American Language

People who come to the USA from India rarely have difficulty in communicating with Americans, because most speak fluent
English or have received their education in English. However, Indians speak British English, and there are many differences
between British English and American English.

Therefore, if you are not familiar with correct words, there may be some confusion while communicating. Sometimes, the
spelling of the words may be the same but they are pronounced differently. For example, "schedule" is pronounced "skedule," "
route" is pronounced "raut," and "vitamin" is pronounced "vaitamin."

If the person you're speaking with is having a hard time understanding, you may hear phrases like "pardon me," "come again,"
"I didn't get you," or "I'm sorry?"

The following dictionary helps you translate Indian English to American English. Words are given by categories; within each
category, they are listed alphabetically.

Clothing
Indian English American English
Braces Suspenders
Half-pant Shorts
Half sleeves Short sleeves
Handbag Purse, Pocketbook, Change purse
Jumper Sweater
Ladders (in stockings) Runs
Neckerchief Scarf
Overcoat (light) Topcoat, Coat, Jacket
Overcoat (heavy) Overcoat, Coat
Oversize Extra large
Petticoat Slip
Pinafore dress Jumper
Polo-neck sweater Turtle-neck sweater
Purse Wallet
Sanitary towel Sanitary napkin, pad
Sports shoes Sneakers, Athletic shoes, Running shoes
Suspenders Garters
Swim costume Swim suit
Swim trunks Swim suit
Tights Panty hose
Trial room Fitting room
Trousers Trousers, Pants, Slacks
Vest Under shirt
Waistcoat Vest
Waist petticoat Half slip
Wind cheater Wind breaker

Education
Indian English American English
3rd standard 3rd grade
Be a student Take a class
Canteen Cafeteria
College School
Higher Secondary School High School
Invigilator Proctor
Marks Grades
Mark sheet Grade card
Primary school Elementary school
Private school Public school (free)
Public school Private school (tuition charged)
Secondary School Junior High School
Take a class Teach a class
University School

Food
Indian English American English
Biscuit Cookie (if sweet), Cracker (if salty)
Brinjal Eggplant
Brown bread Whole wheat bread
Bun Biscuit
Cafe ("kayf") Cafe ("kaf-ay'")
Capsicum Bell pepper
Chocolate, Lollipop, Sweet, Toffee Candy
Cold drink Soda
Coriander Cilantro
Curd Yogurt
Dry grapes Raisins
Filter coffee Brewed coffee
Finger chips French fries
French beans Snow peas
Garam masala Curry
Groundnuts Peanuts
Restaurant (only for eating)
Hotel
Hotel (for staying and/or eating)
Jelly Gelatin
Milk powder Cream
Nes-coffee Instant coffee
Lady fingers Okra
(Potato) wafers (Potato) chips
Saccrine Artificial sweetener
Soft drink Soda
Small pastries Lady fingers
Soda Club soda
Tomato sauce Ketchup (tomato sauce is less sweet)

Other
Indian English American English
Aerial (for TV) Antenna
All year All year or year-round
American football
Football
(similar to Rugby in UK)
At weekends On weekends
Autumn Fall
Barrister Trial lawyer
Basin Bowl (basin means bathroom sink)
Shower (when you fill tub and sit to wash, it is a
Bath
bath)
Beggar Panhandler
Bookstall Newsstand
Bucket Bucket or pail
Camp bed Cot or roll-away
Chewing Gum Gum
Cell Battery
Cinema Movie theater
Clever Smart or bright
Cooling glass Sunglasses
Colony Neighborhood
Creche Daycare
Cricket (a game) Cricket (an insect)
Curriculum-vitae or Bio-data Resume
Current Electricity
Current account Checking account
Deposit account Savings account
Diary Journal
District or Taluk County
Doctor Doctor or Physician
Dustbin Trash can
Earth wire Ground wire
Flat Apartment ("flats" mean shoes without high heels)
Ex-serviceman Veteran
Football Soccer
Hoarding Billboard
Hotel Restaurant
Gang Mob
Garage Garage, Shop, Service station
Garbage Trash
Garden Yard
Give test Take test
Goods Freight
Goods wagon Freight car, Container
Gramophone Phonograph, Turntable, Record player
Grill Broil
Guest house Motel
Gum Glue
Goggles Sunglasses
IBM-Compatible IBM-Clone
Inflammable Flammable
Jug Pitcher
Kiosk Booth
Lawyer Lawyer or Attorney
Lift Elevator
Ltd. Inc.
Main city area Downtown (most of the time), Uptown
Mate Friend ("mate" is used only for spouse)
Mess Dorm cafeteria
Mixee Mixer
Multi-storey High-rise, Skyscraper
Nice Nice, Cool
Operation theatre Operating room
Perks Perks, Fringe benefits, Benefits, Employment benefits
Photograph Picture
Picture Movie
Plot of land Lot
Policeman Policeman, Cop, Police officer
Porter Doorman
Nappies Diapers
Notepad Notepad, Scratchpad
Ordinary share Common stock
Pack of cards Deck of cards
Paisa Penny, One cent
Past performance Track record
Pin code, postal code ZIP code
Point, Powerpoint Outlet, Electrical outlet
Mailbox (for home/apartment)
Postbox
Postbox (for rented box located in post office)
Pram
Stroller
Perambulator
Promenade Boardwalk
Race course Race track, The track
Queue Line
Restaurant bill Restaurant check
Rs. 20 Note $20 Bill
Rubber Eraser ("rubber" is the slang for condom!)
Snap Picture
Solicitor Lawyer, Attorney
Solid Substantial
Spectacles Glasses
Suitcase Suitcase, Baggage, Bag
Power strip ("switchboard" is for a telephone
Switchboard
operator)
Tap Faucet
Talkies Movie theater
Tea towel Dish towel
Timber Timber, Lumber
Tin (of food) Can
To dispatch To ship
To fix To install
Toilet Restroom
Torch Flashlight
To repair To fix
Trade union Labor union
Transistor Radio
Two-in-One Boom box
Washing clothes Doing laundry

Pronunciation Difference
Indian English American English
Carolina Carolaina
Regional Riganal
Schedule Skedul
Semi Semai
Vitamin Vaitamin

Shopping
Indian English American English
Bill Check
Carrier bag Shopping bag
Chemist Drugstore, Pharmacy
Cotton (reel of) Thread
Cotton wool Absorbent cotton
Dispensary Drugstore, Pharmacy
Drawing pins Thumb tacks
Expensive stores Upscale stores
Hair slide Barrette
Jumble sale Garage sale, Yard sale
Strip mall ("strip club" has a totally different
Line of open shops, shopping center
meaning)
Material (by yard) Fabric
Provision store Grocery store
Provision store man Grocer
Shop Shop, Store
Shop assistant Salesclerk
Shopping center Mall
Vegetable store Grocery store

Spelling Difference
Indian English American English
Cheque Check
Centre Center
Colour Color
Dialled Dialed
Grey Gray
Jewellery Jewelry
Labour Labor
Omelette Omelet
Programme Program
Theatre Theater
Travelling Traveling

Telephone
Indian English American English
Charge call Collect call
Directory Phone book
Personal call Person-to-person
Put the phone down Hang up, Disconnect
Mobile Phone Cell Phone
Reverse the charges Collect call
STD code Area code
STD/PCO Public phone, Pay phone
Telephone call Phone call, Call
To ring up To call/to give
To telephone Buzz
Trunk call Long distance call

Theater
Indian English American English
Dress circle Mezzanine
Houseful Full house
Gallery Balcony
Stalls Orchestra
Upper Circle First balcony

Transportation
Indian English American English
Accelerate the car Step on the gas
Air hostess Flight attendant
Bonnet Hood
Boot, dicky Trunk
Car accelerator Gas pedal
Car parking Parking lot
Caravan Trailer or RV (recreational vehicle)
Coach Bus
Cycle Bike
Diesel Fuel
Footpath Sidewalk
Flyover Overpass
Gear stick Stick shift
Highway Freeway, Expressway, Interstate
Lorry Truck
Motorcycle Motor bike
Motor ways Freeways
Mudguard/wing Motor bike
Number plate License plate
Overbridge Overpass
Pavement Sidewalk
Petrol Gas
Petrol pump Gas station
Punctured tire Flat tire
Railtrack Railroad
Return ticket Round trip
Muffler (a "silencer" is used to quiet the sound of a
Silencer
gun)
Signal Signal, Traffic light
Single ticket One-way ticket
Take a lift Get a ride
Taxi Taxi, Cab
Traffic signal Traffic light
Tram Streetcar
Underbridge Underpass
Underground Subway
Windscreen Windshield
Zebra Crossing Crosswalk

Idioms
Indian English American English
A place to park Driveway
A place to drive Parkway
Anti clockwise Counter-clockwise
Black money Tax free, Undeclared income
Bunk school Skip class
Convince someone Talk someone into
Fired (from job, for fault of employee)
Dismissed (from job)
Laid off (from job, for no fault of employee)
Fainted Passed out
Get down (from a bus) Get off (of a bus)
Give the car some race Speed up the car
How is everything? How is it going?
How are you? How are you doing?
I am angry at you I am mad at you
Indian - Native American
Indian
East Indian - Person from India
Intimate Inform
Issue a book (from the library) Check out a book (from the library)
Join duty Report for work
Let's make a move Let's go
Let's push off Let's go
Mess up Screw up
Passed out Graduated
Push the accelerator Step on the gas
Ring up (someone) Call up (someone)
Sleep in the afternoon Nap
Standing from a constituency Running for an election
Straight-away Right away
The line is engaged It's busy / I got a busy tone
To appear in (give) a test To take a test
To be out of station To be out of town
Too good Cool
To post (a letter) To mail (a letter)
To submit To turn in
Very Close Relations Intimate relations
Washing up machine Dishwasher
Wash up Do the dishes
Wash your hands Wash up
What is time? Do you have the time?

This page URL:

http://www.immihelp.com/newcomer/indian-english-american-english-language-dictionary.html

Copyright © 1999-2010 immihelp®.com All rights reserved.