British and American Household Vocabulary Quiz
Submitted by: Alex Case
Type: Lesson Plans
Lesson Plan Text
British and American Household Vocabulary Quiz
Checking/ clarifying practice
Work in pairs with different worksheets. Take turns asking questions from your worksheet.
The other person gets one point for each correct guess, and the questioner gets one point
each time that the other person guesses wrongly, continuing until the other person gets the
right answer or gives up. However, with Yes/ No questions only one guess is allowed. If
the other person gives up before answering for the first time or before answering again,
the questioner should just say the answer and no points are given.
Checking/ clarifying phrases presentation
Put one word into each gap below. Some words can go in more than one gap.
Is “accommodation” countable ______ uncountable in British English? Uncountable.
__________________ I check what “wash up” means in British and American
English? Do the dishes in the UK and wash your hands before a meal in the USA.
Can ___________ explain what the words “hob”, “burner” and “cooktop” all mean? The
hot bits you put pans on to cook.
Can you ________ an example of an American food processor brand? Cuisinart.
Can you say “wardrobe” ______________________________ another way? Closet.
Can you write _________ the American word “dryer” (meaning “tumble dryer”?)
Clorox is a well-known brand of American washing powder. _____________ that right?
No, it isn’t. (It’s a brand of bleach).
__________ the American expression “front yard” mean “front garden”? Yes, it does.
_______________________ can you translate “drapes” into British English? Curtains.
How ___________________________________________________ you pronounce
“M, O, R, T, G, A, G, E” (the British word for a home loan)? “More-gidge”
How do ________ say “washing up” liquid in American English? Dishwashing liquid.
How do you ____ “stroller” (the American word for a pushchair)? S, T, R, O, L, L, E, R.
How many syllables are ________________________________ in “terraced house”
(British English for “row house/ townhouse”)?
How similar are a British aerial and an American antenna? They are ________ same.
___________________________________ a Hoover a vacuum cleaner? Yes, it is.
Is an American tea kettle the same _____________ a teapot? No, it isn’t. It’s a kettle.
Is there another way to ____________ the British word “rubbish”? “Trash” or
“garbage”.
Is “block of flats” British ____________________ American English? British English.
Is “bin” __________________ right British English translation of “trashcan”? Yes, it is.
What do the American expressions “bathroom” and “restroom” __________? Toilet.
What is “semi” short _________________ in British English? Semi-detached house.
What’s the difference ___________________________________________________
a British cooker and an American cooker? The American one is a person.
Use these mixed answers to help. Some can be used more than once.
as
between
can
do/ does
down
for
give
how
in
is
mean
or
say
spell
the
there
you
p. 1
Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2021
Student B
Work in pairs with different worksheets. Take turns asking questions from your worksheet.
The other person gets one point for each correct guess, and the questioner gets one point
each time that the other person guesses wrongly. If the other person gives up before
answering, no one gets any points.
Is a British flannel (meaning a facecloth) countable or uncountable? Countable.
Can I check what “third floor” means in British and American English? The third floor
above the ground in British English and the second floor above the ground in American
English.
Can you explain what the words “hob”, “burner” and “cooktop” all mean? The hot bits
you put pans on to cook.
Can you give an example of an American food processor brand? Cuisinart.
Can you say “washer” in a different way? Washing machine.
Can you write down the British expression “electric razor” (meaning “electric shaver”)?
Dumpster is a well-known American brand of skip? Is that right? Yes, it is.
Does the American expression “easy chair” mean “armchair”? Yes, it does.
How can you translate “clothes peg” into American English? Clothes pin.
How do you pronounce “M, O, R, T, G, A, G, E” (the British word for a home loan)?
“More-gidge”
How do you say “washing up” liquid in American English? Dishwashing liquid
How do you spell “stroller” (the American word for a pushchair)? S, T, R, O, L, L, E, R.
How many syllables are there in “chest of drawers” (British English for “bureau” or
“dresser”)? Three.
How similar are the British and American meanings of “hamper”? They are quite
different (a picnic basket in the UK and a laundry basket in the USA).
Is a Hoover a vacuum cleaner? Yes, it is.
Is an American tea kettle the same as a teapot? No, it isn’t. (It’s a kettle.)
Is a British pram the same as an American baby carriage? Yes, it is.
Is there another way to say the British action “lay the table”? Set the table.
Is “kitchen roll” British or American English? British English. (It’s “paper towel” in the
US).
Is “saucepan” the right British English translation of “dishpan”? No, it isn’t. (The right
British English translation of “dishpan” is “washing up bowl”).
What does the American expression “front walk” mean? Garden path.
What is “semi” short for in British English? Semi-detached house. (It’s a “semi-trailer
truck” in American English).
What’s the difference in meaning between a tea towel and a dish towel? There is no
difference.
p. 3
Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2021
First of all without looking above, match the British and American words with the same
meaning below:
accommodation
antenna
socket
closet
wardrobe
drapes
front garden
…faucet
curtains
outlet
hot water tap
row…/ town…
terraced house
…s
aerial
trash/ garbage
rubbish
yard
block of flats
apartment block
bin
bathroom/ restroom
toilet
burner/ cooktop
flannel
dishwashing…
hob
facecloth
washing machine
home loan
clothes peg
… pin
mortgage
trashcan
washing up liquid
washer
pushchair
baby carriage
chest of drawers
bureau/ dresser
hoover
dish…
pram
dishpan
lay the table
front walk
washing up bowl
paper towel
kitchen roll
set…
garden path
stroller
tea towel
vacuum cleaner
Try to remember the two meanings of each expression below, the check above.
wash up
cot
cooker
third floor
hamper
semi
p. 4
Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2021
Make at least one checking/ clarifying question from each key word below. Many phrases
not above are also possible.
check
difference/ different
example
explain
how
is
mean
or
pronounce/ pronunciation
right
same
say
short
similar
spell
syllables
translate/ translation
way
write
Check above. Many other suitable phrases are possible (including with the same key
words), so please check if you wrote something different.
Ask similar questions about spelling etc to each other, starting with household vocabulary
if you can, but including any vocabulary you like.
p. 5
Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2021