There are some American words that Brits just do not understand, it's like a different language.
So today we're going to look at ten of the most confusing American words.
We're going to count down from ten to number one, the most confusing word. So let's kick off with
number ten. Number ten, realtor. I don't even know if I am saying that correctly. Guys maybe
you should correct me in the comments below. Realtor. Now in British English we would say
estate agent, it's somebody that sell houses. Now I get it, I get the connection because
a realtor works in real estate. Real estate is property in American English. So someone
that is selling houses works in real estate. I get it so realtor is the person and real
estate is the industry but I don't even know if I am saying it correctly. So realtor, in
British English estate agent. Ok, et's get on to number nine. Station wagon. I quite
like the sound of this word, station wagon. It sound exciting to me. Obviously it's to
do with transport but I have some crazy ideas about what a station wagon is. Then I googled
it, I was a little bit disappointed. A station wagon in British English is an estate car.
So it's a longer car, it's extended. The boot, or trunk in American English, is extended
too so it has more space for bags and bikes and whatever you want to put in there. So
station wagon in American English, estate car in British English. Number eight, sneakers.
Now I'm a bit more comfortable now with this word now I have heard it many more times but
when I first heard it I thought it was a chocolate bar. I was like yeah I want a sneakers, absolutely,
yeah that sounds delicious. It's not a chocolate bar, it's a pair of trainers. In British English
trainers, so in American English sneakers, British English trainers. So sports shoes,
shoes that you might wear for running or to the gym whatever it might be. Number seven,
cilantro or American English cilantro. Yeah that is my pronunciation, apologies. So cilantro
in British English is coriander, it's the herb that we use in cooking. So in American
English cilantro, British English coriander. I still kind of get that one confused, I have
to think cilantro, ok alright yeah yeah yeah it's coriander I remember. Sticking with the
food theme number six eggplant. Now again I've heard this one enough times now that
I do finally understand that eggplant is aubergine in British English but to begin with I had
no idea. And I was a little bit disappointed because I love eggs and I thought maybe there
might be a plant that made eggs, it's not true. Anyway eggplant in American English,
aubergine in British English. Number five this is one I did not know until I was researching
this video, I had no idea. Blinker. A blinker in British English is an indicator. So it's
that flashing light that you have on your car right side and left side to show that
you are going to either turn right or turn left. So in British English we would say an
indicator because you are indicating where you want to go, you are showing where you
want to go. In American English a blinker, so is it your right blinker and your left
blinker? Guys tell me in the comments below, I don't know. Tell me how to use this word
because I've never heard of it before. So do you turn on your blinkers? Don't know!
I don't know! Anyway in British English indicator. Alright number four and I have never heard
this phrase before chutes and ladders. What's chutes and ladders? Chutes? Again I had to
Google this one. Ok, chutes and ladders is a famous game that in British English we would
say snakes and ladders. You know it's that board game where you go up the ladders and
then you go down the snakes. But in American English you go up the ladders but down the
chutes. I kind of get it because like a rubbish chute is like a tube that you throw rubbish
down and it kind of goes down into the basement or wherever the bin might be. So I guess I
understand why it's a chute, it makes sense going down. It's ok, in fact it makes more
sense than a snake but I prefer the snake. Anyways chutes and ladders in American English,
snakes and ladders in British English. Alright number three, I didn't know this word until
about a month ago and even now I don't know how to spell it. I was like in Google and
I was typing all the different variations I could. Finally I found the correct spelling,
the pronunciation I'm not quite sure but faucet or faucet. It's definitely not that! Turn
off the faucet! Yeah it's not that I know, ok! So a faucet, I'm going to say faucet cos
that's how I say it is a tap. So in British English we say tap in American English they
say faucet. Sorry faucet. I mean totally different word. Never, I've never ever had to use that
word, I've never seen it written, I've barely heard anyone say it. Do Americans say it?
I don't, you guys tell me. But yeah if you are ever in America and you want to use the
tap you can say 'Excuse me where is the faucet?' Number two we are getting close, we are counting
down to number one. Number two, sophomore. I had know idea what this word meant until
I heard it used about a basketball player. So sophomore, I think is someone in their
second year of college or their second year of high school. I think. I don't know, I'm
going to check this, hang on I'm going to double check this. Yes, ok I was right it
is. So someone in their second year of college or high school. In British English we don't
have a word for that, I don't know. I don't know what that is. You are in your second
year, that's what we'd say. Certainly in university you'd say I'm in my second year or I'm a second
year student maybe. But we don't really have a word for that. Obviously I have taught the
word freshman before. Freshman is the first year of college or high school in America.
In British English it's a fresher. So first year of university you are a fresher. Alright,
are you ready for number one? Because this one is crazy! Number one, the most confusing
American word, bangs! What! What are bangs? What on earth is/are bangs? I had to find
out, I had to research it, I had to Google it and I found out what bangs are. In British
English we would say a fringe. It's when you have hair down here like this. I'm so confused
about how you use it because in British English we would say a fringe. So 'she has a fringe'
but in American English there's no a, there's no article. So 'she has bangs'. So there's
no article but is has an s, but it's not countable, it's uncountable. So confusing! So 'I love
your bangs' means I love your fringe, ok alright. So if i went to the hairdresser I would say
in British English can I get a fringe, please? Can I get a fringe? But in American English
what would you say? Can I get bangs? I guess, right? Can I have bangs? I don't know! So
confused. When I first heard that, I was like that's crazy. Because bang, to bang a drum,
you know, you bang a drum, you make a noise or I heard a bang it's like a loud sound but
bangs, it's a type of hairstyle. Woah! Alright so you can see why these ten words, in British
English we don't even use these words so they are super confusing when we hear them. Once
you learn them then you are alright. So hopefully now you guys, if you are ever speaking to
someone using American English or you are over in America, you will know what these
ten words mean. Alright guys I hope you enjoyed that video. Remember to check me out on Facebook
and Instagram especially Instagram stories where I put daily English content for you
to learn English. Of course I've got new videos every Tuesday and every Friday helping you
take your English to the next level and achieve your life goals whatever they may be. It's
been a pleasure I hope you've enjoyed this one. Until next time this is Tom, the Chief
Dreamer, saying goodbye.