British vs American English Quiz

Question 1

What is the American English equivalent of the British word 'biscuit' (a sweet baked snack)?

Accepted Answer

Cookie

Answer

Cracker

Answer

Muffin

Answer

Scone

Question 2

Which spelling is correct in British English?

Accepted Answer

Favourite

Answer

Color

Answer

Honor

Answer

Neighbor

Question 3

What do Americans call what the British call a 'boot' (of a car)?

Accepted Answer

Trunk

Answer

Hood

Answer

Bumper

Answer

Cab

Question 4

How do British and American English differ in this sentence: 'I ___ him yesterday'?

Accepted Answer

British: 'saw'; American: both 'saw' and 'seen' are used

Answer

British: 'seen'; American: 'saw'

Answer

There is no difference

Answer

British: past perfect is preferred; American: simple past

Question 5

What is the British English word for what Americans call 'french fries'?

Accepted Answer

Chips

Answer

Crisps

Answer

Wedges

Answer

Fritters

Question 6

Which spelling is used in American English?

Accepted Answer

Recognize

Answer

Realise

Answer

Organise

Answer

Apologise

Question 7

What do the British call the ground floor of a building, which Americans call the 'first floor'?

Accepted Answer

Ground Floor

Answer

Floor Zero

Answer

Base Floor

Answer

Lower Floor

Question 8

How is the word 'programme' spelled in American English?

Accepted Answer

Program

Answer

Programm

Answer

Programme

Answer

Programe

Question 9

What do Americans call a British 'mobile phone'?

Accepted Answer

Cell phone

Answer

Portable phone

Answer

Hand phone

Answer

Wireless phone

Question 10

In which country would you say something 'worked out well' using the phrase 'went swimmingly'?

Accepted Answer

Britain

Answer

United States

Answer

Both equally

Answer

Neither — it's outdated everywhere

Question 11

The British word 'autumn' is equivalent to which American word?

Accepted Answer

Fall

Answer

Spring

Answer

Winter

Answer

Harvest

Question 12

Which British-American spelling difference is shown correctly?

Accepted Answer

British: theatre / American: theater

Answer

British: center / American: centre

Answer

British: meter / American: metre

Answer

British: license / American: licence

Question 13

In American English, what does 'I could care less' mean (even though it's technically illogical)?

Accepted Answer

I don't care at all

Answer

I care a great deal

Answer

I care somewhat

Answer

I'm not sure how much I care

Question 14

What does a British person mean when they say something is 'quite good'?

Accepted Answer

Fairly good — it's a mild understatement

Answer

Extremely good — 'quite' is an intensifier

Answer

Not good at all — polite sarcasm

Answer

Exactly what it says — straightforwardly good

Question 15

What is the American English equivalent of the British 'solicitor' (a type of lawyer)?

Accepted Answer

Attorney

Answer

Barrister

Answer

Counsel

Answer

Notary

Question 16

How is 'defence' spelled in American English?

Accepted Answer

Defense

Answer

Defence

Answer

Defens

Answer

Defance

Question 17

What do Americans call what British people call a 'nappy'?

Accepted Answer

Diaper

Answer

Bib

Answer

Pram

Answer

Swaddle

Question 18

Which sentence uses the collective noun in the British English way?

Accepted Answer

The team are playing well tonight.

Answer

The team is playing well tonight.

Answer

Both are equally correct everywhere

Answer

Neither is correct in formal English

Question 19

What is the British English equivalent of the American word 'elevator'?

Accepted Answer

Lift

Answer

Escalator

Answer

Dumbwaiter

Answer

Stairwell

Question 20

In which country would you more typically hear 'I've just eaten' rather than 'I just ate'?

Accepted Answer

Britain

Answer

United States

Answer

Both equally

Answer

Australia only