Not so much words… but different phrases. Here are a few things I’ve learnt (Americans: that’s English for “learned”) from my time spent out here.

Are you alright? In America, one asks “are you alright?” only with the strict implication that you don’t look alright. The question is almost rhetorical, and really means “You don’t look well for some reason. What’s wrong?” In England, it’s the same thing as saying “How are you?” and is a common greeting. The first time my coworker asked “Hey Jay, are you alright?” as I walked into the office in the morning, I must have startled him by my “What? I’m fine, why do you ask?!?” response.

Is that Jay? (or it could be “Is it Jay?”, I’m not sure, and due to accents, it’s hard to tell) As an American, when you call a number, and someone you don’t know answers the phone, the typical query is “Hi, is Jay there?” or maybe “Hi, can I talk to Jay?” or something along those lines. The British equivelant is “Is that Jay?”.

Fanny In America, it’s a silly syonym for “butt”, used to describe the “Fanny Packs” that people like my grandfather still wear. In the UK, it’s a synonym for “pussy” (ie, vulgar slang for a “vagina”) and thus, not something you want to say in public.

Way Out I’m used to all the Exits being marked by the ubiquitous green “Exit” sign. In England, the phrase “Way Out” is just as common on signs, and means the same thing.

Toilet In America, they’re called Bathrooms (or maybe “Restrooms” or “Wash Rooms” as a slightly more polite term). Out here, the common term is “Toilet” ie; “Where are the toilets?” I’ve heard it called a “loo” a couple times, but that’s actually really rare. Also, I don’t think America has any of the completely exposed, outdoor urinals like some European cities do in busy areas. You haven’t lived until you’ve pissed into a metal column in the middle of the busy Oudezijds Voorburgwal (A street in Amsterdam’s Red Light District). Which is a great segue into…

Urinals In America, pronounced “YUR i nuls” In England, “yur EYE nuls”.

Mobile Phones “Cell Phones” same thing, slightly different term

Pay as you go In America, I’ve seen this more commonly phrased as “Pre Pay”

Take Away same as “Take Out”… ie “Eat in or take away?”

Z In American, pronounced “zee”, in pretty much the rest of the English speaking world, “zed”.

Floor Brush I had to buy a broom out here, I hadn’t a clue what they’re called! I searched for “broom”, and “sweeper” on www.argos.co.uk, and neither returned results (although they do now, hmmm). Turns out that “Floor Brush” is a common term.

Hobb The same as a “Stove” or “Range” or “Grill” (basically, the stove in the kitchen)

Pikey Ever watch Snatch? Remember Brad Pitts character, and the class of people he was from? (the weird gypsy like travevling people). They were referred to as “Pikeys” in the movie. One time, I (rather loudly) asked my coworkers in a busy restaurant “Are Pikeys real?” They all looked alarmed, shushed me, and glanced around nervously. Turns out it’s a racial slur along the same lines as “nigger” in offensiveness.

Ozzie, Kiwi, Saffa Australian, New Zealander, and South African (respectively). One odd thing compared to Seattle is that we have TONS of Ozzies and Kiwis here in London, which on the surface, doesn’t make sense. Seattle is a LOT closer, after all. Then you realize that they’re in the British Commonwealth, and thus don’t need a Visa to enter the UK.

Ground Floor In America, a multiple-story building has it’s floors named as thus (from the ground up) “1st floor”, “2nd floor”, “3rd floor”. In the UK, they’re “Ground Floor”, “1st Floor”, “2nd Floor”… so on and so forth. If you get in an English elevator (called “lifts”) and press “1″, you will not be taken to the ground floor. You will be taken to what an American considers the “2nd” floor.