When traveling, we often encounter words that have different meanings than what we were taught. I am especially aware of this when English is the first language. For example, in the US, Midwesterners call carbonated beverages “pop”, while in the South it is “coke” no matter if a Coke, Fanta, or 7-up. Elsewhere in America? “Soda.”
The difference in word choice is even more exaggerated when the speakers are across the ocean from one another. While on my travels, here are a few of the words that gave me pause as I took a moment to figure out what they meant:
- Plaster (Band-Aid)
- Jumper (crew neck sweater)
- Hoover (vacuum sweeper)
- Boot (trunk of car)
- Hob (stove top)
What a joy to live in and experience a world of differences!




