[Vocabulary] Soccer/football

[Aamir Tariq]

In American English when we talk about soccer we are talking about the same sport that is called football in British English.

Now, does the term soccer only apply to the game? What about the football (the big round ball they play soccer with), is it football in American English or does it have a different name like soccer ball or anything else?

(Note: I am not asking about the game of soccer here as it is already understood soccer is American name of the game of football, I am asking about the big round ball they play soccer with)

Regards
Aamir the Global Citizen

 

[Tarheel]

It's not called a football here (USA). It's called a soccer ball. (There is a different kind of ball that is called a football.)

 

[Aamir Tariq]

It's not called a football here (USA). It's called a soccer ball. (There is a different kind of ball that is called a football.)

Thanks for confirming. I think that different kind of football is the oval shaped ball that is played in American football right? and American football is similar to Rugby right?

 

[SoothingDave]

Yes, the "football" in the US is oval shaped, and yes, American football derived from rugby. The introduction of the forward pass and the stopping of play between "downs" are the significant developments that make American football different from rugby.

 

[Aamir Tariq]

And is American football is also played elsewhere I mean outside the United States and Canada where it is referred to as something else I mean with some different names? Is it played in the UK and Australia. And do they call it gridiron over there?

 

[Rover_KE]

American football is widely played in the UK and throughout Europe. (Click)

However, it attracts very little public interest.

 

[emsr2d2]

In the mid-1990s, the London Monarchs were part of a European American Football league. I went to every one of their home matches, played at Wembley Stadium. There was also a local team where I live and I frequented their weekend games too. I understand that a few US teams have come over and played in London in the last year or so but I haven't been to any of those games.

In general, people in the UK don't bother saying "soccer" because we don't feel the need to explain what we mean when we say "football". We would use "American Football" or "gridiron" if we needed to make it clear we weren't talking about "soccer".

 

[Aamir Tariq]

Yes we are not talking about soccer but American football, so you guys call it either American football or gridiron in UK both of them work.

Thanks emsr2d2 for the detailed answer. I really appreciate that.

 

[SoothingDave]

The NFL commissioner has his heart set on expanding and placing a team in London. This would present a major problem for travel and scheduling.

The teams that have played a regular season game in London always had the following week off. Each team plays 16 games in 17 weeks, so there is only one opportunity to have that off week.

 

[GoesStation]

And is American football is also played elsewhere I mean outside the United States and Canada where it is referred to as something else I mean with some different names? Is it played in the UK and Australia. And do they call it gridiron over there?

Canadian football has some significant differences with American football, though its general rules are similar. Even though I lived in Canada for a few years, I never learned whether Canadians also sometimes play American football or whether they stick to the Canadian version.

 

[Roman55]

(Note: I am not asking about the game of soccer here as it is already understood soccer is American name of the game of football

It's called soccer in BrE too. Football refers to rugby as well which also goes by the name of rugby football. Most of the time it is very clear what people are talking about.

 

[GoesStation]

As I understand it, the game internationally known as football was originally and formally known as association football. "Soccer" was a familiar form of association, hence its application to the game. So both soccer and football can be used in BrE, though football is much more common.

I understand there are two versions of rugby football, too, each with its adherents and its official and common name.