I'm an international terminology alien, are you?

[Mr Silver]

Often when I converse with non UK residents, they will mention a specific brand or name for something, of which I have no idea as to its counterpart. Its something I've noticed I do a lot of too, for instance some of my US friends have been puzzled when I've mentioned that I need to do some hoovering, etc.

Some of the terms that have puzzled me are Smores, Tylenol, Zuccini, Mama Juana and Entrees. Although I eventually discovered what these things were, it did lead to a bit of confusion. I've also been at a loss to find close equivalents to certain brands, such as Hershey's, Olive Garden (no where in the UK gives you unlimited breadsticks it seems!) and Kool Aid.

Are there any international terms or brands that have confused you?

 

[RoJoHen]

Re: I'm a international terminology alien, are you?

Smores

You're missing an apostrophe. It's S'Mores.

I get really confused by words that mean different things in the US and UK, even though we're both theoretically speaking English. I recall an argument here about the difference between vests, sweatervests, and tanktops.

 

[Mr Silver]

We call what you generally call "sweaters", "jumpers". We also refer to what you call "pants" as "trousers" and typically we refer to underwear as "pants". It can get a bit complicated! Our "graham crackers" are known as "digestive biscuits" and they are round with Mcvities stamped on them.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I'm one of the very few bona fide Italians on the board. It would be way easier to mention brands and products that didn't confuse me at first. (And many still do!)

Thankfully, I gorged on a unhealthy diet of American-produced (or simply, English-speaking) tv shows and movies since childhood, so it's not as bad as it could be. Also, Google is my friend.

 

[Canadave]

We call what you generally call "sweaters", "jumpers". We also refer to what you call "pants" as "trousers" and typically we refer to underwear as "pants". It can get a bit complicated! Our "graham crackers" are known as "digestive biscuits" and they are round with Mcvities stamped on them.

Digestives and graham crackers are different things. They definitely don't taste the same, and graham crackers are more brittle than digestives.

 

[trekkiedane]

I have always found the use of brand-names for generic things weird: Hoover for vacuuming, Levi's for jeans, Coke for soda and so on - yet I seem to have fallen for this north American way of speaking myself; I use "Google" for search

Exactly, iguana, where would us poor Europeans be without? -certainly not communicado with our American friends

 

[RoJoHen]

Levi's for jeans,

Never heard that one, unless of course the jeans are Levi's.

Coke for soda

Goofy Southerners.

yet I seem to have fallen for this north American way of speaking myself; I use "Google" for search

Well, Google has earned it.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

"Lemsip" was a British product that confused me when a relative of mine expressed a need for some. It's marketed under the brand name "Theraflu" here.

 

[nevermore]

Mama Juana

Entrees.

Blame the French.

Are there any international terms or brands that have confused you?

Most of the common English ones I have down, but the more obscure things sometimes blindside me. On the other hand, I figure I confound my Brit counterparts more often than they do me because we as Americans are perhaps more prone to coining terms and using brand names a shorthand (and in person, my adulterated regional accent is pretty strong). Here are some handy resources: http://www.translatebritish.com/ or http://septicscompanion.com/index.php#index. I'm sure they work in reverse as well.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

We call what you generally call "sweaters", "jumpers". We also refer to what you call "pants" as "trousers" and typically we refer to underwear as "pants". It can get a bit complicated! Our "graham crackers" are known as "digestive biscuits" and they are round with Mcvities stamped on them.

Digestives and graham crackers are different things. They definitely don't taste the same, and graham crackers are more brittle than digestives.

Digestives sounds like the most unappetizing name for a food product ever.

 

[Canadave]

^ I know. I honestly don't know of anyone who isn't over 70 that eats them, though.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Yeah, "digestive crackers" sounds like this to me...

 

[scotpens]

We call what you generally call "sweaters", "jumpers".

Both of which are a bit of a mystery, since the garment in question neither jumps nor sweats.

We also refer to what you call "pants" as "trousers" and typically we refer to underwear as "pants".

And what we Yanks call a “vest” is called a “waistcoat” by the Brits. A UK “vest” is what Americans call an undershirt — or, more recently and colorfully, a “wife-beater.”

 

[RoJoHen]

or, more recently and colorfully, a “wife-beater.”

To be fair, a wife-beater is, more specifically, a white tanktop. And it is only called a wife-beater if you are not wearing anything over it.

An undershirt can be many other things.

 

[Jono]

I'm sure there are, but I can't think of any off the top of my head at the moment.

When I lived on college the recently arrived American exchange students would always be confused by our use of the word "thongs", which we use for flip-flops.

 

[trekkiedane]

^ I know. I honestly don't know of anyone who isn't over 70 that eats them, though.

They're actually pretty amazing with brunost

 

[Shikarnov]

"Lemsip" was a British product that confused me when a relative of mine expressed a need for some. It's marketed under the brand name "Theraflu" here.

Interestingly enough, it's marketed as Theraflu in Russia too. Well, as Терафлю. So the UK seems to be the odd man out.

 

[Robert D. Robot]

It took me a while to realize that "braces" means "suspenders" in the UK. I think I finally made the connection with some references that came up in Doctor Who episodes (Until that point, I went for years thinking that the Python guys were referring to the metal bits worn on teeth....).

A friend (American) of mine who started dating a British guy told me about the odd look she got from him when- once their relationship starting drifting into more intimate situations- she told him that she liked to be spanked on her fanny. Someone has apparently gotten things backwards anatomically, but I am not sure whether it is the Brits or the Yanks!....

 

[backstept]

'washing up' is one that had me confounded . . .
washing up liquid? what liquid are you washing up?

to me 'washing up' means washing your hands before dinner
the US equivalent to the UK 'washing up' is 'dish-washing'
and 'dish soap' for 'washing up liquid'

 

[scotpens]

It took me a while to realize that "braces" means "suspenders" in the UK. I think I finally made the connection with some references that came up in Doctor Who episodes (Until that point, I went for years thinking that the Python guys were referring to the metal bits worn on teeth....).

Talking of Monty Python, I used to be confused about this bit from the Lumberjack Song: I cut down trees, I wear high heels,/Suspenders and a bra . . .

I didn’t realize that British “suspenders” are what we Americans call a garter belt.

And then there’s that curious British idiom in the Elton John/Bernie Taupin song “Daniel”: They say Spain is pretty, though I’ve never been. Never been what — pretty?