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DIVIDED BY A COMMON TONGUE: A Quiz about the Differences between American and European English

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America and the rest of the English-speaking world are united by a shared language, but there are still occasions when that common tongue lets us down. This fun quiz focuses on those linguistic mismatches. In each question, you’ll be given an American term and have to choose the most appropriate European English equivalent. Check out how well you know how we speak in Ireland and Britain! And be sure to share your results in the comments 🙂

Cover image composite of this (public domain) and this (creative commons).

  • Question of

    What do we call sneakers in Ireland and Britain?

    • Trainers
    • Bussers
    • Boaters
  • Question of

    How do we say ‘second floor’ over here?

    • Ground floor
    • First floor
    • Next floor
  • Question of

    Airplane

    • Airoplane
    • Aerplane
    • Aeroplane
  • Question of

    Chips

    • Crunchies
    • Crisps
    • Munchies
  • Question of

    Cookie

    • Biscuit
    • Scone
    • Muffin
  • Question of

    Cotton candy

    • Dental candy
    • Cotton floss
    • Candy floss
  • Question of

    Crosswalk

    • Walkacross
    • Zebra crossing
    • Crossstripe
  • Question of

    Eggplant

    • Aubergine
    • Purple zucchini
    • Tomato egg
  • Question of

    Elevator

    • Uplift
    • Floorlift
    • Lift
  • Question of

    Eraser

    • Rubber
    • Condom
    • Razor
  • Question of

    Fries

    • Frenchies
    • Chips
    • Chunkies
  • Question of

    Gas

    • Petrol
    • Diesel
    • Gasoil
  • Question of

    Hood

    • Beanie
    • Cap
    • Bonnet
  • Question of

    Parking lot

    • Parker
    • Autopark
    • Carpark
  • Question of

    Sweater

    • Jumper
    • Leaper
    • Tanker
  • Question of

    Truck

    • Corry
    • Lorry
    • Torry
  • Question of

    Vacation

    • Vacancy
    • Vactime
    • Holiday
  • Question of

    Zucchini

    • English cucumber
    • Shamrock fruit
    • Cornette
    • Corvette
    • Courgette

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americandarloEnglisheuropeEuropeanIrelandIrishlanguagequizvocabulary

Written by Norman Darlo

43 Comments

  8. I got 16 out of 18 right. We study British English in school, but lately I am more used to the American English because of the internet and all the movies, shows and music.

    2

    • Hey, glad you enjoyed it! I really had (and have) no clear idea of how known or unknown these Irish/British usages are in the states. Glad the zebra crossing gave you a laugh – or a shock 🙂

      1

  11. Imagine the horror of realizing I got 14 out of 18 right. First, I’ve done so many of your quizzes that my English is showing.

    As a loyal American I am going to make this quiz great again by taking it again and failing to get a single one right!

    1

  13. Eight out of 18 on this quiz. And to think that a lot of celebrities I admire for their work living or dead did use these kinds of words on their shows but it slipped my mind.

    1

  15. 12/18, not bad because the ones I missed were about food which I am not good at. Since am a citizen of a country that was colonized by British, we speak European English since it is what we are taught in school. Sometimes we mix it with American English from the movies, songs and conversations with Americans which leads to many of us confused which English is which.

    Over here if you say you saw John wearing a panty, it means he was wearing inner wear whereas the person might have meant he wore a trouser (American:). That’s why it is hard for me to write an European English only. It will get mixed with American, consciously or not.

    2