General Phrase And Language Differences Between UK and USA
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Guide 25-Jan-2023 |
I will never forget the very first time I went to Walt Disney World I ordered a "Meatball Sub and Chips" from the menu. It sounded like a safe yet very "American" meal. What I wasn't expecting was a bag of ready salted CRISPS on my plate! I was so confused I couldn't even bring myself to ask if they made a mistake. To save you from any uncomfortable or confusing moments, we've complied a list of some of the general differences you'll run into at Walt Disney World (or America in general). We had some help from our lovely followers on Facebook with this list.
English Words | American Words | Autumn | Fall | Car Park | Parking lot | Driving license | Driver's license | Crisps | Chips | Chips | (French) Fries | Candy floss | Cotton candy | Pop/Coke etc | Soda | Bum Bag | Fanny pack | Holiday | Vacation | Toilets | Restroom | Bill | Cheque (but spelled check) | Pavement | Sidewalk | Motorway | Highway | Car boot | Trunk | Car bonnet | Hood | Hire a car | Rent a car | Motorway | Interstate | Toll-Free Roads | Freeway | Tolled Roads | Highway | Toll Gate | Turnpike | Indicators | Blinkers | Trousers | Pants | Jumpers | Sweaters | Rubbish | Trash | Bin | Trash Can | Panda eyes | Raccoon eyes | Queue | Line | Gherkins | Pickles | Savoury Scone | Biscuit | Single cream | Half and half | Jelly | Jello | Jam | Jelly | Sweets | Candy | Post a letter | Mail a letter | Lifts | Elevators | Taxi | Cabs | Shopping centre | Mall | Ground floor | First floor | Mobile phone | Cell phone | Closure date(E.G Jan 23rd) | The day before(E.G Jan 23rd) |
Other Notable Differences
Americans don't tend to use words such as "fortnight". They say every 2 weeks (effort, right?).Some Americans don't understand if you say the time is "Half 8". They would say "8:30".Toilets don't seem to flush, they just suck all the water out (like a vortex), it's very bizarre.Toilet cubicles aren't from floor to ceiling like here in the UK, you can see through, over, and under them easily for some reason.There is no ground floor! The ground floor is always level 1. Americans drive on the other (wrong) side of the road. Take's some getting used.Driving isn't too bad as there isn't a lot of roundabouts in America, just a lot of traffic light junctions.You can turn right on a red light (by giving way, oncoming traffic have priority) unless there are signs saying you can't.If you ask for a pint of beer (other than at the Rose and Crown in Epcot) you'll get a 16oz size drink, not a 20oz pint.A Holiday is called a vacation (they call days like Christmas "Holidays"). Disney call their staff members - Cast members.There's a few words spelled the same (or similar) but pronounced differently - such as Caribbean and aluminium. They add sales tax (around 6%) at the till. So every price sticker you see, you'll actually pay around 6% more for it. That sort of thing is illegal here in the UK!
To return to our full guide, navigate back to our Walt Disney World Guide page.
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