Learning American (2 Viewers)

[The General]

Whether you're an Aussie, a Kiwi or a Pom, no matter how much U.S. television you've seen, you'll still find it hard to order food in the States.

Here are some examples that might entertain you blokes:

I asked for a lemonade on the plane and the hostie (flight attendant) said they didn't have any. She gave me a 7UP instead. I laughed because that's what lemonade is in Australia.

In McDonalds here we have Quarter Pounder "burgers" but in the U.S. they were called Quarter Pounder "sandwiches". In Oz, sandwiches are two slices of bread with ham and cheese or something like that on it.

I've heard of fried or boiled but in America they have "broiled". What is broiled?

What we call a tomato and cheese roll they call a tomato and cheese sub. Speaking of cheese... in Oz it's yellow but in America it's orange.

What we call biscuits they call cookies, what we call scones they call biscuits, jam is called jelly, capsicums are called peppers and prawns are shrimp.

While we're at it, I've always heard the term "collared (?) greens" in American movies. What are they?

These are just the things I can think of. There's tons more.

In addition it was weird being able to buy alcohol in supermarkets too.

Have any of you blokes ever been overseas to another English speaking nation and found things a little different?

 

[vandilay]

I,ve come across a few in my travels , but fanny pack sticks in my mind for some reason .

 

[Rutledge]

Ive been to Engalnd and Scotland. Plenty of differences. French fries are "chips" over there. (not that I ever eat those unhealthy things! )

In the US we sometime use the word buddy or pal. In Scotland they say "lads", in England "blokes" and in Australia I believe its "mates". Something like that, anyway.

Shoot, even here in the US we have different "dailects". I lived in Minneapolis for a few years. Down South we say "brownies" but Minnesotans call them "bahs" (bars). Parking decks are ramps up there. There are many more.

 

[gk5717]

Yo dog, wass up wit dat!
Is you trippin dude?
Man, I be fittin to go, me and my patna Pookey, gotta hit my other crib cause the po po is at my doa.
Gary

 

[thebritfarmer]

Whether you're an Aussie, a Kiwi or a Pom, no matter how much U.S. television you've seen, you'll still find it hard to order food in the States.

Here are some examples that might entertain you blokes:

I asked for a lemonade on the plane and the hostie (flight attendant) said they didn't have any. She gave me a 7UP instead. I laughed because that's what lemonade is in Australia.

In McDonalds here we have Quarter Pounder "burgers" but in the U.S. they were called Quarter Pounder "sandwiches". In Oz, sandwiches are two slices of bread with ham and cheese or something like that on it.

I've heard of fried or boiled but in America they have "broiled". What is broiled?

What we call a tomato and cheese roll they call a tomato and cheese sub. Speaking of cheese... in Oz it's yellow but in America it's orange.

What we call biscuits they call cookies, what we call scones they call biscuits, jam is called jelly, capsicums are called peppers and prawns are shrimp.

While we're at it, I've always heard the term "collared (?) greens" in American movies. What are they?

These are just the things I can think of. There's tons more.

In addition it was weird being able to buy alcohol in supermarkets too.

Have any of you blokes ever been overseas to another English speaking nation and found things a little different?

Broiled is what we would call grilled.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Here's a few more

American English

Suspenders Braces
Sucker Lolly
Pail Bucket
Parking Lot Car park (this makes people chuckle a lot for some reason)
Yard Garden
Chips Crisps
Aluminum Aluminium
Wrench Spanner
Pen Biro
Truck Lorry
Dumpster Skip


I am sure there are many more but I am drawing a blank at the moment.

 

[UK_BOD]

How about fly-tipping?

 

[thebritfarmer]

How about fly-tipping?

Not the same as cow tipping LOL I don't think there is a word for it over here, just littering.

 

[Spitfrnd]

Whether you're an Aussie, a Kiwi or a Pom, no matter how much U.S. television you've seen, you'll still find it hard to order food in the States.

LOL, good laugh mate but I thought it merited a few notations.

I asked for a lemonade on the plane and the hostie (flight attendant) said they didn't have any. She gave me a 7UP instead. I laughed because that's what lemonade is in Australia.

That is interesting indeed. Lemonade is lemon juice, water and sugar; 7UP is "filtered carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, natural citric acid, natural flavors, natural potassium citrate". Why in the world do you blokes call that lemonade?

In McDonalds here we have Quarter Pounder "burgers" but in the U.S. they were called Quarter Pounder "sandwiches". In Oz, sandwiches are two slices of bread with ham and cheese or something like that on it.

Well the menu may call them sandwiches but most of us call them burgers as well. We call sandwiches what you describe as such in Oz.

I've heard of fried or boiled but in America they have "broiled". What is broiled?

Broiling (North American English) or grilling (British and Australian English) is a process of cooking food with high heat with the heat applied directly to the food, most commonly from above. Grilling in American English generally refers to cooking done over an open flame on a grid-iron.

What we call a tomato and cheese roll they call a tomato and cheese sub. Speaking of cheese... in Oz it's yellow but in America it's orange.

So called "American" cheese is processed, yellow and relatively tasteless. We are not all barbarians here however and many of us eat "real" cheese which is white to yellow as well.

What we call biscuits they call cookies, what we call scones they call biscuits, jam is called jelly, capsicums are called peppers and prawns are shrimp.

Our cookies are different from what I think of as your biscuits but I think the terms overlap a bit. We call scones, scones, I have never heard them called biscuits, where were you when that happened? We do differentiate between jam and jelly. We use jam to describe whole fruit, cut into pieces or crushed and heated with water and sugar to activate the pectin. Jelly is made by a similar process, with the additional step of filtering out the fruit pulp after the initial heating. So we put both on our toast, depending on rather you prefer bits of fruit in your spread. We also have both shrimp and prawns, what ever happened to "shrimp on the barbie"?

While we're at it, I've always heard the term "collared (?) greens" in American movies. What are they?

Collards are various loose-leafed plants of the same species that produces cabbage and broccoli. The plant is grown for its large, dark-colored, edible leaves and as a garden ornamental, mainly in Brazil, the Southern US, many parts of Africa and Spain. They are quite similar to kale and spring greens. The plant is various things in different countries but the name collard is said to derive from Angelo-Saxon coleworts or colewyrts ("cabbage plants").

In addition it was weird being able to buy alcohol in supermarkets too.

It is weird but depends on state (and county) law and generally only extends to beer and wine.

I do hope you really enjoy your visit and continue with your Southern hemispheric based observations. I know I would like to get to your beautiful country one of these days.

 

[theBaron]

If I may, some responses

Whether you're an Aussie, a Kiwi or a Pom, no matter how much U.S. television you've seen, you'll still find it hard to order food in the States.

Here are some examples that might entertain you blokes:

I asked for a lemonade on the plane and the hostie (flight attendant) said they didn't have any. She gave me a 7UP instead. I laughed because that's what lemonade is in Australia.

Right, we make lemonade from lemons . In Germany, though, they name it the way you do, Limonade is what we would call lemon soda, like 7-Up.

In McDonalds here we have Quarter Pounder "burgers" but in the U.S. they were called Quarter Pounder "sandwiches". In Oz, sandwiches are two slices of bread with ham and cheese or something like that on it.

Same here, a sandwich is generally two pieces of bread, with something in between. "Hamburgers" used to be called "hamburger sandwiches", back in the day, which was even shorter for "Hamburger steak sandwich", Hamburger steak being ground beef formed into a patty.

I think McDonald's started calling it a sandwich because it sounds better than "hamburger" to more health-conscious folks.

I've heard of fried or boiled but in America they have "broiled". What is broiled?

That ought to be the same in Oz as here, it's something placed under a broiler. Most home ovens have a broiler installed, and most restaurant kitchens have one. Sort of grilling upside down, the heat source is above the food, instead of underneath.

What we call a tomato and cheese roll they call a tomato and cheese sub. Speaking of cheese... in Oz it's yellow but in America it's orange.

Actually, it's also called a hoagie, especially here in our corner of the world (Southeast PA), or a hero sandwich. The most widely accepted origin of the name "hoagie" comes from Italian immigrant workers in Philadelphia in the 20's, working on Hog Island in the harbor there. People asked for the sandwiches like the men at Hog Island ate, and the Italians pronounced "Hog" with a long O, and a Hog Island sandwich became a "hoagie".

As to cheese color, it all depends on the type of cheese. I think they all start out white or off-white, but some have coloring added

What we call biscuits they call cookies, what we call scones they call biscuits, jam is called jelly, capsicums are called peppers and prawns are shrimp.

For "cookies", we have the Dutch to thank (from "koekje" "little cake"). But we do distinguish between jam and jelly. Properly, jam is fruit in thick sugary syrup, and jelly is clear, made from fruit juice.

While we're at it, I've always heard the term "collared (?) greens" in American movies. What are they?

These are just the things I can think of. There's tons more.

In addition it was weird being able to buy alcohol in supermarkets too.

That depends on the state you live in. Here in PA, we have state control of alcohol sales (I'll never vote for Tom Ridge-he promised to abolish the Liquor Control Board but backed down from the employee union and the beer distributors' associations). We can only buy alcohol from distributors (for beer), from state stores (for wine and spirits), and from bars or restaurants that have a license to sell bottles or six-packs. There are exceptions for wineries or for breweries, too. And one supermarket chain is now selling beer on its premises, but they had to do a little legal two-step to do it (Wegman's-they sell beer at the Bethlehem store, out of their takeout cafe area. The beer distributors sued and lost.)

Guys from Jersey, help me out-can you buy beer in grocery stores, or only in the beer and spirits stores? Down in Delaware, they have beer and spirits stores, too, and I don't know if they sell beer in grocery stores. In Virginia, they're so civilized, the grocery stores sell beer, the beer aisles have a better selection than many of our distributors here in PA.

Have any of you blokes ever been overseas to another English speaking nation and found things a little different?

Here's one for you, General--why is someone with red hair called "Blue"?

Prost!
Brad

 

[theBaron]

Ha! I didn't see Spitfrnd's post, sorry for being repetitive!

Help stamp out and abolish redundancy!

 

[Wraith]

Yo dog, wass up wit dat!
Is you trippin dude?
Man, I be fittin to go, me and my patna Pookey, gotta hit my other crib cause the po po is at my doa.
Gary

Funnily enough, I understand that perfectly. It's what I would describe as the 'Alternate Queens English'.
Innit.

 

[Leadmen]

Chicago has their own way of speaking. John

CHICAGO SLANG


1. Grachki (grach'-key): Chicagoese for "garage key" as in, "Yo, Theresa, waja do wit da grachki? Howmy supposta cut da grass if I don't git intada grach?"



2. Sammich: Chicagoese for sandwich. When made with sausage, it's a sassage sammich; when made with shredded beef, it's an Italian Beef sammich, a local delicacy consisting of piles of spicy meat in a perilously soggy bun.



3. Da: This article is a key part of Chicago speech, as in "Da Bears" or "Da Mare" -- the latter denoting Richard M. Daley, or Richie, as he's often called.



4. Jewels: Not family heirlooms or a tender body region, but a popular name for one of the region's dominant grocery store chains. "I'm goin' to the Jewels to pick up some sassage."



5. Field's: Marshall Field, a prominent Chicago department store. Also Carson Pirie Scott, another major department store chain, is simply called " Carson 's."



6. Tree: The number between two and four. "We were lucky dat we only got tree inches of snow da udder night."



7. Over by dere: Translates to "over by there," a way of emphasizing a site presumed familiar to the listener. As in, "I got the sassage at the Jewels down on Kedzie, over by dere."



8. Kaminski Park : The mispronounced name of the ballpark where the Chicago White Sox (da Sox) play baseball. Comiskey Park was renamed U.S. Cellular Field (da Cell)



9. Frunchroom: As in, "Get outta da frunchroom wit dose muddy shoes." It's not the "parlor." It's not the "living room." In the land of the bungalow, it's the "frunchroom," a named derived, linguists believe, from "front room."



10. Use: Not the verb, but the plural pronoun 'you!' "Where use goin'?"



11. Downtown: Anywhere near The Lake, south of The Zoo (Lincoln Park Zoo)

and north of Soldier Field.



12. The Lake: Lake Michigan (What other lake is there?) It's often used by local weathermen, "cooler by The Lake."



14. Braht: Short for Bratwurst. "Gimme a braht wit kraut."



15. Goes: Past or present tense of the verb "say." For example, "Den he goes, 'I like this place'!"



16. Guys: Used when addressing two or more people, regardless of each individual's gender.



17. Pop: A soft drink Don't say "soda" in this town. "Do ya wanna canna pop?"



18. Sliders: Nickname for hamburgers from White Castle , a popular Midwestern burger chain. "Dose sliders I had last night gave me da runs."



19. The Taste: The Taste of Chicago Festival, a huge extravaganza in Grant Park featuring samples of Chicagoland cuisine which takes place each year around the Fourth of July holiday.



20. "Jeetyet?": Translates to, "Did you eat yet?"



21. Winter and Construction: Punch line to the joke, "What are the two seasons in Chicago ?"



22. Cuppa Too-Tree: is Chicagoese for "a couple, two, three" which really means "a few." For example, "Hey Mike, dere any beerz left in da cooler over by dere?"

"Yeh, a cuppa too-tree."



23. 588-2300: Everyone in Chicago knows this commercial jingle and the carpet company you'll get if you call that number -- Empire!



24. Junk Dror: You will usually find the 'junk drawer' in the kitchen filled to the brim with miscellaneous, but very important, junk.



25. Southern Illinois : Anything south of I-80. This is where Smothers' is from....



26. Expressways: The Interstates in the immediate Chicagoland area are usually known just by their 'name' and not their Interstate number: the Dan Ryan ("da Ryan"), the Stevenson, the Kennedy (da "Kennedy"), the Eisenhower (da "Ike"), and the Edens (just "Edens" but Da Edens" is acceptable).



27. Gym Shoes: The rest of the country may refer to them as sneakers or running shoes but Chicagoans will always call them gym shoes! =============

 

[The General]

Broiled is what we would call grilled.

Really? Bummer, I would have ordered a "broiled chicken sandwich" if I had known that it was really a "grilled chicken burger".

 

[Gideon]

Collard Greens is a down south home cookin dish using large green leaves like cale and other greens chopped up and cooked soft with bits of pork, seasoning and lard. It's really good.

Hamburger sandwiches? I've never heard of that - my whole life, it's been hamburgers and burgers.

Broil is like grilled but in an oven instead of the grill. It's like putting the stove compartment on super cook. Meat sits in a dish and cooks at high temperature in its own juices. I think the temp is like 550 or something.

You can buy beer in most supermarkets and corner stores in most states except for PA. It's really frustrating. No singles here!

 

[theBaron]

Hi, Gideon, I think you're thinking of braising, rather than broiling. Braising is to cook a piece of meat in a container with its own juices or other liquid, like putting veal shanks in cast iron pot with some stock, and putting that in the oven. Broiling is definitely similar to grilling.

Speaking of ovens, I've got leftover meat loaf warming in mine, mmmmmmmmmm-meat loaf, aghlghlghlghlghlghlghlghlghlghlghl!

 

[theBaron]

Chicago has their own way of speaking. John

CHICAGO SLANG


1. Grachki (grach'-key): Chicagoese for "garage key" as in, "Yo, Theresa, waja do wit da grachki? Howmy supposta cut da grass if I don't git intada grach?"



2. Sammich: Chicagoese for sandwich. When made with sausage, it's a sassage sammich; when made with shredded beef, it's an Italian Beef sammich, a local delicacy consisting of piles of spicy meat in a perilously soggy bun.



3. Da: This article is a key part of Chicago speech, as in "Da Bears" or "Da Mare" -- the latter denoting Richard M. Daley, or Richie, as he's often called.



4. Jewels: Not family heirlooms or a tender body region, but a popular name for one of the region's dominant grocery store chains. "I'm goin' to the Jewels to pick up some sassage."



5. Field's: Marshall Field, a prominent Chicago department store. Also Carson Pirie Scott, another major department store chain, is simply called " Carson 's."



6. Tree: The number between two and four. "We were lucky dat we only got tree inches of snow da udder night."



7. Over by dere: Translates to "over by there," a way of emphasizing a site presumed familiar to the listener. As in, "I got the sassage at the Jewels down on Kedzie, over by dere."



8. Kaminski Park : The mispronounced name of the ballpark where the Chicago White Sox (da Sox) play baseball. Comiskey Park was renamed U.S. Cellular Field (da Cell)



9. Frunchroom: As in, "Get outta da frunchroom wit dose muddy shoes." It's not the "parlor." It's not the "living room." In the land of the bungalow, it's the "frunchroom," a named derived, linguists believe, from "front room."



10. Use: Not the verb, but the plural pronoun 'you!' "Where use goin'?"



11. Downtown: Anywhere near The Lake, south of The Zoo (Lincoln Park Zoo)

and north of Soldier Field.



12. The Lake: Lake Michigan (What other lake is there?) It's often used by local weathermen, "cooler by The Lake."



14. Braht: Short for Bratwurst. "Gimme a braht wit kraut."



15. Goes: Past or present tense of the verb "say." For example, "Den he goes, 'I like this place'!"



16. Guys: Used when addressing two or more people, regardless of each individual's gender.



17. Pop: A soft drink Don't say "soda" in this town. "Do ya wanna canna pop?"



18. Sliders: Nickname for hamburgers from White Castle , a popular Midwestern burger chain. "Dose sliders I had last night gave me da runs."



19. The Taste: The Taste of Chicago Festival, a huge extravaganza in Grant Park featuring samples of Chicagoland cuisine which takes place each year around the Fourth of July holiday.



20. "Jeetyet?": Translates to, "Did you eat yet?"



21. Winter and Construction: Punch line to the joke, "What are the two seasons in Chicago ?"



22. Cuppa Too-Tree: is Chicagoese for "a couple, two, three" which really means "a few." For example, "Hey Mike, dere any beerz left in da cooler over by dere?"

"Yeh, a cuppa too-tree."



23. 588-2300: Everyone in Chicago knows this commercial jingle and the carpet company you'll get if you call that number -- Empire!



24. Junk Dror: You will usually find the 'junk drawer' in the kitchen filled to the brim with miscellaneous, but very important, junk.



25. Southern Illinois : Anything south of I-80. This is where Smothers' is from....



26. Expressways: The Interstates in the immediate Chicagoland area are usually known just by their 'name' and not their Interstate number: the Dan Ryan ("da Ryan"), the Stevenson, the Kennedy (da "Kennedy"), the Eisenhower (da "Ike"), and the Edens (just "Edens" but Da Edens" is acceptable).



27. Gym Shoes: The rest of the country may refer to them as sneakers or running shoes but Chicagoans will always call them gym shoes! =============

You can take dat to da benk, my frend!

 

[Deitz]

Chicago has their own way of speaking. John

CHICAGO SLANG


1. Grachki (grach'-key): Chicagoese for "garage key" as in, "Yo, Theresa, waja do wit da grachki? Howmy supposta cut da grass if I don't git intada grach?"



2. Sammich: Chicagoese for sandwich. When made with sausage, it's a sassage sammich; when made with shredded beef, it's an Italian Beef sammich, a local delicacy consisting of piles of spicy meat in a perilously soggy bun.



3. Da: This article is a key part of Chicago speech, as in "Da Bears" or "Da Mare" -- the latter denoting Richard M. Daley, or Richie, as he's often called.



4. Jewels: Not family heirlooms or a tender body region, but a popular name for one of the region's dominant grocery store chains. "I'm goin' to the Jewels to pick up some sassage."



5. Field's: Marshall Field, a prominent Chicago department store. Also Carson Pirie Scott, another major department store chain, is simply called " Carson 's."



6. Tree: The number between two and four. "We were lucky dat we only got tree inches of snow da udder night."



7. Over by dere: Translates to "over by there," a way of emphasizing a site presumed familiar to the listener. As in, "I got the sassage at the Jewels down on Kedzie, over by dere."



8. Kaminski Park : The mispronounced name of the ballpark where the Chicago White Sox (da Sox) play baseball. Comiskey Park was renamed U.S. Cellular Field (da Cell)



9. Frunchroom: As in, "Get outta da frunchroom wit dose muddy shoes." It's not the "parlor." It's not the "living room." In the land of the bungalow, it's the "frunchroom," a named derived, linguists believe, from "front room."



10. Use: Not the verb, but the plural pronoun 'you!' "Where use goin'?"



11. Downtown: Anywhere near The Lake, south of The Zoo (Lincoln Park Zoo)

and north of Soldier Field.



12. The Lake: Lake Michigan (What other lake is there?) It's often used by local weathermen, "cooler by The Lake."



14. Braht: Short for Bratwurst. "Gimme a braht wit kraut."



15. Goes: Past or present tense of the verb "say." For example, "Den he goes, 'I like this place'!"



16. Guys: Used when addressing two or more people, regardless of each individual's gender.



17. Pop: A soft drink Don't say "soda" in this town. "Do ya wanna canna pop?"



18. Sliders: Nickname for hamburgers from White Castle , a popular Midwestern burger chain. "Dose sliders I had last night gave me da runs."



19. The Taste: The Taste of Chicago Festival, a huge extravaganza in Grant Park featuring samples of Chicagoland cuisine which takes place each year around the Fourth of July holiday.



20. "Jeetyet?": Translates to, "Did you eat yet?"



21. Winter and Construction: Punch line to the joke, "What are the two seasons in Chicago ?"



22. Cuppa Too-Tree: is Chicagoese for "a couple, two, three" which really means "a few." For example, "Hey Mike, dere any beerz left in da cooler over by dere?"

"Yeh, a cuppa too-tree."



23. 588-2300: Everyone in Chicago knows this commercial jingle and the carpet company you'll get if you call that number -- Empire!



24. Junk Dror: You will usually find the 'junk drawer' in the kitchen filled to the brim with miscellaneous, but very important, junk.



25. Southern Illinois : Anything south of I-80. This is where Smothers' is from....



26. Expressways: The Interstates in the immediate Chicagoland area are usually known just by their 'name' and not their Interstate number: the Dan Ryan ("da Ryan"), the Stevenson, the Kennedy (da "Kennedy"), the Eisenhower (da "Ike"), and the Edens (just "Edens" but Da Edens" is acceptable).



27. Gym Shoes: The rest of the country may refer to them as sneakers or running shoes but Chicagoans will always call them gym shoes! =============

Hey, use guys, we call the Steveson Expressway, "Da Stevie".

How true on all of these, I was born and raised in Chicago.

Do not forgot if you are a true Chicagoan you can only root for one baseball team, "Da Sox" that minor league team on the Northside, don't count for nothin.

 

[Leadmen]

I agree. Never been to Wrigley Field. I guess the EL goes dare.

 

[Leadmen]

Few More:

This is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about Chicago .

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through
May, you live in Chicago


If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Chicago


If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in
Chicago .


If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you live in Chicago


If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of I-80 for the weekend, you live in Chicago .


If you measure distance in hours, you live in Chicago .


If you have switched from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back
again, you live in Chicago .


If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging
blizzard without flinching, you live in Chicago


If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you live in Chicago


If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in Chicago


If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph -- you're going 80 and
everybody is passing you, you live in Chicago


If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled
with snow, you live in Chicago .


If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and
road construction, you live in Chicago .


If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in Chicago


If you find 10 degrees "a little chilly", you live in Chicago .


If you actually understand these jokes, and forward them to all your
Chicago friends & others, you live or have lived in Chicago .