Order a "chips" in America and you won't get what you're expecting - it's crisps, not chips, and the crisps aren't what you think either. Walt Disney World runs on American English, and a fair few everyday British words either mean something completely different or don't get understood at all. Here's a full rundown of the words and phrases likely to trip you up.
Article Summary
- Crisps vs chips: ask for chips in Florida and you'll get a bag of crisps, not fries.
- Ground floor confusion: what we call the ground floor is "the first floor" in America, so lift buttons start one higher than you'd expect.
- Sales tax isn't included: Florida adds roughly 6.5% tax at the till, so the price on the shelf isn't the price you pay.
- Right turns on red: unless a sign says otherwise, you can turn right at a red light once it's safe to do so.
- Clothing and everyday words: trainers, jumpers, nappies and torches all have different American names worth knowing before you land.
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Read on for the full British vs American word list, plus driving terms, clothing swaps and a few phrases that catch out even seasoned visitors.
Words You'll Hear At The Parks And Around Florida
This is the core list - the words and phrases most likely to come up during a normal day at the parks, in a restaurant, or wandering round a shopping centre (sorry, mall).
| English Words | American Words |
|---|---|
| Autumn | Fall |
| Car Park | Parking Lot |
| Driving Licence | Driver's License |
| Crisps | Chips |
| Chips | (French) Fries |
| Candy Floss | Cotton Candy |
| Fizzy Drink | Soda |
| Bum Bag | Fanny Pack |
| Holiday | Vacation |
| Toilets | Restroom |
| Bill | Check |
| Pavement | Sidewalk |
| Queue | Line |
| Shopping Centre | Mall |
| Lift | Elevator |
| Taxi | Cab |
| Ground Floor | First Floor |
| Mobile Phone | Cell Phone |
| Zebra Crossing | Crosswalk |
| Fancy Dress | Costume |
| Take Away | To Go |
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Food And Drink Terms That Catch Brits Out
Food seems to be where most of the confusion happens, probably because you're hungry and don't want to get it wrong in front of a queue of people.
| English Words | American Words |
|---|---|
| Gherkins | Pickles |
| Savoury Scone | Biscuit |
| Single Cream | Half And Half |
| Jelly | Jello |
| Jam | Jelly |
| Sweets | Candy |
| Squash | Fruit Punch (roughly) |
| Aubergine | Eggplant |
| Courgette | Zucchini |
If you ask for a pint of beer, most of the time you'll get a 16oz glass rather than a full 20oz UK pint.
Clothing And Everyday Items
These ones rarely come up at the parks themselves, but they're handy if you end up nipping into a shop for something you'd forgotten.
| English Words | American Words |
|---|---|
| Trousers | Pants |
| Jumper | Sweater |
| Trainers | Sneakers |
| Nappy | Diaper |
| Dummy | Pacifier |
| Torch | Flashlight |
| Plaster | Band-Aid |
| Chemist | Drugstore |
| Fringe | Bangs |
| Rubbish | Trash |
| Bin | Trash Can |
Driving And Getting Around Terms
If you're hiring a car for your trip, a handful of these are actually useful to know rather than just fun facts.
| English Words | American Words |
|---|---|
| Hire A Car | Rent A Car |
| Motorway | Interstate |
| Toll-Free Road | Freeway |
| Tolled Road | Turnpike |
| Indicators | Blinkers |
| Car Boot | Trunk |
| Car Bonnet | Hood |
| Petrol | Gas |
| Roundabout | Traffic Circle |
| Return Ticket | Round Trip Ticket |
Roundabouts are rare in Florida compared to the UK, with most junctions run by traffic lights instead. Driving on the right takes a bit of adjusting to, but it's less of a shock than you'd think once you're a day or two in.
Other Differences Worth Knowing
A few final ones that don't fit neatly into a table but are worth adding to the list.
- Americans generally don't use "fortnight" - they'll say "two weeks" instead.
- Saying the time as "half 8" often won't land - stick with "8:30".
- American toilets tend to have far more water in the bowl and flush with more of a vortex than a UK toilet.
- Toilet cubicles in the US are rarely floor-to-ceiling, so there's usually a gap you can see through at the top and bottom.
- There's no ground floor on American lifts - what we'd call the ground floor is "the first floor", so every other floor number is one higher than you'd expect.
- You can turn right on a red light once the road's clear, unless a sign specifically tells you not to.
- Disney refers to its staff as "cast members" rather than employees.
- A few words are spelled the same but pronounced differently, aluminium and Caribbean being the classic examples.
- Sales tax (around 6.5% in Florida) gets added at the till rather than included in the sticker price, so what you see isn't quite what you'll pay.
If you're planning ahead and want to see how ticket prices compare before you commit, our Walt Disney World tickets guide for UK guests covers exactly that. And if you're after the best time to book, our Walt Disney World deals and offers guide is worth a read too.
Check current Walt Disney World ticket prices here before you go, so at least the ticket booth won't be the thing that catches you out.
British Vs American Words: Your Questions Answered
Why do Americans call crisps "chips"?
It's simply a different naming convention that developed separately in American English, where "chips" refers to what the UK calls crisps, and "fries" covers what the UK calls chips.
Is sales tax included in Walt Disney World prices?
No. Florida sales tax, typically around 6.5%, is added at the till rather than built into the displayed price, so budget for a bit extra on top of what you see on the shelf or menu.
Can you turn right on a red light in Florida?
Yes, in most cases you can turn right at a red light once it's safe and the road is clear, unless a sign at that junction says otherwise.
Do Americans use the term "fortnight"?
No, it's not commonly used in American English. You'll more often hear "two weeks" instead.
What do Americans call the ground floor?
The ground floor is usually called "the first floor" in America, so lift numbering starts one higher than UK visitors would expect.
Why is a UK pint of beer smaller in America?
A standard American pint glass holds 16oz, compared to the UK's 20oz imperial pint, so even at British-themed spots like the Rose and Crown in EPCOT you'll get the smaller American measure.
