English grammar
British vs American words, part two: pants / trousers, queue / line, pavement / sidewalk, petrol / gas, biscuit / cookie
Switch between British and American everyday words, including the ones that can make you blush.
From the scene Not those pants!
In short
Some everyday words differ: British pants are underwear, American pants are trousers. Pick the word for your listener.
Your turn
Which one goes with what you wear underneath (UK / US)?
Options: pants / underwear · trousers / pants · a queue / a line
Show answer
what you wear underneath (UK / US) → pants / underwear
How it works
One pair can make people blush.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
In America, "(blank)"... and you're wearing them, my love.
Options: sidewalks · eyeglasses · pants
Show answer
In America, "eyeglasses"... and you're wearing them, my love.
En Estados Unidos, «eyeglasses»... y las llevas puestas, mi amor.
Good to know
In Britain pants are underwear, but in America pants are trousers — so an American who spills coffee on his pants only needs clean trousers.
Good to know
Other everyday pairs: queue / line, holiday / vacation, pavement / sidewalk, petrol / gas, biscuit / cookie, glasses / eyeglasses.
Good to know
Both sides understand each other; just pick the word for your listener.
what you wear on your legs (UK / US) trousers / pants
Javi
In Britain, pants are underwear. In America, they're trousers.
En Gran Bretaña, «pants» es ropa interior. En Estados Unidos, son pantalones.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
In Britain, pants are underwear. In America, they're (blank).
Options: pavement · trousers · a queue
Show answer
Javi
In Britain, pants are underwear. In America, they're trousers.
En Gran Bretaña, «pants» es ropa interior. En Estados Unidos, son pantalones.
what you wear underneath (UK / US) pants / underwear
Nuria
Hi, Martín! What? You've spilt coffee all over your pants?
¡Hola, Martín! ¿Qué? ¿Que te has tirado café por los «pants»?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Hi, Martín! What? You've spilt coffee all over your (blank)?
Options: pants · trousers · a queue
Show answer
Nuria
Hi, Martín! What? You've spilt coffee all over your pants?
¡Hola, Martín! ¿Qué? ¿Que te has tirado café por los «pants»?
people waiting in a row (UK / US) a queue / a line
the path beside the road · car fuel (UK / US) pavement / sidewalk · petrol / gas
Javi
"Sidewalk" and "gas". And a biscuit is a "cookie".
«Sidewalk» y «gas». Y una galleta es una «cookie».
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"Sidewalk" and "(blank)". And a biscuit is a "cookie".
Options: trousers · underwear · gas
Show answer
Javi
"Sidewalk" and "gas". And a biscuit is a "cookie".
«Sidewalk» y «gas». Y una galleta es una «cookie».
time off · a sweet snack (UK / US) holiday / vacation · biscuit / cookie
Javi
And there, a "queue" is a "line". And "holiday" is "vacation".
Y allí, a la cola («queue») la llaman «line». Y las vacaciones («holiday») son «vacation».
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And there, a "queue" is a "line". And "(blank)" is "vacation".
Options: trousers · underwear · holiday
Show answer
Javi
And there, a "queue" is a "line". And "holiday" is "vacation".
Y allí, a la cola («queue») la llaman «line». Y las vacaciones («holiday») son «vacation».
Common mistake
Not Pavement or Petrol here. The American word.
"Sidewalk" and "gas". And a biscuit is a "cookie".
«Sidewalk» y «gas». Y una galleta es una «cookie».
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| what you wear on your legs (UK / US) | trousers / pants |
|---|---|
| what you wear underneath (UK / US) | pants / underwear |
| people waiting in a row (UK / US) | a queue / a line |
| the path beside the road · car fuel (UK / US) | pavement / sidewalk · petrol / gas |
| time off · a sweet snack (UK / US) | holiday / vacation · biscuit / cookie |
More lines from the story
- JaviIn America, "eyeglasses"... and you're wearing them, my love.En Estados Unidos, «eyeglasses»... y las llevas puestas, mi amor.
- JaviAnd in Britain, you're right, relax. In America, it's different.Y en Gran Bretaña tiene usted razón, tranquila. En Estados Unidos es distinto.