10 words that are used differently in the USA

By Shashi Lakkaraju

American English has many differences when compared to British English which is spoken in India, the top 10 list of such differences which are likely to affect you in your day to day life in the US especially when you are a newbee in the US are listed here.

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#1 Bill, Check

In India after you have finished having your meal at a restaurant you ask the waiter for a 'bill', in US you ask the waiter for a 'check'. Ironically currency notes are called 'Bills' in US, For e.g. you would say ? Can you give me five ten dollar bills please?

#2 Petrol, Gas

Petrol is called 'Gas' in US. 'To step on the gas' is to accelerate. The cooking gas is also called gas in US and is used for cooking and heating during the winters.

#3 Taxi, Cab

While in India we call a 'taxi' or 'auto' to take us some place, they are more commonly referred to as 'cabs' in the US. Also remember tipping the taxi driver over and above the meter charge is customary in US, a practice not so common in India.

#4 Toilet, Rest Room

Toilets are 'Rest Rooms' here and large areas on highways where there are toilets and eating facilities are called 'rest areas'. Incidentally in Canada they are referred to as 'Wash Rooms'

#5 Rubber, Eraser

This is a big one and can land one in serious trouble, you use an 'Eraser' to erase off your pencil writings NOT a rubber. Rubber is a slang way of referring to a condom in the US, you do not want to find this out the hard way so beware!

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#6 Lift, Elevator

In India, you take a 'lift' to go to higher floors, in US you take an 'Elevator' or an 'Escalator'. An Elevator is the equivalent of a 'lift'. Escalators are the automatic steps where you hop in and hop off after each floor.

#7 Fag, Cigarette

Another big one, there is a term in British English called ' fag end' which means the tail end, the origin of this term comes from the fact that in British English a fag is a cigarette. In American English fag is a short way of referring to a 'faggot'.

#8 Soft Drink, Soda

In India we refer to coke, pepsi, limca etc as 'soft drinks', in US it is collectively and commonly referred to as 'soda'. If you are looking for coke in a grocery shop, ask the sales person for the 'ile where the soda is stored'.

#9 Vegetable name differences

Many vegetables are differently called in the US. Brinjals are referred to as 'Egg Plants' ' for the die-hard veggies, remember there is no egg in eggplant, also did you know that in Britain these are called aubugrines! , Ladies Finger ' no such thing here, (wonder how this name was coined, has anyone ever seen a lady whose fingers look like these'), these are called 'Okra', corriander leaves are 'Cilantro' a word which is of Italian origin.

#10 Shopping complex, Mall

A big shopping complex is commonly referred to as a 'mall' in the US.