Exploring English: A Traveler’s Journey Through Regional Terms

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!