccer instead of football. Didn't seem right. Anyway it's just words. The only thing that makes me cringe a bit is when people here say plaid when they really mean tartan.

[DansMarineTank]

a firend of mine is very much into his slang

let me translate a few

"Thats well weapon" - very good
"the nuts" or the "Muts Nuts" or "Dogs Danglys" - very good
"Ball Bags" - Bad or Whack as you yankees would say


lila - I have found a picture of an NFL footballer now
http://www.crazyabouttv.com/Images/robocop.jpg

[Larissa]

Let's not forget "Pram" instead of baby carriage or that "napkins" over here are not "napkins" across the pond. Yeah, the way they used p***ed cracks me up, too.

[UncaBret]

The engine is under the hood.

The storage place is a trunk.

Fill the car with gas.

The shifter is the fourth.
.
After all, it was an American that invented the automobile.

[DansMarineTank]

we also call them buggies and trippers (prams that is)

other words for drunk are mullered, pie eyed, hammered, smashed, sh@t faced, w@nkered

[msouth468]

a firend of mine is very much into his slang

let me translate a few

"Thats well weapon" - very good
"the nuts" or the "Muts Nuts" or "Dogs Danglys" - very good
"Ball Bags" - Bad or Whack as you yankees would say


I haven't heard the term "Wack" in a long time.

[DansMarineTank]

After all, it was an American that invented the automobile.
not really true first true automobile was created by a German gentleman named Karl Hiez Benz

http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/auto.html

It was the Americans that first mass produced the car, but that cannot be credited with its invention.

[dougall]

If I'm asked to dig deep,

I'm quite fond of the words Buggered and Chuffed.

[DansMarineTank]

You cant throw around words like b(_)ggered without attempt at censorship ;-)

[Galaxie]

"randy" is a neat word too.

Do I make you randy baby? yeah!
re: Austin Powers

[UncaBret]

not really true first true automobile was created by a German gentleman named Karl Hiez Benz

http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/auto.html

It was the Americans that first mass produced the car, but that cannot be credited with its invention.
Oh, yeah! Throw that up in my face!

(Actually, I was hoping you would say "But it was an Englishman who invented the language". It's an old joke. Never mind.)

[UncaBret]

You cant throw around words like b(_)ggered without attempt at censorship ;-)
Well, you can here cause most people don't know what the bloody 'ell yer talkin' aboot.

[dougall]

You only need to censor from those in the know..

While I'm feeling naughty, I'll let slip my favorite all-time English saying

Tighter than a nun's chuff

(I'm not quite sure how colloquial this would be, it may just be a Yorkshire thing)


In a slightly related note.. I'm wondering what our American friends would make of English Kid's TV from decades past..

[msouth468]

In a slightly related note.. I'm wondering what our American friends would make of English Kid's TV from decades past..

Some channel probably has it playing somewhere.

[125gJoe]

Maybee if i get some pictures together you guys can name them in american?
We call the bit at the front, under which the engine is housed, a bonnet. ... ...


If cars had "windscreens" some wind would get by, and I'd expect some rain too.. A "windshield" is more appropriate to describe the large piece of glass at the front of automobiles. And whoever heard of "windscreen wipers"?



___________

:D

___________

[sumthin fishy]

He he, fanny!!!!

[dougall]

Yeah...


Imagine my suprise when I saw This (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0679450815/104-9744786-4046361?v=glance&n=283155) On the shelf in a bookstore for the first time...

[sumthin fishy]

Sick doug!!! Just sick!!!

[Lila]

P*ssed is another word they use for drunk.

Randy...I like that one as well. ;)

Oh gosh, there's so many and right now I can't think of one.

Well, once I called cattlegrid (here) a prat. I didn't realize I actually insulted him. Felt so bad. We cleared it up and I removed the word from my comment.

Tellie (or is it telly).

Cinema instead of theater.

Blimey.

That's just the dog's bollocks.

Oh, so many more.

[Galaxie]

If cars had "windscreens" some wind would get by, and I'd expect some rain too.. A "windshield" is more appropriate to describe the large piece of glass at the front of automobiles. And whoever heard of "windscreen wipers"?



___________

:D

___________

I deal with "shield" vs "screen" in cables too. Americans like to call a cable shielded, English call the same cable screened. For me, a screen is something over a door or window to keep the bugs out.

[rrkss]

Drive to the second robot past the Lori stop and make a right. When you get to my flat take the lift to the second floor. I will meet you next to the Loo where we can go and eat some scones and maybe some chips.

Drive to the second traffic light past the Truck stop and make a right. When you get to my apartment take the elevator to the second floor. I will meet you next to the bathroom where we can go and eat some biscuits and maybe some french fries.

[reiverix]

In Scotland we use steamboats or steaming to mean drunk. Also blotto, paraletic, rocketzed.

Slang words are used....

hoose = house
moose = mouse
aboot = about
toon = town
foond = found
moontin = mountain
yin = one
twa = two
gaun = going
tae = to
nae = no
isnae = isn't
diznae = doesn't

Using moose instead of mouse causes confusion. I was once telling some workmates about the time I rescued a moose from my cat. I prized the cats jaws open to get the moose and then the moose bit me. I dropped it and the cat ran away with it :rolleyes:

[rrkss]

Are you wearing pants under your trousers?

Are you wearing underwear under your pants?

[rrkss]

In America I rarely hear the expression.

Its bloody hot outside.

People tend not to use bloody over here.

[msouth468]

I'd bring up the different names for Smokes but that might be a little to offensive.

[rrkss]

Can you please give me a light for my fag?

Can you please give me a light for my cigarette?

Might sound corny but I don't smoke so I am not exactly sure how you smokers would phrase that statement.

[Lila]

Can you please give me a light for my fag?

Can you please give me a light for my cigarette?

Might sound corny but I don't smoke so I am not exactly sure how you smokers would phrase that statement.

We simply say, "Hey, got a light?"

"Can I borrow a light?"

"Can I bum a smoke of ya?"

That's about it.

;)

Lila

[Galaxie]

"Meh. At petsmart a few days ago I saw a woman buying 4 bettas for one tank."

I read this in another thread, by CBTF. Is "meh" a Canadian term? I think I've seen it used before.

[sumthin fishy]

Eh (like the letter "a") is a word used in Canadia. "it's cold out, eh?"
Not sure about meh.

[OrionGirl]

Meh is an attempt to spell an emotion, I think.

What I find droll is the fact that there are actually more variances within American English than there are between American English and English English.

[sumthin fishy]

I'd bring up the different names for Smokes but that might be a little to offensive.


In America you bum a ciggarette(ask for a smoke), which in the uk would be quite nasty.
But then they think nothing of blowing fags.

[ksimmo1]

I spent a couple weeks in London during my senior year in college. Towards the end of my stay I got lost trying to find my way back to the tube. I ended up following a couple signs that pointed me in the direction of a "subway" which led me to an underground street crossing. So, instead of realizing my mistake, I walked through the thing four or five times trying to fnd a train station somehow hidden in it. It was only until I scared a couple of 10 year old girls when I asked them where the subway was, while we were standing in it, that I figured out what happened.

[Lila]

I spent a couple weeks in London while during my senior year in college. Towards the end of my stay I got lost trying to find my way back to the tube. I ended up following a couple signs that pointed me in the direction of a "subway" which led me to an underground street crossing. So, instead of realizing my mistake, I walked through the thing four or five times trying to fnd a train station somehow hidden in it. It was only until I scared a couple of 10 year old girls when I asked them where the subway was, while we were standing in it, that I figured out what happened.

I'm sorry, but that is funny!

;)

[nursie]

You only need to censor from those in the know..

While I'm feeling naughty, I'll let slip my favorite all-time English saying

Tighter than a nun's chuff

(I'm not quite sure how colloquial this would be, it may just be a Yorkshire thing)


In a slightly related note.. I'm wondering what our American friends would make of English Kid's TV from decades past..

LOL, Doug! We apparently have American English censors here! So shall we all start using English slang to get around them?? :D

And the English kids TV..from what you have shown me is rather...twisted :eek:
But then so is the rest of it!

[CajunCC]

math vs. maths

When spelling words, such as "spell," UK would say "S-P-E-double-L," while USA would say "S-P-E-L-L."

highways vs. motorways

airplane vs. aeroplane

pronunciation of the letter Z (zee vs. zed)

zero vs. naught

batteries go dead vs. flat

[OrionGirl]

LOL, Doug! We apparently have American English censors here! So shall we all start using English slang to get around them?? :D


Not to be a killjoy, but please, no. I have enough headaches without adding this one to the list.

[Slappy*McFish]

Just what in the hell is a 'Tidbit', anyway?

[Lila]

Tire vs Tyre

LOL...that's a hoot.

's' instead of 'z' (ie. realise)

Funny indeed.

Yeah, the spelling of words with double L.

And I asked once why 'Maths'. They said, 'It's short for mathematics'.

Oh, they're all a hoot! Those funny English people.

;)

[nursie]

Poor OG :(
So now you have to be multilingual to moderate.


Are there differences between Canadian English and English English like there are between American English and the same?

[dougall]

I'll try to be good..

;)

I remember when sixpence was worth 2 and a half pence..


I still don't understand the difference between aluminium and aluminum.


But most importantly.. English Pints are 25% bigger.!

[125gJoe]

... ....
But most importantly.. English Pints are 25% bigger.!And served warm??! :eek: :thud:

[cattlegrid_79]

P*ssed is another word they use for drunk.

Randy...I like that one as well. ;)

Oh gosh, there's so many and right now I can't think of one.

Well, once I called cattlegrid (here) a prat. I didn't realize I actually insulted him. Felt so bad. We cleared it up and I removed the word from my comment.

Tellie (or is it telly).

Cinema instead of theater.

Blimey.

That's just the dog's bollocks.

Oh, so many more.

lol I forgot about that! that was funny.

BTW, the cinema is where you watch films. The theatre is where you watch plays.

I always find "burglarized" really funny. Over hear you get burgled or robbed, even.

[Lila]

Hello darling. How've you been?

;)

[DansMarineTank]

And served warm??! :eek: :thud:
Warm beer, you savage!

[Galaxie]

When I watch auto races from England, they always talk about the "tarmac" as opposed to the "pavement". I bet they think our Nascar races are pretty barbaric.

[cattlegrid_79]

Is Nascar where they just go round and round in a circle???

Oh, i've remembered another one. The one time I was in America i asked somebody if this was the back of the queue, and they were like what's a queue. We later established it was a line in the USA.

[Lila]

English people and pizzas.

I used to work at a Pizza Hut. A few times we'd have some English visitors. They always ordered anchovies. But the way the asked for them always made me laugh, as if they didn't think I'd know what it is.

"Can I have little fishies on it?"

Seriously. This was asked on two occassions. :)

[Galaxie]

Is Nascar where they just go round and round in a circle???

Circle, oval, tri-oval, yeah, that's about it. Only counter-clockwise too.

Do you guys have a word for those traffic circles? I live near DC, so have a few, but most people never have to deal with them.

[125gJoe]

a word for those traffic circles? ...I don't like "round-abouts"... They should only be used, and built near new and used car lots! Want to test drive a car? Then use the roud-abouts.

[sumthin fishy]

I love roundabouts, the flow the trafic much better than a stoplight would.

And :OT: toyota will be in NASCAR next season :eek:

BTW what the hedoublel is a cheeky monkey?

[Debra Mark]

How about some Canadianisms??? Our runners are your tennis shoes...we have a Chesterfield instead of a sofa....and EVERYONE wants to know...."What the heck is a toque????" lol

[hurricanejedi]

Do you guys have a word for those traffic circles? I live near DC, so have a few, but most people never have to deal with them.
Its a rotary or round-about :) . I'm from NH.

They installed one on NC States campus and after a ton of accidents and people not having a clue, it has actually made driving a lot easier. I'm glad they did it but boy was it a head-ache while people learned how to use it. We actually have one as you enter my apartment complex.

The scarriest one I've been in was around the Arc d' Triumph, well it was fun! Several lanes wide and try to work your way to the center as fast as you can and then work your way out again :D >

[Slappy*McFish]

Ah, a fellow Raleighite. Cool. ;)
Yeah..Hillsborough st. was a nightmare to travel on. I used to live close to there off of Oberlin rd. Now I live further west in Raleigh..close to Cary. (Jones Franklin rd/Western blvd).

BTW, your bengal cat is awesome.

[dougall]

While listening to music on my way home, I'm left wondering why some music doesn't make it big stateside..

She was a rum old slapper
and we always tried to get her
pants off when she phoned

Love is the Law
from
The Seahorses - Do it yourself

[Mocular]

i think the most phrase that changes most in meaning is the term "blew off". here in american english if a girl blew you off during the date then she left you alone and you had a poor evening. but in english english if your date blew you off during your date you are having quite a good evening.

[dougall]

English people try not to follow through

[Roan Art]

I get swamped with Americans making fun of my Canadianisms.

American/Canadian
Sweats/track pants
Sneakers/runners
line up/in line, queue
pants/trews, trousers
couch/chesterfield
hat/toque
soda/pop
candy bar/chocolate bar
zee/zed

Tons more I can't think of right now because I've gotten so used to correcting myself.

Except for a few nouns like soccer, football, fanny, bonnet, boot etc.,. and some Francophone words, much of Canadian English is the same as English English.

Oh, and most Canadians do *not* say "eh". It became popular AFTER Bob and Doug MacKenzie started staying it. The ony ones who said "eh" before were the Down Easters (Nova Scotia et al) and the Francophones.

Roan

[Slappy*McFish]

lol..I bet you Canadians get tired of us Americans saying 'eh?' to you all the time, eh?

[ladygwen]

:idea: How about all the differences in the names of foods in England vs. America

Ladygwen

[fishkeeper55]

what about Australian English?

[Roan Art]

lol..I bet you Canadians get tired of us Americans saying 'eh?' to you all the time, eh?
Eh? Oh, go slap a trout or two :D

My nick name in college was "Hosette". NO, it's the feminine form of "Hoser" not the girlie who walks the streets ;)

Roan

[Mocular]

I get swamped with Americans making fun of my Canadianisms.


soda/pop


i say pop and im from Nebraska; soda is a southern,eastern,western,sort of thing evidently

[dougall]

How about all the differences in the names of foods in England vs. America

There is no difference in names.. they're completely different foods.. !

[Galaxie]

i say pop and im from Nebraska; soda is a southern,eastern,western,sort of thing evidently

My southern relatives call it "sody-pop". I ask them to pleeeease don't say that when they come visit.
I've always said "coke" and don't have the slightest care whether they serve Coca-cola, Pepsi, or RC.

[msouth468]

My southern relatives call it "sody-pop". I ask them to pleeeease don't say that when they come visit.
I've always said "coke" and don't have the slightest care whether they serve Coca-cola, Pepsi, or RC.

I'm from Iowa and know exactly what you mean. My wife calls Sloppy Joe's Taverns and lunch is dinner and dinner is supper.

[mishi8]

Oh, and most Canadians do *not* say "eh". It became popular AFTER Bob and Doug MacKenzie started staying it. The ony ones who said "eh" before were the Down Easters (Nova Scotia et al) and the Francophones.

Roan

Actually, many westerners say "eh," and have since before Bob & Doug MacKenzie. Where to you think they came up with it? SCTV (pre Martin Short) was filmed in Edmonton, Alberta. :)

Mishi8
who has a pronounced Canadian accent, and is guilty of saying "eh" too often :D

[Roan Art]

Actually, many westerners say "eh," and have since before Bob & Doug MacKenzie. Where to you think they came up with it? SCTV (pre Martin Short) was filmed in Edmonton, Alberta. :)It was? Blargh. I always thought it was in Torana. Heh. It *was* moved there, no?

who has a pronounced Canadian accent, and is guilty of saying "eh" too often :DYah, I apparently have a "Canadian" accent as well, but I tell people it's THEY who are not speaking correctly :)

Roan

[mishi8]

It was? Blargh. I always thought it was in Torana. Heh. It *was* moved there, no?

Yes, it was moved to Toronto. Why in the world would they want to stay in Edmonton? :laugh: (I'm still trying to figure out why I'm living near Edmonton myself!)

Yah, I apparently have a "Canadian" accent as well, but I tell people it's THEY who are not speaking correctly :)

Roan

Are you starting to pick up an American accent now? I tend to pick up the accents around me...and tend to change a bit even regionally in Canada...I used to sound more like a Winnipeger when I lived there, now I think I sound like I'm a true Albertan. :)

[Roan Art]

Yes, it was moved to Toronto. Why in the world would they want to stay in Edmonton? :laugh: (I'm still trying to figure out why I'm living near Edmonton myself!)Hey, Edmonton's cool :)

Are you starting to pick up an American accent now? I tend to pick up the accents around me...and tend to change a bit even regionally in Canada...I used to sound more like a Winnipeger when I lived there, now I think I sound like I'm a true Albertan. :)
OMG I sure hope not! I've been trying not to do that. I don't want an American accent, that's for sure.

My husband sounds like a Southerner every time he gets off a conference call. It's hilarious :)

Roan

[dougall]

I had 2 thoughts overnight.

1. my word of today is titchy

2. not necessarily to do with the language.. but pancake day is celebrated in England...

[mishi8]

I had 2 thoughts overnight.

1. my word of today is titchy

2. not necessarily to do with the language.. but pancake day is celebrated in England...

You mean Pancake Tuesday (aka Shrove Tuesday)? We observe it in Canada too...well, that is, those people who observe lent do. I remember it being a bigger deal when I was a kid. Because we have such a diverse community now, it isn't observed as widely. :)

[dougall]

It was pancake day or pancake Tuesday depending on the area.


perhaps I'm just hankering for a good old pancake race.

[mishi8]

Well, if you can't wait until Feb 28th, pancakes are good anytime. :)

[sumthin fishy]

I know a few members who can agree with that ;)

[Ems]

*Ems perks up*
Someone say pancakes???

[Slappy*McFish]

God...I'd slay a stack of pancakes right now. You just have no idea.

[mishi8]

Okay, enough with the pancakes! 'Cause now I want a pannekoek -- a gigantic pancake topped with any number of toppings -- my favourite is apple, onion and bacon rolled up in a pannekoek and drizzled with maple syrup (or stroop if one prefers) plus a side of hashbrowns with hollandaise sauce. Mmm.

Unfortunately, there is no DeDutch Pannekoek House (http://www.dedutch.com/index2.html) here. :( Anyone interested in moving here to open up a franchise (http://www.dedutch.com/defranchise/defranchise.htm)?

[dougall]

to avoid pancakes drawing attention from the thread..

does anyone else know what gurning is ?

[Lila]

Gurning? No idea.

But I did want to say...I love the way the English 'fancy' something.

"I fancy some chocolate."

"I fancy a drink."

"I fancy you."

;)

Lila

[Galaxie]

http://mustanglife.tenmagazines.com/forums/images/bunnycake.gif
http://mustanglife.tenmagazines.com/forums/images/bunnycake.gif
http://mustanglife.tenmagazines.com/forums/images/bunnycake.gif

[Lila]

Ah...there we go. "I fancy a pancake."

;)

[sumthin fishy]

http://mustanglife.tenmagazines.com/forums/images/bunnycake.gif
http://mustanglife.tenmagazines.com/forums/images/bunnycake.gif
http://mustanglife.tenmagazines.com/forums/images/bunnycake.gif
Ok, now that made me curious. What is the deal with pancake totting bunnies?http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/mikewoodsy/bunny.jpg

[mikecymru]

Gurning is normally done in the north of england.
Basically people pull some very strange faces and sometimes hang toilet seats around there necks....
Which is why I live in Wales.


EMS I'll bake you some pancakes next time your in town!!!

[Galaxie]

Ok, now that made me curious. What is the deal with pancake totting bunnies?

Click here for bunny with pancake info (http://www.syberpunk.com/cgi-bin/index.pl?page=oolong)

[sumthin fishy]

So, I recently found another one. In the US schools (at least arround here) you get grades, in Canadia you get marks eh.

[Ems]

yes but here in Canada eh you get marks that make up your final GRADE eh?! :eek:

[Dangerdoll]

ok, this is the very first time I opened this thread at 3 pages long and holy shnipes do I want pancakes!! :D

[cattlegrid_79]

Those things in the pictures previously are so not pancakes!!! Pancakes are really big and really thin.

By the way, "pop" is used in England too, but only up north.

And I think the american term "to blow you off" would be "to blow you out" over here. If you get blown out, then you've crashed and burned on a date for example. To "blow off" in England would mean you were suffering from excess wind that just had to be released.

[Mitternacht]

why do you call soccer football? lol.