Americanisms

US English phrases

Americanisms are words, phrases, or usages characteristic of American English.

The term covers vocabulary that originated in America (*sidewalk* instead of *pavement*, *apartment* instead of *flat*), spellings (*color*, *center*), and expressions unfamiliar to British speakers.

What counts as an Americanism depends on perspective—to Americans, these are simply English; to others, they're distinctly American features.

The book was full of Americanisms that puzzled British readers.

slang

y'all

Informal plural you

ain'tInformal negative contraction
howdyInformal rural greeting
bucksMale deer, or dollars

dude · fender-bender · john · potluck · tailgate · bodega · hood · awesome · cop · guys

vocabulary

elevator

Vertical conveyance between floors

apartmentRented unit in building
flashlightPortable electric lamp
diaperAbsorbent infant undergarment

faucet · garbage · trunk · windshield · sneakers · mailbox · sidewalk · cookie · pants · candy

political

patriotism

Devotion to one's homeland

constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
democracyRule by the people
freedomAbsence of constraint

liberty · senate · republic · federal · capitalism · independence · revolution · civil rights · melting pot · frontier

Americanisms

y'all

elevator

patriotism

Americanisms

Opposites

Categories

Family