shopping center, shopping mall

[shabani]

Hi,
Is there any particular difference between a shopping mall and a shopping center?

 

[White Hat]

I know in the US they say "mall".

 

[emsr2d2]

In BrE, "shopping centre".

 

[SoothingDave]

In the US, in general, a "mall" is indoors. A mall consists of common, wide, indoor areas for traveling between stores. Most stores are only accessible from the inside of the mall.

A "shopping center" is one or more buildings that contain stores and restaurants that share a common parking area. To walk from one store to another, you must go outside.

 

[emsr2d2]

In the US, in general, a "mall" is indoors. A mall consists of common, wide, indoor areas for traveling between stores. Most stores are only accessible from the inside of the mall.

A "shopping center" is one or more buildings that contain stores and restaurants that share a common parking area. To walk from one store to another, you must go outside.

Interesting. A shopping centre in the UK is normally indoors. Many of the shops might have entrances from the outside but they also have a door inside the centre so you can visit all the shops without going outside, especially if you park in the attached car park which is frequently underground.

 

[Tdol]

Do you hear the word mall in BrE? It seems to be creeping into use. I never used to hear it, but have heard it used sometimes on recent trips there.

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes, it is sneaking in, especially with the younger generation. I don't think that (yet) a new shopping centre has been built that's actually officially been called "The ******* Mall" (asterisks are not in place of a swear word, incidentally, although that would be quite funny!)

 

[Rover_KE]

Here's a list of just a few malls in England.

However, of the 38 largest shopping centres here, only two include Mall in their official name.

Most shoppers like the word, and its popularity is spreading rapidly.

Rover

 

[Tdol]

Most shoppers like the word, and its popularity is spreading rapidly.

I picked it up somewhere along the way and use it sometimes- it is a bit like movie in that I just found myself using it without realising.

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes - it's one of those useful American words that only a few BE speakers will object to.

Rover

 

[5jj]

I see that what used to be know as 'The Precinct' when I lived in Fareham in the 1990s is now 'Fareham Shopping Centre'. it seems to have malls inside it -
Home | Fareham Shopping Centre

"Mall Trading

Interested in hiring a concession stand in one of our indoor Malls?"

 

[Curt Jugg]

But what is the correct pronunciation in British English? Is it /mɔːl/ or is it /mæl/ (like The Mall in London)?

 

[Tdol]

I use /mɔːl for a shopping centre.

 

[Rover_KE]

I rhyme it with pal.

Rover

 

[5jj]

I rhyme it with pal.

How could you? I am appalled. I pronounce it in the same way as /'ti:dɔ:l/ does.

 

[Allen165]

I rhyme it with pal.

Rover

You're joking, right?

 

[emsr2d2]

I rhyme it with pal.

Rover

Me too. Otherwise, I'm going to the "maul"! Mind you, that's what I want to do to the other shoppers after about five minutes.

 

[5jj]

You're joking, right?

No, he isn't, LPD reports that there is about a 50/50 split between the two pronunciations. The younger the speakers, the more likely they are to say /mɔːl/.The older the speakers (and Rover is one of the few people in the world older than I) the more likely they are to say /mæl/.

 

[SoothingDave]

One of the earliest developers of shopping malls in the US at one time owned a minor league American football team called the Maulers. Because "maul" and "mall" are pronounced the same.

 

[Tdol]

I'd say /mæl/ for The Mall and Pall Mall .