Amerikaans Engels vs. Brits Engels: check vs. bill
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The British and the Americans are two peoples divided by a common language.
[George Bernard Shaw]
De verschillen tussen het Engels en het Amerikaans gaan verder dan spelling en uitspraak. Hieronder vindt u voorbeelden van vocabulaireverschillen.
| Brits | Amerikaans | Nederlands |
|---|---|---|
| aerial | antennae | antenne |
| Alsatian | German shepherd | herdershond |
| aluminium | aluminum | aluminium |
| amber (traffic lights) | yellow | oranje (verkeerslicht) |
| American football | football | Amerikaans voetbal |
| anticlockwise | counterclockwise | tegen de klok in |
| apart from | aside from | afgezien van |
| articulated lorry | trailer truck, semi | vrachtwagencombinatie |
| assessor (verzekeringen) | adjustor | schade-expert |
| aubergine | eggplant | aubergine |
| balaclava | ski mask | bivakmuts |
| (bank)note | bill | bankbiljet |
| barrister | lawyer | advocaat (bij hogere rechtbanken) |
| bath | tub, bathtub | badkuip |
| bathing costume | bathing suit | badpak |
| beach | shore / beach | strand |
| bill | check / tab | rekening |
| biscuit | cookie | koekje |
| blank | gap | spatie |
| blank form | blank | blanco formulier |
| bonnet | hood | motorkap |
| book/ make a reservation | reserve | boeken, reserveren |
| booking | reservation | reservering |
| boot | trunk | kofferbak |
| Boxing Day | - | 2e kerstdag |
| braces | suspenders | bretels |
| (tea) (break) | (coffee) break | pauze |
| call box | public telephone booth / phone booth (inf) | telefooncel |
| canteen | cafeteria | kantine |
| car bonnet | hood | motorkap |
| car boot | trunk | kofferbak |
| car park | parking lot | parkeerterrein |
| caravan | mobile home, trailer | caravan |
| casket | small box | doosje |
| certainly | sure / surely | vast en zeker |
| cheque | check | cheque, rekening |
| chips | French fries | patat |
| Christian name(s) given name(s), forename(s) |
first name(s) | voornaam |
| cinema | movie theater | bioscoop |
| cling film | plastic wrap | plastic folie, huishoudfolie |
| cloakroom | checkroom | garderobe |
| coffin | casket | doodskist |
| convoy | caravan | konvooi |
| cord | string | draadje |
| coriander | cilantro | koriander |
| cot | crib | wieg, babybedje |
| courgette | zucchini | courgette |
| crib | cheat sheet | spiekbriefje |
| crisps | potato chips | chips |
| crossroads | intersection | kruising |
| current account | checking account | bankrekening |
| curriculum vitae | resumé | curriculum vitae |
| diary | appointment calendar | agenda |
| dinner jacket | tuxedo | smoking |
| diversion | detour | omlegging |
| drawing pin | thumb tack | punaise |
| driving license | driver’s license | rijbewijs |
| dummy | pacifier | speen |
| duvet, eiderdown | quilt, comforter | dekbed |
| earth | ground | aarde (elec.) |
| elastoplast | band-aid | pleister |
| engaged (tel.) | busy | in gesprek |
| estate agent | realtor /real estate agent | makelaar |
| estate car | station wagon | station car |
| expiry date | expiration date | houdbaarheidsdatum |
| fire guard | fender | open-haardscherm |
| fire brigade | fire department | brandweer |
| first floor | second floor | eerste verdieping |
| first floor | second floor | eerste verdieping |
| fish fingers | fish sticks | vissticks |
| flat / apartment | apartment / condominium | appartement (eigendom) |
| flex | cord | snoer |
| football | soccer | voetbal |
| fortnight | two weeks | 14 dagen |
| french dressing | italian dressing | vinaigrette |
| baguette sandwich | hero / submarine sandwich | belegd stokbrood |
| fruit machine | slot machine | gokautomaat |
| fruit stone, pip | pit | pit |
| full stop | period | punt |
| gateau | cake | taart |
| goose pimples | goosebumps | kippevel |
| green fingers | green thumb | groene vingers |
| ground floor | first floor | begane grond, parterre |
| hairpin | bobby pin | haarspeld |
| hairpin bend | hairpin corner | haarspeldbocht |
| handbag | purse | handtas |
| have a go | to take a turn | even proberen |
| headmaster | school principal | rector, schoolhoofd |
| hoarding | billboard | reclamebord |
| holiday | vacation | vakantie |
| hood | top (of a convertible, etc.) | bovenkant (sportwagen, etc.) |
| hoover | vacuum cleaner | stofzuiger |
| icing sugar | confectionery sugar | suikerglazuur |
| indicator | blinker, turn signal | richtingaanwijzer |
| interval | intermission, break | pauze |
| jacket | coat | colbert |
| knickers | panties | slip, onderbroek (vrouwen) |
| lift | elevator | lift |
| limited company | private corporation | BV |
| maths | math | wiskunde |
| mudguard | fender | spatbord |
| muslin | cheesecloth | kaasdoek |
| net curtains | underdrapes, sheers | vitrage |
| note | bill | biljet (geld) |
| opposite | across from | tegenover |
| oven cloth | pot holder | ovenwant |
| overtake | pass | inhalen |
| pack of cards | deck of cards | stok, pak kaarten |
| packed lunch | sack lunch, brown bag lunch | lunchpakket |
| tights | pantyhose | panty |
| pavement | sidewalk | troittoir, stoep |
| petrol(eum) | gas(oline) | benzine |
| pit | hole, mine | put, mijn |
| plaits | braids | vlechten |
| plaster, elastoplast | band-aid | pleister |
| plus-fours | knickers | plus-fours |
| porch | stoop | portiek, portaal |
| post box | mail box | postbus |
| postman | mail man | postbode |
| pram (perambulator) | baby carriage, baby buggy | kinderwagen |
| professor | full professor | hoogleraar |
| property | real estate | onroerend goed |
| public convenience | comfort station, restrooms | openbare toiletten |
| public school | private school | particuliere school |
| puncture outfit | patch kit | bandenplaksetje |
| pushchair | stroller | buggy |
| put through | connect | doorverbinden |
| quay | wharf, pier, dock | kade |
| queue, to | stand in line, line up | in de rij staan |
| railway | railroad | spoorlijn |
| railway carriage | railroad car | wagon |
| removal man | moving man, movers (mv) | verhuizer |
| removals + znw | moving + znw | verhuis-+ znw |
| return ticket | round trip ticket | retourtje |
| reverse charges (ww) | call collect | - |
| roundabout | traffic circle | verkeersplein |
| rubber | eraser | gummetje |
| rubbish | garbage | troep, rommel, vuil |
| rubbish bags | trash bags, garbage bags | vuilnisbakzakken |
| rucksack | backpack | rugzak |
| soft drink | soda | frisdrank |
| solicitor | lawyer, attorney | advocaat |
| spanner | wrench | sleutel |
| squash | fruit drink | vruchtensap |
| stalls | orchestra seats | stalles |
| state school | public school | openbare school |
| sticking / sticky plaster | adhesive bandage, band-aid | pleister |
| subway | underground walkway | ondergrondse vop |
| surveyor | house appraiser | deskundige |
| suspender belt | garter belt | jarretelle-gordel |
| suspenders | garters | jarretelles |
| sweet shop | candy store | snoepwinkel |
| sweetner | sweet ‘n’ low | zoetje |
| take / have a bath | bathe / take a bath | baden |
| tap | faucet | kraan |
| tea towel | dish towel | theedoek |
| tights | panty hose, nylons | panty |
| tin | can / tin can | blikje |
| to collect | to pick up | ophalen |
| trailer | towed goods carrier | trailer |
| trolley | cart | winkelwagentje |
| trunk | large suitcase | koffer |
| turning | turn | afslag |
| underground (railway) | subway | metro |
| undertaker | mortician | begrafenisondernemer |
| vest | tee shirt, t-shirt | hemd |
| waistcoat | vest | gilet, vest |
| wet paint | fresh paint | natte verf |
| wire | cord | elektriciteitsdraad |
| zapping | channel surfing | zappen |
| zebra crossing | pedestrian crossing (ped xing) | zebra, voetgangersoversteekplaats |
De mooiste verschillen vindt u natuurlijk wanneer u de vele Engelse dialecten bij de vergelijking betrekt. Dit uitvoeriger beschrijven valt helaas buiten ons bestek. Twee voorbeeldjes kunnen we u niet onthouden:
Voor een Brit is fag slang voor een sigaret. Door een Amerikaan gebruikt is fag een onaangename, platte term voor homosexueel. Een rubber een gummetje voor een Brit, en een condoom voor een Amerikaan.