British vs American English
British and American English are the same language with small, regular differences in how some words are spelled, which words are chosen for everyday things, and a few grammar habits. Pick one variety, stay consistent, and recognise the other when you read or listen.
Level: B1. British and American English are easy to understand across the Atlantic, but they differ in a handful of predictable ways. This page shows the main spelling patterns, the everyday words that change, and the few grammar habits that differ — so you can choose one variety and keep it consistent.
By the end of this page you can…
…recognise the main spelling, vocabulary and grammar differences between British and American English, choose one variety for your own writing, and understand both when you read or listen.
Spelling patterns
Most spelling differences follow a small set of regular changes.
| Pattern | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| -our / -or | colour, favour, neighbour | color, favor, neighbor |
| -re / -er | centre, theatre, metre | center, theater, meter |
| -ise / -ize | organise, realise | organize, realize |
| -yse / -yze | analyse, paralyse | analyze, paralyze |
| double l | travelled, cancelled | traveled, canceled |
| -ogue / -og | catalogue, dialogue | catalog, dialog |
| -ence / -ense | defence, licence (noun) | defense, license |
| single words | grey, tyre, programme | gray, tire, program |
Vocabulary differences
The same everyday thing often has two names. These are the ones learners meet most.
| Meaning | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| home in a building | flat | apartment |
| machine that moves between floors | lift | elevator |
| large road vehicle for goods | lorry | truck |
| time off work or school | holiday | vacation |
| path beside a road | pavement | sidewalk |
| sweet baked snack | biscuit | cookie |
| fried potato sticks | chips | fries |
| the season after summer | autumn | fall |
| petrol for a car | petrol | gas / gasoline |
| rubbish container | bin | trash can |
| underground train | the Underground / tube | subway |
| mobile phone | mobile | cell phone |
Grammar and usage differences
The grammar is almost identical; only a few habits differ.
| Point | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| past participle of get | I have got used to it | I have gotten used to it |
| present perfect vs past simple | I’ve just eaten | I just ate |
| have / have got | Have you got a pen? | Do you have a pen? |
| collocation: weekend | at the weekend | on the weekend |
| prepositions | different to / from | different from / than |
| date order | 27 October 2026 (day-month) | October 27, 2026 (month-day) |
| collective nouns | the team are winning | the team is winning |
Example sentences
Play each line. Each pair shows the same idea in British and then American English.
- My favourite colour is grey.British spelling: favourite, colour, grey.
- My favorite color is gray.American spelling of the same sentence.
- We travelled to the city centre.British: double l, centre.
- We traveled to the city center.American: single l, center.
- Take the lift to the third floor.British word: lift.
- Take the elevator to the third floor.American word: elevator.
- I live in a small flat near the shops.British: flat.
- I live in a small apartment near the stores.American: apartment, stores.
- Have you got any plans for the weekend?British: have got, at the weekend.
- Do you have any plans on the weekend?American: do you have, on the weekend.
- I've just finished my homework.British often uses the present perfect.
- I just finished my homework.American often uses the past simple.
- In autumn we go on holiday.British: autumn, holiday.
- In the fall we go on vacation.American: fall, vacation.
- She has got used to driving a lorry.British participle: got.
- She has gotten used to driving a truck.American participle: gotten.
Common mistakes
Errors that come from mixing the two varieties or over-applying a pattern.
- ✗ My favourite color. → ✓ My favourite colour (British) or My favorite color (American) — keep the spelling in one variety.
- ✗ I have gotten a new phone, and I’ve already analysed it. → ✓ Pick one: all British (got, analysed) or all American (gotten, analyzed).
- ✗ I took the lift to my apartment. → ✓ lift + flat (British) or elevator + apartment (American).
- ✗ On October the 27, 2026. → ✓ 27 October 2026 (British) or October 27, 2026 (American).
- ✗ I’m on holidays in America. → ✓ on holiday (British) or on vacation (American).
Recap cheat-sheet
The patterns to remember before the quiz.
Quick recap before the quiz.
| Area | British → American |
|---|---|
| spelling | colour → color |
| spelling | centre → center |
| vocabulary | lift → elevator |
| grammar | got → gotten |
Practice
British vs American practice
Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.
1 Match the British word to its American equivalent.
- flat
- lift
- lorry
- holiday
Show answer
- flat → apartment
- lift → elevator
- lorry → truck
- holiday → vacation
These everyday nouns change between the two varieties.
Hint: British -our becomes American -or
Show answer
color — British colour → American color.
Hint: British -re becomes American -er
Show answer
center — British centre → American center.
6 Put the words in order (American English).
Show answer
take the elevator — American English uses 'elevator', not 'lift'.
Quiz
British vs American quiz
12 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.
-
Show answer
colour — British uses -our: colour.
-
Show answer
center — American uses -er: center.
-
Show answer
flat — British: flat; American: apartment.
-
Show answer
truck — American: truck.
-
Show answer
organize — American uses -ize and single l: organize.
-
Show answer
autumn — British: autumn; American: fall.
-
Show answer
I just ate. — American English often uses the past simple with 'just'.
-
Show answer
at the weekend — British: at the weekend; American: on the weekend.
-
Show answer
27 October 2026 — British puts the day first: 27 October 2026.
-
Show answer
gas — American: gas (gasoline); British: petrol.
-
Show answer
We went on vacation in the fall. — All American: vacation + fall. The others mix varieties.
-
Show answer
got — British: got; American: gotten.
Next
- Previous set: Commonly Confused English Words
- Next set: English Irregular Verbs Reference
- Grammar that helps: Present perfect vs past simple, Have got
- New here? Start with Start Learning English Here
All English vocabulary topics
Vocabulary, pronunciation, phrases, practice and exam help, ordered by level. Pick a topic and go straight to it. New lessons go live every day, so topics marked Coming soon fill in over the next weeks.
Vocabulary
A1 13 topics · 13 ready
- 01 100 Most Common English Words
- 02 English Words 101-250 (Frequency)
- 03 100 Essential English Verbs
- 04 Common English Adjectives
- 05 English Question Words & Phrases
- 06 English Time Expressions
- 07 English Food & Cooking Vocabulary
- 08 English Animals Vocabulary
- 09 English Clothing Vocabulary
- 10 English Weather Vocabulary
- 11 English Family & Relationships Vocabulary
- 12 English Colours Vocabulary
- 13 English Numbers, Dates & Money
A2 14 topics · 14 ready
- 14 English Words 251-500 (Frequency)
- 15 English Words 501-1000 (Frequency)
- 16 Everyday English Adverbs
- 17 English Body & Health Vocabulary
- 18 English House & Furniture Vocabulary
- 19 English Kitchen & Tableware Vocabulary
- 20 English Transport & Travel Vocabulary
- 21 English Places in Town Vocabulary
- 22 English Jobs & Professions Vocabulary
- 23 English Money & Shopping Vocabulary
- 24 English Emotions & Feelings Vocabulary
- 25 English Sports & Exercise Vocabulary
- 26 English Verbs of Motion
- 27 English Irregular Verbs Reference
B1 11 topics · 11 ready
- 28 English Words 1001-1500 (Frequency)
- 29 English Words 1501-2000 (Frequency)
- 30 English Connectors & Linking Words
- 31 English Nature & Geography Vocabulary
- 32 English Technology & Internet Vocabulary
- 33 English Education & School Vocabulary
- 34 English Medical & Pharmacy Vocabulary
- 35 English Arts, Music & Film Vocabulary
- 36 100 Essential English Phrasal Verbs
- 37 Commonly Confused English Words
- 38 British vs American English You are here