WordSubstitution

Revision 76 as of 2006-09-12 09:07:06

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Most en-US to en-GB translation work involves making simple word substitutions. Below is an attempt to create a comprehensive list of translations. Please use our [https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-l10n-eng mailing list] to discuss any changes that you wish to make before committing them.

The information contained in this table may be used as data for an automated translation tool, such as our Greasemonkey script (available on the [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/EnglishTranslation front page]).

In some cases, the spelling or use of particular words depends on context. The Ask? column indicates that the user should be questioned prior to the change being made. If it is empty, that word can be substituted without question.

Note that merely making word substitutions is not enough to perform a full translation. Grammar, style and punctuation are just as important, and must be dealt with manually.

  • en-US Spelling

    English Translation

    Ask?

    Explanation

    acronym

    initialism

    Y

    acronyms are pronunced as words (e.g. NATO); initialisms consist of initial letters pronounced separately (e.g. BBC)

    adapter

    adaptor

    adrenalin

    adrenaline

    agenda

    agendum

    Y

    'agendum' is the singular form; 'agenda' is the plural

    airplane

    aeroplane

    already

    Y

    some en-us speakers nonsensically add 'already' to the end of sentences => remove

    aluminum

    aluminium

    en_US usage is based on the brand Aluminum, en_GB based on the element

    analog

    analogue

    analyze

    analyse

    analyzed

    analysed

    analyzer

    analyser

    analyzing

    analysing

    anchor

    newsreader

    Y

    someone who reads the news on television/radio

    anemia

    anaemia

    anesthesia

    anaesthesia

    anesthesiologist

    anaesthetist

    anesthetic

    anaesthetic

    annex

    annexe

    Y

    verb: 'annex'; noun: 'annexe'

    antennas

    antennae

    anymore

    any more

    archeology

    archaeology

    armor

    armour

    ass

    arse

    Y

    'ass' means 'donkey'; 'arse' is a vulgar word for the buttocks

    artifact

    artefact

    authorization

    authorisation

    authorizational

    authorisational

    authorize

    authorise

    authorized

    authorised

    authorizing

    authorising

    automobile

    motorcar

    ax

    axe

    backward

    backwards

    Y

    use 'backward' only as an adjective

    barnyard

    farmyard

    basicly

    basically

    bathroom

    toilet

    Y

    when referring to a WC, not a room with a bath

    beet

    beetroot

    behavior

    behaviour

    behoove

    behove

    bill

    note

    Y

    "a £100 note"

    binder clip

    bulldog clip

    bobsled

    bobsleigh

    boogey

    bogey

    braces

    curly brackets

    Y

    'braces' could mean a type of orthodontic treatment

    braked

    broke

    broil

    grill

    buddy

    mate

    bullhorn

    megaphone

    burned

    burnt

    bum

    homeless person

    Y

    'bum' can also mean 'buttocks'

    cafe

    café

    caliber

    calibre

    canceled

    cancelled

    canceling

    cancelling

    candy

    sweet

    Y

    candy bar

    chocolate bar

    Y

    canned

    tinned

    Y

    capitalization

    capitalisation

    capitalize

    capitalise

    capitalized

    capitalised

    capitalizing

    capitalising

    carburetor

    carburettor

    cart

    trolley

    Y

    "a shopping trolley"

    case insensitive

    case-insensitive

    case sensitive

    case-sensitive

    caster

    castor

    catalog

    catalogue

    CCW

    ACW

    Y

    CCW as in Counter-clockwise

    chapstick

    lip balm

    centimeter

    centimetre

    center

    centre

    centered

    centred

    centering

    centring

    cesium

    caesium

    check

    cheque

    Y

    "a bank cheque"

    check

    tick

    Y

    tick the box

    checkbox

    tickbox

    checked

    chequered

    Y

    "a game of chequers", "a chequered floor"

    checked

    ticked

    Y

    "the box is ticked"

    checker

    chequer

    checkerboard

    chequerboard

    checkered

    chequered

    chips

    crisps

    Y

    cipher

    cypher

    coffee shop

    café

    color

    colour

    colored

    coloured

    colorer

    colourer

    colorful

    colourful

    coloring

    colouring

    colorkey

    colour-key

    colorspace

    colour-space

    congress

    parliament

    Y

    congressman

    Member of Parliament, MP

    Y

    cookie

    biscuit

    Y

    cooperate

    co-operate

    coordinate

    co-ordinate

    cotton candy

    candy floss

    counterclockwise

    anti-clockwise

    counter-clockwise

    anti-clockwise

    coupe

    coupé

    coveralls

    overalls

    cozy

    cosy

    curb

    kerb

    curriculums

    curricula

    customize

    customise

    customized

    customised

    customizing

    customising

    dealed

    dealt

    defense

    defence

    dialed

    dialled

    dialer

    dialler

    dialing

    dialling

    dialog

    dialogue

    diaper

    nappy

    diarrhea

    diarrhoea

    digitization

    digitisation

    digitize

    digitise

    digitized

    digitised

    digitizer

    digitiser

    digitizing

    digitising

    dishrag

    dish cloth

    dishtowel

    tea towel

    disk

    disc

    Y

    If describing a round object (e.g. a CD or DVD), use 'disc'. Otherwise, use 'disk'.

    disorganized

    disorganised

    distill

    distil

    downspout

    drainpipe

    downward

    downwards

    Y

    use 'downward' only as an adjective

    Dr.

    Dr

    Y

    Only use a full stop if the final letter of the abbreviation is not the final letter of the word it is abbreviating. So, "Doctor" = "Dr" but "Drive" = "Dr."

    draft

    draught

    dreamed

    dreamt

    drugstore

    pharmacy

    dumpster

    skip

    eastward

    eastwards

    Y

    use 'eastward' only as an adjective

    eggplant

    aubergine

    email

    e-mail

    The e in e-mail is pronounced as a distinct letter rather than as part of the following word. If it were the latter, the pronunciation would be merged with the following letter, in this case the letter m. The first syllable is pronounced ee, not em.

    emails

    e-mail

    encyclopedia

    encyclopaedia

    endeavor

    endeavour

    England

    Britain

    Y

    a common mistake amongst some Americans is to refer to the whole island as "England"

    English

    British

    Y

    a common mistake amongst some Americans is to refer to the whole island as "England"

    enology

    oenology

    equaled

    equalled

    equaling

    equalling

    equalize

    equalise

    equalized

    equalised

    equalizer

    equaliser

    equalizing

    equalising

    esophagus

    oesophagus

    esthetics

    aesthetics

    estrogen

    oestrogen

    expressway

    motorway

    fag

    homosexual

    Y

    'fag' means 'cigarette' in en-GB

    fall

    autumn

    Y

    fanny

    buttocks

    Y

    'fanny' is a vulgar word

    fanny pack

    bum bag

    faucet

    tap

    favor

    favour

    favored

    favoured

    favoring

    favouring

    favorite

    favourite

    fetus

    foetus

    fiber

    fibre

    filet

    fillet

    fill out

    fill in

    flashlight

    torch

    flatware

    cutlery

    flavor

    flavour

    flavored

    flavoured

    flavoring

    flavouring

    forever

    for ever

    Y

    In en_GB, 'for ever' means for eternity (or a very long time), as in "I have been waiting for you for ever." 'Forever' means continually, always, as in "They are forever arguing."

    formulas

    formulae

    forums

    fora

    forward

    forwards

    Y

    use 'forward' only as an adjective

    forward slash

    slash

    redundant: a slash is 'forward' by definition

    freeway

    motorway

    french fries

    hot chips

    freshman

    fresher

    fries

    chips

    fueled

    fuelled

    fueling

    fuelling

    furor

    furore

    gas

    petrol

    Y

    a common abbreviation for 'gasoline' is 'gas'

    gasoline

    petrol

    globalization

    globalisation

    globalizational

    globalisational

    globalize

    globalise

    globalized

    globalised

    globalizing

    globalising

    globaly

    globally

    glycerin

    glycerine

    gray

    grey

    guerilla

    guerrilla

    gynecology

    gynaecology

    hanged

    hung

    ?

    harbor

    harbour

    harboring

    harbouring

    hemophilia

    haemophilia

    hauler

    haulier

    hobo

    homeless person

    homeopathy

    homoeopathy

    honor

    honour

    honored

    honoured

    honoring

    honouring

    hood

    bonnet

    Y

    The lid of the engine compartment of a car.

    humor

    humour

    humored

    humoured

    humoring

    humouring

    infeasible

    unfeasible

    initialization

    initialisation

    initializational

    initialisational

    initialize

    initialise

    initialized

    initialised

    initializer

    initialiser

    initializing

    initialising

    inquire

    enquire

    Y

    enquire is to be used for general senses of 'ask', while inquire is reserved for uses meaning 'make a formal investigation'.

    inquiry

    enquiry

    Y

    enquire is to be used for general senses of 'ask', while inquire is reserved for uses meaning 'make a formal investigation'.

    insure

    ensure

    Y

    use 'ensure' unless talking about insurance

    internet

    Internet

    Y

    internet with a small i refers to an internetwork, a connection of two or more distinct computer networks. The Internet with a capital I is the largest such internetwork.

    internationalization

    internationalisation

    internationalizational

    internationalisational

    internationalize

    internationalise

    internationalized

    internationalised

    internationalizing

    internationalising

    jail

    gaol

    jello

    jelly

    jell-o

    jelly

    jelly

    jam

    Y

    in en_US, 'jelly' can mean 'jam'

    jeweled

    jewelled

    jeweler

    jeweller

    jewelery

    jewellery

    journaling

    journalling

    judgment

    judgement

    kilometer

    kilometre

    kiwi

    kiwifruit

    Y

    'kiwi' is a bird, not a fruit

    kneeled

    knelt

    labeled

    labelled

    labeler

    labeller

    labeling

    labelling

    labor

    labour

    labored

    laboured

    laboring

    labouring

    ladybug

    ladybird

    last name

    surname

    leaned

    leant

    leaped

    lept

    learned

    learnt

    leukemia

    leukaemia

    license

    licence

    Y

    'license' is a verb, 'licence' is a noun

    license plate

    number plate

    licorice

    liquorice

    lighted

    lit

    liter

    litre

    localization

    localisation

    localizational

    localisational

    localize

    localise

    localized

    localised

    localizing

    localising

    mail

    post

    Y

    mailbox

    letterbox

    mailman

    postman

    mail slot

    letterbox

    math

    maths

    medieval

    mediaeval

    meter

    metre

    Y

    are we referring to the measurement unit or a measuring device?

    micrometer

    micrometre

    milliliter

    millilitre

    millimeter

    millimetre

    minimize

    minimise

    minimized

    minimised

    minimizing

    minimising

    misspelled

    misspelt

    modeled

    modelled

    modeler

    modeller

    modeling

    modelling

    mold

    mould

    molt

    moult

    mom

    mum

    momma

    mumma

    mommy

    mummy

    mom-and-pop

    mum-and-dad

    most

    almost

    Y

    some en-us speakers erroneously use 'most' to mean 'almost'

    movie

    film

    movies

    cinema

    Y

    movies

    films

    Y

    Mr.

    Mr

    Y

    Only use a full stop if the final letter of the abbreviation is not the final letter of the word it is abbreviating. So, "Mister" = "Mr".

    Mrs.

    Mrs

    Y

    Only use a full stop if the final letter of the abbreviation is not the final letter of the word it is abbreviating. So, "Missus" = "Mrs".

    Ms.

    Ms

    Y

    The title, "Ms", is not an abbreviation.

    mustache

    moustache

    nanometer

    nanometre

    neighbor

    neighbour

    neighboring

    neighbouring

    neuron

    neurone

    newsdealer

    newsagent

    normalcy

    normality

    northward

    northwards

    Y

    use 'northward' only as an adjective

    offense

    offence

    off of

    off

    oftentimes

    often

    onward

    onwards

    Y

    use 'onward' only as an adjective

    optimization

    optimisation

    optimizational

    optimisational

    optimize

    optimise

    optimized

    optimised

    optimizing

    optimising

    organization

    organisation

    organizational

    organisational

    organize

    organise

    organized

    organised

    organizer

    organiser

    organizing

    organising

    ornery

    irritable

    orthopedic

    orthopaedic

    ouster

    ousting

    pacifier

    dummy

    pajamas

    pyjamas

    paneled

    panelled

    paneling

    panelling

    pants

    trousers

    Y

    'pants' are an undergarment

    pantyhose

    tights

    parentheses

    brackets

    parenthesis

    bracket

    parking lot

    car park

    pediatric

    paediatric

    period

    full stop

    Y

    persnickety

    pernickety

    picometer

    picometre

    plow

    plough

    pop

    dad

    Y

    popsicle

    ice lolly

    porch

    veranda

    Y

    a 'porch' is a covered structure in front of the entrance to a building, but not a veranda

    postpend

    suffix

    pound sign

    hash

    practise

    practice

    Y

    'practise' is a verb, 'practice' is a noun

    premiere

    première

    prepend

    prefix

    program

    programme

    Y

    Contextual: use 'program' in computing contexts, and 'programme' everywhere else (e.g. a computer program, a television programme)

    proved

    proven

    Y

    pry

    prise

    Y

    To open/lift something. 'Pry' means to ask questions.

    quint

    quin

    railroad

    railway

    rappel

    abseil

    realator

    real estate agent

    recognizable

    recognisable

    recognize

    recognise

    recognized

    recognised

    resume

    CV

    Y

    common misspelling of résumé => curriculum vitae

    résumé

    CV

    Y

    curriculum vitae

    route

    round

    Y

    a set of regular visits that you make to a number of places or people, especially in order to deliver products as part of your job

    routing

    routeing

    Y

    Present participle of 'to route'. Don't change if referring to 'rout'.

    row house

    terraced house

    rumor

    rumour

    rumored

    rumoured

    saber

    sabre

    sailboat

    sailing boat

    sanitarium

    sanitorium

    Santa Claus

    Father Christmas

    scalawag

    scallywag

    scepter

    sceptre

    serialization

    serialisation

    serializational

    serialisational

    serialize

    serialise

    serialized

    serialised

    serializing

    serialising

    shivaree

    charivari

    sidewalk

    pavement

    signaled

    signalled

    signaling

    signalling

    simultanous

    simultaneous

    skeptic

    sceptic

    skeptical

    sceptical

    skepticism

    scepticism

    sled

    sleigh

    sneakers

    trainers

    snicker

    snigger

    soapbox

    podium

    soccer

    football

    soda

    soft drink

    Y

    solitaire

    patience

    Y

    the card game

    southward

    southwards

    Y

    use 'southward' only as an adjective

    specialization

    specialisation

    specializational

    specialisational

    specialize

    specialise

    specialized

    specialised

    specializing

    specialising

    specialty

    speciality

    spelled

    spelt

    specter

    spectre

    spider

    spyder

    Y

    For a two-seat convertible car.

    spilled

    spilt

    spoiled

    spoilt

    St

    St.

    Y

    'St' = 'Saint' and 'St.' = 'Street'

    St.

    St

    Y

    'St' = 'Saint' and 'St.' = 'Street'

    standardize

    standardise

    stickshift

    gear stick

    story

    storey

    Y

    Level of a building.

    stories

    storeys

    Y

    Levels of a building.

    streetcar

    tram

    stroller

    pram

    sulfur

    sulphur

    sulfurous

    sulphurous

    summarization

    summarisation

    summarizational

    summarisational

    summarize

    summarise

    summarized

    summarised

    summarizing

    summarising

    sweater

    jumper

    Y

    symbolization

    symbolisation

    symbolizational

    symbolisational

    symbolize

    symbolise

    symbolized

    symbolised

    symbolizing

    symbolising

    synchronization

    synchronisation

    synchronizational

    synchronisational

    synchronize

    synchronise

    synchronized

    synchronised

    synchronizing

    synchronising

    synthesize

    synthesise

    tailpipe

    exhaust pipe

    taliban

    taleban

    spelling used by the UK press

    teleprompter

    autocue

    templatization

    templatisation

    templatizational

    templatisational

    templatize

    templatise

    templatized

    templatised

    templatizing

    templatising

    theater

    theatre

    thumbtack

    drawing pin

    tic-tac-toe

    noughts and crosses

    tidbit

    titbit

    tire

    tyre

    Y

    Rubber part of a wheel.

    totaled

    totalled

    totaler

    totaller

    totaling

    totalling

    toward

    towards

    Y

    use 'toward' only as an adjective

    trackless trolley

    trolleybus

    transportation

    transport

    trash

    wastebasket

    truck

    lorry

    Y

    trunk

    boot

    Y

    The luggage compartment of a car.

    turnpike

    toll road

    tuxedo

    dinner jacket

    undershirt

    singlet

    unauthorized

    unauthorised

    uninitialization

    uninitialisation

    uninitializational

    uninitialisational

    uninitialize

    uninitialise

    uninitialized

    uninitialised

    uninitializing

    uninitialising

    unorganized

    unorganised

    unrecognizable

    unrecognisable

    unrecognized

    unrecognised

    upcoming

    forthcoming

    upscale

    upmarket

    upward

    upwards

    Y

    use 'upward' only as an adjective

    useable

    usable

    utilization

    utilisation

    utilize

    utilise

    utilized

    utilised

    utilizing

    utilising

    vacation

    holiday

    vacationer

    holidaymaker

    vapor

    vapour

    vectorization

    vectorisation

    vectorizational

    vectorisational

    vectorize

    vectorise

    vectorizer

    vectoriser

    vise

    vice

    web

    Web

    Y

    Capitalised when referring to the World Wide Web (e.g. a Web browser).

    westward

    westwards

    Y

    use 'westward' only as an adjective

    windshield

    windscreen

    yogurt

    yoghurt

    zee

    zed

    Y

    Phonetic spelling of the 26th letter of the English alphabet.

    ZIP code

    postcode

    zucchini

    courgette

    Y


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