As Canadians, one of the things we learned while living in
the UK is how to speak ‘real’ English. Here’s a list of vocabulary items for
Canucks (or Americans) who want to make themselves understood:
Canadian British
soccer = football
cleats (soccer) = Boots (football)
underwear =
pants
pants =
trousers
(don’t get these mixed up)
lineup, line = queue
take-out (food) =
take-away
elevator = lift
high street =
main street
movie theatre =
cinema
movie =
film
bathroom/washroom = toilet/ loo
math = maths
goof/dork = prat
jerk = git
friend = mate
dessert = pudding/ pud
cookie = biscuit
candy = sweets
fries = chips
(potato) chips =
crisps
pop =
soda
buns =
baps
eraser = rubber
rain boots =
wellies
dump = Tip
garbage can =
bin
gas =
petrol
store = shop
booger = bogey
lice =
nits
Some British words have multiple meanings and uses, e.g.
bits. ‘Bits’ can refer to parts of a thing(including private parts), but it can also mean
little particles (like pulp in orange juice, one variety of which is “Smooth,
No Bits”. When a person is very emotional or upset they are “in bits”.
attractive/ hot =
fit
stupid = daft
awesome/ excellent = brilliant
gross/ filthy =
mankey
crazy =
mad
like, want = fancy
ride (a bike) =
cycle
rent = let
making fun of = taking the mick
skipping off (school) = skiving
Expressions
Hello =
y’alright?
Hey! = oi!
Pronunciations
yoghurt (first syllable rhymes with ‘frog’ not ‘go’)
vitamins (first syllable rhymes with ‘bit’)
aluminum (stress placed on the third syllable, not the
second)
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