Ashley Jackson moved from Texas in the US to Manchester in the UK – and she’s noticed four words that are very different between the two places. It’s definitely been an adjustment!
When an American moved to the UK, she had to do more than just adjust to the colder weather.
Ashley Jackson got hitched with a Brit and made the journey across the pond to be with him in Manchester. However, even though both places speak the same language, there are some words that have been a bit of a culture shock.
The 42-year-old took to TikTok to list the four terms she just can’t get her head around – even though they’re very common here in Britain. You can check out the list below…
1. People carrier
The American explained: “’People carrier’ was chosen because when my husband first came to Texas, there was a group of us going out, he said we should get a ‘people carrier’ to take us all.
“No one in the group had ever heard the term before and found it funny, as it describes exactly what it does.
“I loved that. I immediately started listening for other words he used that we don’t use in the States. Now that I live here there’s a whole list!”
2. Swimming costumes
Ashley admitted: “To me it sounds like a fancy dress. Super heroes, swimming costumes, like it’s a dress up game. That one makes me giggle, but my kids say it now so I can’t laugh at it!”
In the US, cossies would be referred to as bathing suits, which is something Ashley has got used to saying.
3. Candy floss
Pointing to her teeth with an amused expression, Ashley said: “I don’t know why it’s called floss. Cotton candy is what we call it in the States.”
There is some reasoning behind why we use different words to describe the sweet treat. “Floss” describes the wispy nature of the funfair staple here in the UK – and has been used since the late 19th Century.
In contrast, Americans say “cotton candy” because it resembles the appearance of raw cotton. It was adopted after candy floss was introduced at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri.
4. Wheelie bin
It seems pretty obvious to Brits why bins with wheels would be called “wheelie bins”, but Ashley thinks it sounds hilarious.
She said: “I think it’s because it sounds funny coming out of my mouth – wheelie bin! We would just call this a trash can. But wheelie bin is cute.”
Why are British English and American English so different?
When English settlers arrived in America in the 1600s, they brought the English language with them. Over time, the two groups (those in Britain and those in America) were separated by the Atlantic Ocean, which meant they developed their language independently.
In America, English absorbed words and influences from Native American languages, as well as from immigrants who spoke Dutch, German, Spanish, French, and others. British English, meanwhile, was influenced by languages from Europe and the British Empire.
In the early 1800s, Noah Webster (of Webster’s Dictionary) wanted to create a distinct American identity. He changed spellings (like “color” instead of “colour,” “center” instead of “centre”), simplified grammar and promoted American usages.
What’s more, as the two countries developed, they had different inventions, foods, customs, and institutions, which led to the creation of new words or different meanings for existing words (e.g., “truck” in the US vs. “lorry” in the UK).
Meanwhile, accents, media, technology and regional slang have also had an impact in differentiating the two dialects.
