British or American? Test Your English Knowledge!
- Tom Lockhart
- Apr 22
- 3 min read
You've read how British and American English grew apart — but can you spot the differences when they show up in everyday language? From spelling to vocabulary , this quiz will test how well you really know the two sides of the English-speaking world.
✍️ BRITISH VS AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ
1. Which of these is the British word for a sweet baked treat?
a) Cookie
b) Biscuit
c) Cracker
d) Brownie
2. Which sentence uses American spelling?
a) The colour of the centre was perfect.
b) She realised it was the wrong programme.
c) The theater is right across the street.
d) My favourite flavour is vanilla.
3. What do the British call the back of a car where you store luggage?
a) Trunk
b) Boot
c) Hatch
d) Deck
4. Which of these words is commonly used in American English?
a) Flat
b) Lorry
c) Faucet
d) Post
5. Which of these accents is known as Received Pronunciation (RP)?
a) Southern American
b) Cockney
c) Standard British English
d) Scottish
6. Which is the American version of this phrase: “He’s in hospital”?
a) He’s at the hospital
b) He’s in the hospital
c) He’s hospitalised
d) He’s gone to hospital
7. Which spelling is British?
a) Analyze
b) Organize
c) Realise
d) Prioritize
8. What do Americans call the place where you live?
a) Flat
b) Bungalow
c) Apartment
d) Caravan
9. What’s the British word for an underground train system?
a) Subway
b) Metro
c) Tube
d) Tram
10. Which of these vegetables has a different name in British English?
a) Broccoli
b) Tomato
c) Eggplant
d) Lettuce
11. Which phrase is most common in American business English?
a) Let’s touch base
b) Let’s have a catch-up
c) Let’s crack on
d) Fancy a quick chat?
12. If a Brit says “pants”, what do they mean?
a) Trousers
b) Underwear
c) Shorts
d) Trackies
13. Which is a British spelling?
a) Center
b) Neighbor
c) Travelling
d) Catalog
14. What do the British call the back garden of a terraced house?
a) Yard
b) Backyard
c) Garden
d) Lawn
15. Which American term means "on the pavement"?
a) Footpath
b) Sidewalk
c) Kerb
d) Crossing
✅ Answer Key
b) Biscuit
c) The theater is right across the street.
b) Boot
c) Faucet
c) Standard British English
b) He’s in the hospital
c) Realise
c) Apartment
c) Tube
c) Eggplant
a) Let’s touch base
b) Underwear
c) Travelling
c) Garden
b) Sidewalk
🧠 How Did You Do?
13–15 correct:🎉 Linguistic Legend! You clearly know your crisps from your chips, your rubbish from your trash, and your lorries from your trucks. You're comfortably bilingual in global English!
10–12 correct:👍 Solid Effort! You’ve got a great sense of the differences — just a few regional curveballs tripped you up. Keep watching those Netflix subtitles and you’ll be fluent in both varieties soon.
7–9 correct:🤔 Getting There! You've picked up a good mix, but a few more Britcoms or US dramas might help sharpen your instincts.
0–6 correct:😅 Early Days! No stress — even native speakers get confused! This is a great first step toward mastering both sides of the pond. Try it again after a little review!
