
People who come to the USA from India rarely have difficulty in communicating with Americans, because most speak fluent English or have received their education in English. However, Indians speak British English, and there are many differences between British English and American English.
Therefore, if you are not familiar with correct words, there may be some confusion while communicating. Sometimes, the spelling of the words may be the same but they are pronounced differently. For example, “schedule” is pronounced “skedule,” “route” is pronounced “raut,” and “vitamin” is pronounced “vaitamin.”
If the person you’re speaking with is having a hard time understanding, you may hear phrases like “pardon me,” “come again,” “I didn’t get you,” or “I’m sorry?”
The following dictionary helps you translate Indian English to American English. Words are given by categories; within each category, they are listed alphabetically.
Clothing | |
Indian English | American English |
Braces | Suspenders |
Half-pant | Shorts |
Half sleeves | Short sleeves |
Handbag | Purse, Pocketbook, Change purse |
Jumper | Sweater |
Ladders (in stockings) | Runs |
Neckerchief | Scarf |
Overcoat (light) | Topcoat, Coat, Jacket |
Overcoat (heavy) | Overcoat, Coat |
Oversize | Extra large |
Petticoat | Slip |
Pinafore dress | Jumper |
Polo-neck sweater | Turtle-neck sweater |
Purse | Wallet |
Sanitary towel | Sanitary napkin, pad |
Sports shoes | Sneakers, Athletic shoes, Running shoes |
Suspenders | Garters |
Swim costume | Swim suit |
Swim trunks | Swim suit |
Tights | Panty hose |
Trial room | Fitting room |
Trousers | Trousers, Pants, Slacks |
Vest | Under shirt |
Waistcoat | Vest |
Waist petticoat | Half slip |
Wind cheater | Wind breaker |

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Read ArticleEducation | |
Indian English | American English |
3rd standard | 3rd grade |
Be a student | Take a class |
Canteen | Cafeteria |
College | School |
Higher Secondary School | High School |
Invigilator | Proctor |
Marks | Grades |
Mark sheet | Grade card |
Primary school | Elementary school |
Private school | Public school (free) |
Public school | Private school (tuition charged) |
Secondary School | Junior High School |
Take a class | Teach a class |
University | School |
Food | |
Indian English | American English |
Biscuit | Cookie (if sweet), Cracker (if salty) |
Brinjal | Eggplant |
Brown bread | Whole wheat bread |
Bun | Biscuit |
Cafe (“kayf”) | Cafe (“kaf-ay'”) |
Capsicum | Bell pepper |
Chocolate, Lollipop, Sweet, Toffee | Candy |
Cold drink | Soda |
Coriander | Cilantro |
Curd | Yogurt |
Dry grapes | Raisins |
Filter coffee | Brewed coffee |
Finger chips | French fries |
French beans | Snow peas |
Garam masala | Curry |
Groundnuts | Peanuts |
Hotel | Restaurant (only for eating) Hotel (for staying and/or eating) |
Jelly | Gelatin |
Milk powder | Cream |
Nes-coffee | Instant coffee |
Lady fingers | Okra |
(Potato) wafers | (Potato) chips |
Saccrine | Artificial sweetener |
Soft drink | Soda |
Small pastries | Lady fingers |
Soda | Club soda |
Tomato sauce | Ketchup (tomato sauce is less sweet) |

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Read ArticleOther | |
Indian English | American English |
Aerial (for TV) | Antenna |
All year | All year or year-round |
American football (similar to Rugby in UK) | Football |
At weekends | On weekends |
Autumn | Fall |
Barrister | Trial lawyer |
Basin | Bowl (basin means bathroom sink) |
Bath | Shower (when you fill tub and sit to wash, it is a bath) |
Beggar | Panhandler |
Bookstall | Newsstand |
Bucket | Bucket or pail |
Camp bed | Cot or roll-away |
Chewing Gum | Gum |
Cell | Battery |
Cinema | Movie theater |
Clever | Smart or bright |
Cooling glass | Sunglasses |
Colony | Neighborhood |
Creche | Daycare |
Cricket (a game) | Cricket (an insect) |
Curriculum-vitae or Bio-data | Resume |
Current | Electricity |
Current account | Checking account |
Deposit account | Savings account |
Diary | Journal |
District or Taluk | County |
Doctor | Doctor or Physician |
Dustbin | Trash can |
Earth wire | Ground wire |
Flat | Apartment (“flats” mean shoes without high heels) |
Ex-serviceman | Veteran |
Football | Soccer |
Hoarding | Billboard |
Hotel | Restaurant |
Gang | Mob |
Garage | Garage, Shop, Service station |
Garbage | Trash |
Garden | Yard |
Give test | Take test |
Goods | Freight |
Goods wagon | Freight car, Container |
Gramophone | Phonograph, Turntable, Record player |
Grill | Broil |
Guest house | Motel |
Gum | Glue |
Goggles | Sunglasses |
IBM-Compatible | IBM-Clone |
Inflammable | Flammable |
Jug | Pitcher |
Kiosk | Booth |
Lawyer | Lawyer or Attorney |
Lift | Elevator |
Ltd. | Inc. |
Main city area | Downtown (most of the time), Uptown |
Mate | Friend (“mate” is used only for spouse) |
Mess | Dorm cafeteria |
Mixee | Mixer |
Multi-storey | High-rise, Skyscraper |
Nice | Nice, Cool |
Operation theatre | Operating room |
Perks | Perks, Fringe benefits, Benefits, Employment benefits |
Photograph | Picture |
Picture | Movie |
Plot of land | Lot |
Policeman | Policeman, Cop, Police officer |
Porter | Doorman |
Nappies | Diapers |
Notepad | Notepad, Scratchpad |
Ordinary share | Common stock |
Pack of cards | Deck of cards |
Paisa | Penny, One cent |
Past performance | Track record |
Pin code, postal code | ZIP code |
Point, Powerpoint | Outlet, Electrical outlet |
Postbox | Mailbox (for home/apartment)Postbox (for rented box located in post office) |
Pram Perambulator | Stroller |
Promenade | Boardwalk |
Race course | Race track, The track |
Queue | Line |
Restaurant bill | Restaurant check |
Rs. 20 Note | $20 Bill |
Rubber | Eraser (“rubber” is the slang for condom!) |
Snap | Picture |
Solicitor | Lawyer, Attorney |
Solid | Substantial |
Spectacles | Glasses |
Suitcase | Suitcase, Baggage, Bag |
Switchboard | Power strip (“switchboard” is for a telephone operator) |
Tap | Faucet |
Talkies | Movie theater |
Tea towel | Dish towel |
Timber | Timber, Lumber |
Tin (of food) | Can |
To dispatch | To ship |
To fix | To install |
Toilet | Restroom |
Torch | Flashlight |
To repair | To fix |
Trade union | Labor union |
Transistor | Radio |
Two-in-One | Boom box |
Washing clothes | Doing laundry |

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Buying from US vs Abroad
Read ArticlePronunciation Difference | |
Indian English | American English |
Carolina | Carolaina |
Regional | Riganal |
Schedule | Skedul |
Semi | Semai |
Vitamin | Vaitamin |
Shopping | |
Indian English | American English |
Bill | Check |
Carrier bag | Shopping bag |
Chemist | Drugstore, Pharmacy |
Cotton (reel of) | Thread |
Cotton wool | Absorbent cotton |
Dispensary | Drugstore, Pharmacy |
Drawing pins | Thumb tacks |
Expensive stores | Upscale stores |
Hair slide | Barrette |
Jumble sale | Garage sale, Yard sale |
Line of open shops, shopping center | Strip mall (“strip club” has a totally different meaning) |
Material (by yard) | Fabric |
Provision store | Grocery store |
Provision store man | Grocer |
Shop | Shop, Store |
Shop assistant | Salesclerk |
Shopping center | Mall |
Vegetable store | Grocery store |
Spelling Difference | |
Indian English | American English |
Cheque | Check |
Centre | Center |
Colour | Color |
Dialled | Dialed |
Grey | Gray |
Jewellery | Jewelry |
Labour | Labor |
Omelette | Omelet |
Programme | Program |
Theatre | Theater |
Travelling | Traveling |
Telephone | |
Indian English | American English |
Charge call | Collect call |
Directory | Phone book |
Personal call | Person-to-person |
Put the phone down | Hang up, Disconnect |
Mobile Phone | Cell Phone |
Reverse the charges | Collect call |
STD code | Area code |
STD/PCO | Public phone, Pay phone |
Telephone call | Phone call, Call |
To ring up | To call/to give |
To telephone | Buzz |
Trunk call | Long distance call |
Theater | |
Indian English | American English |
Dress circle | Mezzanine |
Houseful | Full house |
Gallery | Balcony |
Stalls | Orchestra |
Upper Circle | First balcony |

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Student Insurance FAQ
Read ArticleTransportation | |
Indian English | American English |
Accelerate the car | Step on the gas |
Air hostess | Flight attendant |
Bonnet | Hood |
Boot, dicky | Trunk |
Car accelerator | Gas pedal |
Car parking | Parking lot |
Caravan | Trailer or RV (recreational vehicle) |
Coach | Bus |
Cycle | Bike |
Diesel | Fuel |
Footpath | Sidewalk |
Flyover | Overpass |
Gear stick | Stick shift |
Highway | Freeway, Expressway, Interstate |
Lorry | Truck |
Motorcycle | Motor bike |
Motor ways | Freeways |
Mudguard/wing | Motor bike |
Number plate | License plate |
Overbridge | Overpass |
Pavement | Sidewalk |
Petrol | Gas |
Petrol pump | Gas station |
Punctured tire | Flat tire |
Railtrack | Railroad |
Return ticket | Round trip |
Silencer | Muffler (a “silencer” is used to quiet the sound of a gun) |
Signal | Signal, Traffic light |
Single ticket | One-way ticket |
Take a lift | Get a ride |
Taxi | Taxi, Cab |
Traffic signal | Traffic light |
Tram | Streetcar |
Underbridge | Underpass |
Underground | Subway |
Windscreen | Windshield |
Zebra Crossing | Crosswalk |
Technology | |
Indian English | American English |
Net | Internet |
Site | Web site |
Post | |
@ in email address = ‘at the rate’ | @ in email address = ‘at’ |
Idioms | |
Indian English | American English |
A place to park | Driveway |
A place to drive | Parkway |
Anti clockwise | Counter-clockwise |
Black money | Tax free, Undeclared income |
Bunk school | Skip class |
Convince someone | Talk someone into |
Dismissed (from job) | Fired (from job, for fault of employee) Laid off (from job, for no fault of employee) |
Fainted | Passed out |
Get down (from a bus) | Get off (of a bus) |
Give the car some race | Speed up the car |
How is everything? | How is it going? |
How are you? | How are you doing? |
I am angry at you | I am mad at you |
Indian | Indian – Native American East Indian – Person from India |
Intimate | Inform |
Issue a book (from the library) | Check out a book (from the library) |
Join duty | Report for work |
Let’s make a move | Let’s go |
Let’s push off | Let’s go |
Mess up | Screw up |
Passed out | Graduated |
Push the accelerator | Step on the gas |
Ring up (someone) | Call up (someone) |
Sleep in the afternoon | Nap |
Standing from a constituency | Running for an election |
Straight-away | Right away |
The line is engaged | It’s busy / I got a busy tone |
To appear in (give) a test | To take a test |
To be out of station | To be out of town |
Too good | Cool |
To post (a letter) | To mail (a letter) |
To submit | To turn in |
Very Close Relations | Intimate relations |
Washing up machine | Dishwasher |
Wash up | Do the dishes |
Wash your hands | Wash up |
What is time? | Do you have the time? |