Brits have revealed the American phrases they find cute – but they have also left other people on this side of ‘the pond’ utterly baffled.
In a discussion on Quora about the differences between American and British English, one participant listed their favourite American words, stating: “Some American English words that British people might find funny or unique include: 1. Truck (instead of lorry) 2. Bangs (instead of fringe) 3. Fanny pack (instead of bum bag) 4. Jello (instead of jelly) 5. Faucet (instead of tap).
They also shared some terms they found charming: “1. Sidewalk (instead of pavement) 2. Elevator (instead of lift) 3. Diaper (instead of nappy) 4. Cookie (instead of biscuit) 5. Trash can (instead of bin).
These differences often lead to amusing moments or misunderstandings between speakers of American and British English.
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Another user chimed in with: “The American use of ‘potty’ amuses me.
“To me, and probably most people in the UK, a potty is a small portable receptacle that is usually only used by toddlers who are not yet fully toilet trained.
The plumbed-in, standard-sized, flushable thing that adults and older children normally use is a toilet.
“They added: “It’s funny enough when American adults talk about using the potty, but even funnier when they just say ‘go potty’ because another meaning of ‘potty’ in the UK is ‘mad,’ in the sense of insane/crazy. To go potty is to go crazy!
Meanwhile, another user ranted: “Calling your little finger, your ‘pinky’. Ugh.
A separate disgruntled Brit chimed in with: “Soooo many. Fanny pack sounds like a battery-operated sex toy, math instead of maths, panties makes me cringe – it’s like something you would say to a little girl but a grown woman no way.
Another shared their pet peeves stating: “So many things are baffling. Why can’t they say the name Barry properly?
“Why don’t they use weighing scales when they cook? Do they weigh themselves in cups?
“How did they manage to mangle the word aluminium?”
