Lost in Translation--US vs UK English words

[sydnie7]

Zardoz just scratched the surface of automotive terms. . . here are two more that spring to mind.

UK...........................US
Spanner.................wrench
Earth......................ground

Then there's one that always gets US in trouble

Napkin..................diaper, also feminine protection product
Serviette..............table napkin

[Fougasse]

Then there's one that always gets US in trouble

Napkin..................diaper, also feminine protection product
Serviette..............table napkin[/QUOTE]

Not quite:

Nappy (UK) = Diaper (US). In UK, both napkin and serviette are used for table napkin; which you use tends to (or used to) mark what class you belong to. It's not as obvious as you might think.

Having only lived in the States for just over a year I am still regularly getting caught out. I have only just managed to stop giving the time as "half past six" rather than "six thirty".