This section of the book covers the differences in words used in Pakistan and in USA. Pakistani use British English while using vocabulary however the there are few words that people does not use in USA. Similar the measuring unites might not be knows the same way as it was in paksitan e.g. Weather is measured in Fahrenheit scale instead of centigrade, weight is always measured and displayed in pounds (lbs) instead of kilograms (Kg).
Using British words does not means that people in United States will not understand, they will understand it however sometimes with difficulty however problem arise when you need to search something like a bicycle, you will not find it until you search it with word “Bike” so you need to know the words to find a right item to purchase.
The difference in terms and words are mentioned below in form of table.
| Terms / words in Pakistan / UK |
Terms / words in USA |
| Angry | Mad |
| Autumn | Fall |
| Bicycle | Bike |
| Bill (waiter, please bring the bill) | Check (waiter, please bring the check) |
| Biscuits | Cookies |
| Bonnet (car Part) | Hood |
| Booking | Reservation |
| Boot (car Part) | Trunk |
| Chemist | Pharmacist |
| Cheque (Spelling difference) | Check |
| Chips | Fries |
| Cinema | Movie House / Movie Theatre |
| Cling wrap | Plastic wrap |
| Coat (Dress coat) | Jacket |
| Commode | Flush toilets |
| Corn flour | Corn Starch |
| Cot (for baby) | Crib (for baby) |
| day/month/year (Date format) | month/ day/year |
| Dustbin | Garbage Can / Trash can |
| Estate agent | Realtor |
| Film | Movie |
| Fired from job | Laid off |
| Fish finger | Fish sticks |
| Flat | Apartment |
| Chopper (Kitchen Appliance) | Food processor |
| Football | Soccer |
| Frock (Girls frilled dress) | Dress |
| Ground Floor | First floor |
| Ill | Sick |
| Insect | Bug |
| Jam | Jelly |
| Jelly | Jello |
| Joggers | Sneakers |
| KG (Weight is measured in Kilograms) | Lbs (Weight is measured in pounds) |
| KM (distance is measured in Kilometer) | Miles (distance is measured in Miles) |
| Knickers | Shorts |
| Lift | Elevator |
| Lorry | Truck |
| Lounge (Tv lounge) | Living room |
| Mad | Crazy |
| Manual gear (Car) | Stick Shift |
| Match (game match) | Game |
| Minced Beef / Chicken | Grounded Beef / Chicken |
| Mobile phone | Cell phone |
| Money exchange | Currency Exchange |
| Motorway | Highway |
| Nappy | Diaper |
| Note (currency) | Bill (currency) |
| Number plate | License plate |
| Parcel | Package |
| Petrol | Gas |
| Petrol Pump | Gas Station |
| Police officer | Cop |
| Porridge | Oatmeal |
| Postal code / Post code | Zip code |
| Postman | Mailman |
| Power socket / Power Plug | Electrical outlet |
| Pram | Stroller |
| Program (Tv program) | Show (Tv show) |
| Pub | Bar |
| Queue | Line |
| Quilt | Comforter |
| Rubber | Eraser |
| Shifting (shifting home) | Moving |
| Shop | Store |
| Shoulder bag | Backpack |
| Silencer (car part) | Muffler |
| Skating shoes | Roller blades |
| Snooker | Billiard / pool |
| Sunglasses | Shades |
| Tap (water basin related) | Faucet |
| Taxi | Cab |
| Timetable | Schedule |
| Tin | Can |
| To let | For rent |
| Torch | Flash light |
| Trousers | Pants |
| Waistcoat | Vest |
| Wardrobe | Closet |
| Washroom / bathroom | Rest Room |
| Zebra crossing | Cross walk |
5 Comments
Great job done, well done
Thank you. very knowledable words everbody should know, before coming or even just started living in US. There are still many words I would like to add another word which people should know “BIO-DATA” or CV is not used here people use it as “RESUME” and call it “Resumay”.
Good Job Sir,
And i hope you are gonna keep this brilliant job up.And please let us know if you come across something useful like you always do.
your site is really informative.
Awwww you should tell me in 2003 . Now i learned everything but before i had so many problems.
By the way. Very nice observation:) keep up the good work
Thank you Saania, It took me lots of time too to learn these words. I realized it when searching for a bike on craigslist, I was searching bicycle and nothing was coming up, I realized it later that bicycle along with many other words are not in practice in USA so I’ve created this list with time pass to help others as well.