Conversations with an Artificial Intelligence - British or American English - Improve Your English

Subtitles at 02:25 More great English learning material at

Hi Britlish.
Hi Richard. Good to see you again.


You, too, Britlish. Who said these words, Britlish? We have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language.


That was Oscar Wilde, Richard. It appears in a short story, first published in The Court and Society Review, a British literary magazine, in 1887. In The Canterville Ghost, the narrator says of Mrs Otis: Indeed, in many respects, she was quite English, and was an excellent example of the fact that we have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language.


Thank you, Britlish. I guess Wilde was referring to the fact that American and British English have some striking differences?


Yes, Richard. Take cars for instance. In British English you call the front part of the car covering the engine the bonnet.


And in American English?


In American English you would call it the hood. And in American English you would call the back of the car where you carry things, the trunk.


Ah, yes. In British English we call that the boot. There are other words in American English for things like a baby’s nappy, a tap, and a dustbin, too, aren’t there?


Yes, Richard. In American English it’s a baby’s diaper, a faucet, and a trashcan.


Is there a big difference in pronunciation with words that are spelt differently in British and American English?


Such as, Richard?


Well, neighbour, labour, favour, and colour, for instance.


In American English you would say neighbor, labor, favor, and color.


What about a lift, a loo, and a flat?


Those would be elevator, toilet, and apartment in American English, Richard.


That’s barmy, isn’t it Britlish?


Yes, Richard, it’s crazy.


See you again soon, Britlish.


Yes, Richard.

english activation packs,nouns,british english,idioms,british accent tutorial,british english pronunciation,english idioms and phrases,pronunciation of english words,british accent,british accent lesson,british pronunciation,english pronunciation practice british accent,english pronunciation,pronunciation,learn british accent,english pronunciation practice,learn british english,british idioms,british phrases,