Page 1 of 3
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 10:31 am
by BTS
I was reading a few threads and was amused to see how different countries say the same item differently.
Here in the US we have different parts of the country that do the same thing IE Northerners vs Southerners speech.
When I moved to South Carolina my first day at work i was asked to go get "A hose pipe" out behind the building......... Crud I looked and looked but could not find a "hose pipe". First day on the job and I was blowing it. I went and told supervisor that there was not a hose pipe out there. He proceeded to take me out back and pick up a garden hose.......
SHEESH I never put the two together....
Some of the words I have seen here in the garden that differ from our way of saying them are:
Trolly....... It is a shopping cart here (unless you are in the south then it is a buggy)
And I think we discussed loo here once before.
color vs colour
favorite vs favourite
tire vs tyre
baked potato vs jacketed potato
biscuit vs scone
cafeteria vs canteen
chips vs crisps
Anyways .............do you know of others?
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 10:46 am
by Lon
Body and Fender workers are referred to as "Panel Beaters" in New Zealand and Australia. I think it's the same in the UK as well.
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 10:51 am
by chonsigirl
A trolly here take you downtown-it is the electric rail train.
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 10:55 am
by Nomad
Je pense que ce vin a déjà ete bu
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 10:58 am
by chonsigirl
Les lapins ne boivent pas de trop de vin
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:03 am
by BTS
Nomad wrote: Je pense que ce vin a déjà ete bu
I think that this wine already has been drunk
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:04 am
by chonsigirl
Open another bottle!
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:06 am
by BTS
American English=horny
British English=randy
slang. Eager to engage in sexual congress. Americans called Randolph should not introduce themselves in British circles by saying "Hi, I'm Randy", unless, of course, ......
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:53 am
by sherry
The extremely childish side of me always creases up when I watch american films and they say fanny.
Flash light = torch
Sidewalk = pavement
elevator = Lift
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:59 am
by Bez
sherry wrote: The extremely childish side of me always creases up when I watch american films and they say fanny.
Flash light = torch
Sidewalk = pavement
elevator = Lift
My sister has lived in SanDiago for 40 years....last time she was over, I introduced her to a 'bum bag'....she called it a 'fanny bag'....we had a real laugh over it...
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 12:05 pm
by sherry
I know, there's a bit in Stuart Little 2 when the cat says "what am I a fanny pack?" it makes me laugh every time.:wah:
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 12:32 pm
by abbey
Hamster wrote: There are also huge differences within the UK too...
For example I have lived in Yorkshire, London and now Cornwall and in each place there is another name for a the round bread that makes a sandwich.
In Yorkshire its a "Tea cake" or "Bap" and in London its a "Bread Roll" or "Bun" and here in Cornwall I have no idea! I still can't actually order one as I don't know what to call it!
Help please! If you live in the UK I would be interested to know what you call it. And in the US?????:-5Here in Lancashire we call it a muffin or barm cake.
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 12:39 pm
by lady cop
then there's pronunciation...Bothwell has told me i must, for example, pronounce aluminum as al-u-MIN-ium. and fillet as filleT with a hard T. but when he's over here i have to translate for him with the locals! :rolleyes:
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 12:50 pm
by sherry
When I was in nottingham I went to the bakers and asked for a sausage roll and ended up with a sausage sliced and in a bread roll. Instead of the sausage meat in flakey pastry which I though I was going to get.
They said that that was called a sausage cob.

Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 12:57 pm
by abbey
Hamster wrote: A muffin to me is something with sweet-preferably with chocolate chips in!!We have oven bottom muffins, a flat muffin with a hole on the top, it's nice & yeasty tasting.
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 12:58 pm
by sherry
I like the cheese and cracked black pepper muffins you get from waitrose, they're yum!
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 1:10 pm
by chonsigirl
Ghee, we eat corn on the cob..................
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 1:19 pm
by Lon
Here's a few that are used in New Zealand
Banger -------sausage
Bach----------hoilday home
Bonk------to have sex
Bum------rear end
Biscuit-------cookie
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 1:23 pm
by Jives
Hey BTS, what's up homeskillet? This thread is a hoser, it's taken a header and biffed it. Let's crash and burn over to the other thread where we can check out some sick wool and makk up to some hotties.

Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 1:33 pm
by Katy1
I'm new here so hello first of all....
Anyway, here in Bristol we call trainers 'daps' but I know in other parts of the country they're called 'pumps'.
When I went up to Yorkshire a good few years back I was called 'c*ck' (as in 'how are you, c*ck?). Apparently they were just being friendly. That type of talk down this way could land you in trouble!! Lol!!:D
Katy X
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 1:41 pm
by abbey
Katy1 wrote: I'm new here so hello first of all....
Anyway, here in Bristol we call trainers 'daps' but I know in other parts of the country they're called 'pumps'.
When I went up to Yorkshire a good few years back I was called 'c*ck' (as in 'how are you, c*ck?). Apparently they were just being friendly. That type of talk down this way could land you in trouble!! Lol!!:D
Katy XHey-up cocker, welcome to the forum.

Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 1:47 pm
by Katy1
Cheers Abbey,
One more thing.....How do you get those icons up underneath your user-name?
Katy
X
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 1:51 pm
by sherry
Katy1 wrote: I'm new here so hello first of all....
Anyway, here in Bristol we call trainers 'daps' but I know in other parts of the country they're called 'pumps'.
When I went up to Yorkshire a good few years back I was called 'c*ck' (as in 'how are you, c*ck?). Apparently they were just being friendly. That type of talk down this way could land you in trouble!! Lol!!:D
Katy X
Hi Katy
You are quite right, my grandad always used to say "eh up c*ck" and also "how doin' shitehawk?" Now where that comes from heaven only knows.

Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 1:59 pm
by Katy1
'Shitehawk'?? That just sounds like an insult plain and simply. Are there more fights up North? If so I could see why!!Lol.
Typical, I get reply's and then I have to eat dinner....speak soon. Seems like a good forum!
Katy X
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 2:04 pm
by sherry
Actually it's a term of affection but then they're a bit rough up north.:p

Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 2:12 pm
by abbey
Katy1 wrote: Cheers Abbey,
One more thing.....How do you get those icons up underneath your user-name?
Katy
XKaty, go into my settings (on the green bar above) then click on edit avatar, chose a pic that best suits you then save.
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 2:13 pm
by abbey
sherry wrote: Hi Katy
You are quite right, my grandad always used to say "eh up c*ck" and also "how doin' shitehawk?" Now where that comes from heaven only knows.

Was your grandad from Liverpool by any chance?
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 3:16 pm
by venus
WE from the North East also have stottie....
this is a large round flat bread..
Also pease pudding, which you can only buy in a can here in London, so whenever family members are travelling down for a visit l get 6 stotties and fresh pease pudding from the butchers..:p
Being a maccum when l first moved soutn there were a few problems with my dialect, and my accent...

Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 3:32 pm
by sherry
abbey wrote: Was your grandad from Liverpool by any chance?
No, he was a yorkshireman.
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 5:32 pm
by Galbally
Oh there is so much of this stuff, its great.
American English British English
Sedan / Saloon
Stationwagon/ Estate Car
Jello/ Jam
Jam/ Jelly (i think?)
Flapjack/ Pancake (kind of) We actually have a "pancake day" here in february which my American friends find hilarious.
Hood (car)/ Bonnet
Gasoline/ Petrol
Bacon/ Rashers
Trunk (car) / Boot
Ass/ Arse
Freeway/ Motorway
Truck / Lorry (thou u can say truck)
Stick Shift / Manual
Fall/ Autumn
There is just loads of stuff, even the way we do dates is different like september 11th is 9/11 in America but it would be 11/9 here.
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 5:50 pm
by Nomad
sherry wrote: The extremely childish side of me always creases up when I watch american films and they say fanny.
Flash light = torch
Sidewalk = pavement
elevator = Lift
Fanny ? Really ? Thats too cute. LOL!
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 5:52 pm
by Nomad
I get dreamy listening to British, Irish and Scot gals speak. Its very lovely to listen to.

Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 6:01 pm
by lady cop
and i could listen to Bothwell read the entire london phone book all day long. beautiful.
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 7:12 pm
by Accountable
A tractor-trailer rig is an articulated lorry.
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 7:24 pm
by Galbally
Yeah a jumper over here means "sweater" though older people say pullover as well. What you call "sneakers" we call "trainers" or "runners" or "pumps" or something. There really are loads of these but I can't think of them off the top of my head, and i don't know the American usages for a lot of things despite the fact I know they are different in some way. Oh yeah the one I always was baffeled by was "turnpike" I can honestly say I didn't know what a "turnpike" was or why people would go near such dangerous sounding objects until about 3 years ago, great word though. The Aussies have a few different words too, though in general their English is much closer to ours than American English.
Language differences
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:41 pm
by cars
Here in the USA, could you believe that a "Flat Bread sandwich" is called a "HERO" in NY, a "HOGGIE" in PA & maybe NJ to, & a "GRINDER" in New England. All being the same, but with no similarity sound at all to each other. (Kinda funny)
Many years ago I worked with some Aussies, (Great Guys) & I think I recall them saying they used a "Dunkin Dinny" back home, that's what's referred to here as an "Outhouse". (That's a "shack" outside the regular house to do your business, where that house had no indoor plumbing)
Also major roadways in US, are called: Highways, Parkways, Thruways, Freeways, Beltways, Causeways, Interstate 95, plus numerous other numbers.
Language differences
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 1:51 am
by abbey
lady cop wrote: and i could listen to Bothwell read the entire london phone book all day long. beautiful. And yet when i'm talking to you, all you say is " what? say it again"!! :wah:
Language differences
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 2:02 am
by lady cop
abbey wrote: And yet when i'm talking to you, all you say is " what? say it again"!! :wah:because your voice is so soft!! i can't hear you!!

and i love your accent, but it is much different than his. the regional differences are amazing. then again, it's the same in the states...i cannot stand southern accents, and i sound a bit like boston. they all think i "talk funny" down here in the swamp.
Language differences
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 3:23 am
by Katy1
Lol about the 'fanny' thing. It's even more funny in context-ie: 'Fanny bag' or 'I'm going to give you a spanked fanny'..Ha, ha. Immature but never fails to amuse.
I've always thought that the Americans have a blind spot with the letter 'u'. Whenever theres one in a word, they'll ignore it-
Colour/color
favour/favor
etc........(note I put the 'correct spelling first' *winks*
I understand the 'fall' thing, I assume it's all about the leaves. But what a great word 'autumnal' is. Trips off the tongue.
Katy X
Language differences
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 4:42 am
by sherry
Nomad wrote: Fanny ? Really ? Thats too cute. LOL!
I just can't help it, it makes me giggle every time.:wah:
Language differences
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:21 am
by chrisb84uk
Hmm well I can only speak for the part of the US I went to on my hols, but I liked the accent. It certainly wasn't hard at all to understand, especially to some that I've heard around here.
I know though that I don't think I have an accent, but then I'm sure that's the same for a lot of people, until someone tells u different.
Language differences
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:27 am
by sherry
SnoozeControl wrote: I've got a Scottish friend I've chatted with, and both of us are constantly going "huh?" I like to think I don't have an accent, but of course I do to someone from another country.
I think us Yanks all agree we like Aussie/English/Irish/Scottish accents, but what do all of you non-Americans think of our accents?
well there are some american accents I really like, I like the New York accent.
I love an Italian accent:-4 And an irish, scotish or welsh accent.
Who am I kidding? I'm just not fussy.

Language differences
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:35 am
by Bez
SnoozeControl wrote: I say Fall and Autumn, also manual transmission and stick shift.
I always thought a jumper was this:
But you Brits are talking about a pullover sweater, right?
That's a 'Pinafore Dress' over here.
The 'suspenders' difference makes me laugh.....over here suspenders hold up ladies stockings...NOT mens socks. ...garters hold up socks but are also worn by ladies who wear just one 'saucy' one on their wedding day....