Wednesday 03 December 2008

Light at the dead of night

posted by Paul
Street intersection at nightDon't you just love how the street, traffic and shop lights create an array of colours on the street and pavements in this photo?

We've met several American visitors to our country recently and learned a couple of things about words that we have in common, but which mean different things. In South African English a "pavement" is the place where pedestrians walk and a road is where vehicles drive. In American English a "pavement" is a road and a sidewalk is where pedestrians walk. Then there's that interesting American word "turnpike", which is a "toll road" in South African English.

What are some of your favourite words that have different meanings in American and British (or South African) English?

3 Comments:

Blogger Obnoxio The Clown said...

Fanny: US=bottom; UK=front-bottom
Pants: US=trousers; UK=undies
Fag: US=homosexualist; UK=cigarette

04 December 2008 7:03 PM  
Blogger HayleyM said...

Boot: US=shoe; SA=car storage
Bonnet: US=hat(not normally used); SA=car front
Robot: US=electronic gadget; SA=traffic light

04 December 2008 11:19 PM  
Blogger Rob (Inukshuk Adventure) said...

Oh, there are so many differences, that we have had to learn a new language, really!

So many words and so many sayings that are different.

Grill = Broil
First floor = ground floor
Back up = reverse
...and the list goes on.

08 December 2008 10:27 PM  

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