Lead-In
Do You Remember?
How would you say the following sentences in American English?
- Shall we order some takeaway?
- What do you think of my new Nike trainers?
- Let’s have grilled maize as a starter.
- Is the principal’s office on the ground floor?
- If the weather is chilly, put on your jumper.
Vocabulary
- shopping and services – ostlemine ja teenused
- note (BrE), bill (AmE) – rahatäht
- pocket money (BrE), allowance (AmE) – taskuraha
- bill (BrE), check (AmE)– arve
- the chemist (BrE), drugstore (AmE), pharmacy (AmE) – apteek
- shop, store (AmE) – kauplus
- trolley (BrE), shopping cart (AmE) – ostukäru
- cinema (BrE), movie theater (AmE) – kino
- film (BrE), movie (AmE) – film
- post (BrE), mail (AmE) – post
- postbox (BrE), mailbox (AmE) – postkast
- postcode (BrE), zip code (AmE) – postiindeks
- public toilet (BrE), restroom (AmE), bathroom (AmE) – avalik tualett
- queue (BrE), line (AmE) – järjekord
- traffic and travel – liiklus ja reisimine
- boot (BrE), trunk (AmE) – pakiruum
- engine, motor (AmE) – mootor
- car park (BrE), parking lot (AmE) – parkla
- crossroads (BrE), intersection (AmE) – ristmik
- driving licence (BrE), driver’s license (AmE) – juhiluba
- estate car (BrE), station wagon (AmE) – kombiauto
- lorry (BrE), truck (AmE) – veoauto
- motorbike (BrE), motorcycle (AmE) – mootorratas
- motorway (BrE), freeway (AmE), expressway (AmE) – maantee, kiirtee
- pavement (BrE), sidewalk (AmE) – kõnnitee
- pedestrian crossing (BrE), crosswalk (AmE) – ülekäigurada
- roundabout (BrE), traffic circle (AmE) – ringristmik
- petrol (BrE), gas (AmE), gasoline (AmE) – bensiin
- return (ticket) (BrE), round-trip (AmE) – edasi-tagasi(pilet)
- single (ticket) (BrE), one-way – üheotsa(pilet)
- taxi (BrE), cab (AmE) – takso
- tube (BrE), underground (BrE), subway (AmE) – metroo
- railway (BrE), railroad (AmE) – raudtee
- others – veel sõnu
- autumn, fall (AmE) – sügis
- football (BrE), soccer (AmE) – jalgpall
- holiday (BrE), vacation (AmE) – puhkus
- mad (BrE), crazy (AmE), insane (AmE) – hull
- mobile phone (BrE), cell phone (AmE) – mobiiltelefon
- dustbin (BrE), garbage can (AmE), trash can (AmE) – prügikonteiner, prügikast
- rubbish (BrE), garbage (AmE), trash (AmE) – prügi
- torch (BrE), flashlight (AmE) – taskulamp
Let’s Practise!
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
- allowance
- queue
- line
- mobile phone
- holiday
- movie theater
- pocket money
- vacation
- cinema
- football
- trolley
- soccer
- shopping cart
- cell phone
The keyword you got in Exercise 3 is written in
- Congrats on getting your driver’s license! ⭢
- How do you usually spend your allowance? ⭢
- I’ve found a five-euro bill in my backpack. ⭢
- We won’t have to split the check – it’s my treat today. ⭢
- Don’t forget to include the zip code when writing your address. ⭢
Pairwork 1
Spell a word from the list to your partner. Then your partner guesses the word and says it in the other variety of English.
H-O-L-I …
Holiday! Vacation!
Pairwork 2
In turns, roll the dice and complete the corresponding sentences with suitable words.
 | I’m from New York and I live … |  | Here in Edinburgh, we love … |
 | I live in London and I often eat … |  | Here in Florida, there are a lot of ... |
 | I’m from Los Angeles and I like to wear … |  | I live in Manchester and I like to go to … |
Pairwork 3
Discuss with your partner.
- Which one do you use more, British English or American English? Why?
- Which one sounds better to you? Why?
- Where have you learnt the words that you use?
- Do you think that one is more common than the other? Why?
- What other varieties of English do you know? Say a word in another variety to your partner.
Let’s have a barbie!
Do you mean a barbecue?
Pronunciation
In British English, t between vowels[explanation: vowel [vaʊəl] – täishäälik] is pronounced as [t], while in American English, it sounds like a soft [d].
Listen and compare:
British English | American English | |
water | ||
better |
Compare: [ɑː] vs. [æ]
BrE: [ɑː] | AmE: [æ] | |
chance | ||
ask |
Unlike American English, British English drops the [r] sound when it comes after a vowel and is not followed by another vowel. Listen and compare:
British English | American English | |
hard | [hɑːd] | [hɑːrd] |
more | [mɔː(r)] | [mɔːr] |
Exercise 5
Listen and tick (✓) the correct variety of English.
Pairwork 4
Read a word from Exercise 5 to your partner. Then your partner says whether you pronounced it according to British or American English. Switch roles.
Exercise 6
Listen and tick (✓) the correct variety of English. What other differences in pronunciation do you notice?
Programme or Program?
There are other differences in spelling between British and American English. For example, British English usually doubles l before an ending that starts with a vowel. Compare:
British English | American English |
counsellor | counselor |
traveller | traveler |
quarrelling[explanation: quarrel [ˈkwɒr(ə)l] – tüli; tülitsema] | quarreling |
Some spellings are simply learnt by heart: |  |
American English takes -se where British English takes -ce:
British English | American English |
defence | defense |
licence (noun) | license (noun) |
offence | offense |
Remember!
practice (noun) – BrE and AmE
practise (verb) – BrE
practice (verb) – AmE
The ending -yse in British English corresponds to -yze in American English:
British English | American English |
analyse | analyze |
paralyse | paralyze |
British English | American English | |
reisimine | ||
hingamistoruga ujumine | ||
kaitse | ||
mugav, kodune | ||
korrus |
British English | American English |
cheque[annotation: cheque (BrE) [tʃek] – tšekk] | |
jewelry | |
moustache | |
chili | |
liquorice[annotation: liquorice (BrE) [ˈlɪk(ə)rɪs], [ˈlɪk(ə)rɪʃ] – lagrits] |
How Am I Doing?
I can name words related to shopping, services, traffic and travel in both British and American English. | |
I can recognise British and American English when listening to words and phrases. | |
I can use terms from both British and American English in my speech and writing. |
