British English to American Text Translator

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.

This free translation tool provided by Ditto Transcripts converts words and spelling from British English to American English.

Convert Your British Text to American

What Are the Differences Between British and American Slang?

Aside from the difference in accent and that whole center/centre debacle, most people think British and American English are the same, especially if they’re not native English speakers. But then they come across a sentence like “I was absolutely knackered after the stag do,” from someone in the UK and think that no, British English and American English are, in fact, not the same thing—and they’d be right. By the way, that sentence means, “I was exhausted after the bachelor party.” You’re welcome.

While American English is firmly rooted in British culture, the influx of immigrants into the United States during its infancy as a nation and the general idea of shaking off the shackles of the Crown led to the language branching into its own thing. The two versions of English then developed parallel with each other in modern times—and now Internet users worldwide are getting confused. 

Our handy British-to-American text translator above can help turn text written in British English into American English for faster editing and document processing. However, those watching British shows like Taskmaster, The Grand Tour, and The Great British Bake Off for a good laugh or those bingeing Peaky Blinders or Doctor Who would need more help. 

So, we’ve compiled a list of everyday British slang, then delved further into the language with more location-based idioms so you have everything you need to dive into “The King’s English.” 

How Many British Dialects Are There?

The United Kingdom may not be as big as America, but it does have its fair share of linguistic flavor. There are more than 40 different dialects in the UK, with most of them employing different diction, word structures, and, yes, even spelling. 

Dialects are primarily based geographically, so different places like Yorkshire, Newcastle, or Wales have distinct methods of speaking, including their accents. We’ll discuss the most common dialects and their slang based on geography. For now, though, let’s start with the basic ones, or at least the ones the rest of the world is mainly exposed to. 

Everyday British Slang (Non-specific)

Here’s a list of the most common British slang and what they mean:

Different Slangs From Different Parts of the United Kingdom

As promised, here are several different dialects and their most common slang. 

Scotland

Scotland in the northern UK is known for its bagpipes, whisky, funny little skirts called kilts, iconic vistas, and medieval castles. Its people are also known for their unique accent, which stands out from the typical London dialect. Of course, their slangs have their flavor, too. Here are the most common ones: 

Northern England

Northern England includes Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Geordie (Newcastle) dialects, known for their warmth and distinctive phrases. Most of these are still technically English, but you’d never know from how different they look and sound. 

The Newcastle upon Tyne (Geordie) variant, in particular, is one of the most difficult-to-understand accents in the UK. Go to YouTube and search for an example; it’ll be an English experience unlike anything you’ve ever had. 

Yorkshire

Geordie (Newcastle)

Lancashire

Wales

Like Scotland, Wales has many castles, natural locations, and coastlines that snag the eye and entrance senses. The country also has sheep—a lot of them. 

By the latest estimates, Wales has three times as many sheep as humans. That has nothing to do with their dialect or slang (except for a particular derogatory term about Welsh people that I don’t care to repeat), but I like to throw in interesting trivia now and then. 

West Country (Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, Dorset)

The West Country contains the world’s most famous collection of piled-up stones: Stonehenge. 

I phrase it as such because most people are disinterested in Stonehenge, and, to be fair, such an achievement in this day and age is pretty mundane. But if we consider that prehistoric people did this with ropes, round logs, and rough tools, and each stone weighed an average of 25 tons, then the achievement stands for itself—much like the big stones there. Anyway, here’s the common slang in that region: 

Northern Ireland

When people hear Ireland, most think about St. Patrick’s Day. However, there’s more to the country than wearing green to join parades. 

Ireland is divided into two countries: the Republic of Ireland, which is a separate entity from the United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland, which is a constituent of the UK, like Wales and Scotland.  

Speaking of Scots, the Irish and Scottish accents have long been mistaken for one another. The former is softer and mild, while the latter has longer vowels and can sound harsher to listeners. 

Further differences between the two are evident in their common slang. Here are some Irish ones:

So, now that you have an idea of the differences between British and American slang, you’ll be well ahead when reading a British tabloid or newspaper. And, of course, if you have any doubts about a particular sentence or paragraph, don’t hesitate to paste it into our handy-dandy British-to-American slang converter above, and we’ll do the rest.

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