American to British Text Translator

Convert Your American Text to British

American English and British English are two of three main versions of the English language (the third is Australian). The three languages often use different spellings or terms to describe the same thing. Writing to the correct audience is essential, which is why Ditto’s British-to-American spelling converter is here to help.

Use Ditto’s translation tool to automatically convert the spelling from your American English version to British English.

American English vs. British English

When people worldwide think of English, they often default to the American version – which just shows how quickly people forget. Before the concept of united colonies, even before those colonies were established, the British Empire was already in its second century. It held over 24% of the Earth’s landmass and commanded almost 23% of the world’s population at the time. 

The United Kingdom was the centre of the world – and you can be sure they spread their language around, exported like spice and silk from one end of the Empire to another. 

And yet, as the world’s largest empire waned, so did their hold on their colonies’ linguistic and cultural aspects. America, that big upstart collection of disparate colonies, soon became a modern superpower, amassing wealth and influence that spans the world over. And to think all that started because of taxes on tea. 

Fast forward to today, American English has deviated so much from its roots that it can be classified as a different language altogether. These days, you can’t expect everyone to understand when you tell them to “stop whinging.” You have to ask them to stop complaining, instead. Can’t have a proper chinwag – it’ll have to be a chat. 

It wouldn’t surprise me if your American friends get upset when you bring them fried potatoes when they ask for “chips,” or when you stare blankly at them when they ask you for a “cold one.” 

Our handy American-to-British text translator above can help turn text written in American English into British English for faster editing and document processing. However, those wanting to immerse themselves in American culture will need more help. 

So, I’ve put together a list of everyday American slang, then delved further into the language with more location-based idioms so you have everything you need to dive into the default English the world knows. 

How Different is American English Across State Lines?

One thing that constantly baffles tourists in America is the perceived inability of some Americans to recognise that there are other countries outside their own, which includes but is not limited to mistaking the Imperial system as the standard of measurement for the entire world. 

That’s not a good thing, per se, and I won’t stand here and defend the point. 

However, I do want to point out that some Americans may have such America-centric views because of how utterly big the country is. The U.S. is massive – it spans nine time zones with different landscapes, so many Americans don’t need to travel abroad to experience different climates or cultures. 

Unlike Europe, where driving a few hours in one direction can take you to a different country, in the U.S., a similar road trip usually just takes you to another U.S. state. Sometimes, not even then. And, for good measure, it will take between 4 and 6 days of straight travelling to get from the East Coast to the West Coast on the shortest possible route. 

So, you can expect a fair amount of difference in how English is used in different states. Just speak to someone from Boston and compare it to someone from California, and you’ll see the difference immediately. So, I’ll put together a list of common slangs, then break it down by different locations. 

Common American Slang (Non-specific)

Here’s a quick list of common American slangs and idioms:

Northeastern U.S. (New York, Boston, Philadelphia, etc.)

The Northeast offers much more than New York traffic, the famous Rocky Steps, or the home state of that one writer that gave us Eldritch abominations and an (incorrect) fear of non-Euclidean geometry. It has its fair share of slang, too. Oh, and people here talk really fast, so try to keep up. 

New York (NYC) Slang

Boston Slang

Philadelphia (Philly) Slang

Southern U.S. (Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, etc.)

The Southern states are known for their slower speech, distinct drawl, and unique regional phrases – that is, aside from the stifling heat, famous Southern hospitality, and great food. 

General Southern Slang

Texas Slang

Louisiana (New Orleans) Slang

Western U.S. (California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, etc.)

The West Coast has everything from surfers to skaters to tech bros, so you can be sure they’re up to date with the latest internet slang. In fact, there’s a good chance that some of the more famous memes and words out there are from them. 

California Slang

Pacific Northwest (Washington & Oregon) Slang

Now that you’re armed with that information, do you feel like you’re ready to visit the nearly 10 million square kilometers within the great United States? 

If you answered yes, then… you failed. It was a trick question. It’s actually 3.1 million square miles. That means you’re not ready. 

For your documentary needs, though, you’ll be as ready as ever with our American-to-British Translation tool. 

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Our British-to-American tool is just that, a nifty tool. Need more?

Our team can produce accurate, high-quality translations for any document or recording. Any translation projects we handle are run through our rigorous proofreading and editing services to ensure the best translation possible.

And while our competitors are happy with 80 to 85% accuracy, Ditto’s professional translation services aim for consistent 100% accuracy, making them read naturally for Arabic, French, Italian, Spanish, and German audiences.

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