Even though they speak English, Americans and British people are quite different in their vocabulary, reading, writing and grammar.

You should not be surprised when you are told that your pronunciation is "weird" or strange when speaking English in a country where English is the native language. The difference in vocabulary and English accent in each country is a challenge for everyone.

1. Vocabulary

Some vocabulary appears only in American English but not in British English and vice versa. For example, “lady bug” /ˈleɪ·diˌbʌɡ/ means “ladybug” in American English but not in British English. “Anorak” /ˈæn.ə.ræk/ refers to a type of outerwear that protects against wind and rain and has a hood in British English, but Americans hardly use this word.

Besides, some words appear in both countries but have different meanings. For example, British people see “Are you all right?” is a way of saying hello, just like “Hello” or “How are you?”. But Americans see this as a genuine question when they see the other person is sick or has just had a small accident..

Another example that shows the difference is “pants”. If Americans understand that "pants" is long pants, the same meaning as the word "trousers" ("trousers" is rarely used), then British people understand this as "underwear" - underwear.

2. spelling

You can spot the difference in writing with a few rules like:

– American English tends to drop the “u” in many words. The British write "colour", "armour", "humor" and in American it is "color", "armor", "humor".

– American English verbs have the ending "ize" and British English verbs have "ise", for example: "realize - realise", "organize - organize".

– The order of letters can also be reversed, for example "theater", "center" in American English corresponds to "theatre", "center" in British English.

3. Pronunciation

You can tell if the other person is speaking American English or British English thanks to the pronunciation. The accent of some words may change. “Adult” has 2nd stress in American English (aDULT) but has stress on the first syllable (Adult) in British English. “Weekend” has a first accent (WEEKeend) in American English but a second accent in British English (weekEND).

Another difference is that Americans tend to say all the "r" sounds that appear in words, while British people often leave them out if they come at the end. The pronunciation of “car” in American English and British English is /kɑːr/ – /kɑː/, respectively.

Americans also tend to change consonants in a word, or omit them to make speaking faster and easier, for example: “water” is said like “wa-der” – /t/ sound. changes to /d/, and “mountain” is said like “moun-nn” – “ear” is omitted.

4. Grammar

In British English, you must use the present perfect to describe something that has just happened, for example:

– I've broken your vase. Will you forgive me? (I just accidentally broke the vase. Mom, will you forgive me?)

Americans can also use the present perfect in the last case or simplify it with the simple past:

– I broke your vase. Will you forgive me?