British, Canadian and American Vocabulary


British	Canadian	American
Q
quarrel, slanging match, argument, row	argument, quarrel, spat	argument, quarrel, spat
queer, Nancy boy, pansy, fairy, gay, poof, poofta, bent (all offensive, except for `gay`)	gay, fag, faggot, homo, fairy, queer, lesbo, (all offensive, except for `gay`)	gay, fag, faggot, homo, queer, lesbo, (all offensive, except for `gay`)
question time (parliament)	question period	?
queue (v), queue up	stand in line	stand in line, line up, stand on line (NYC)
queue (n)	line up, queue (Victoria, B.C.)	line
quilt, continental quilt, duvet	duvet, quilt	quilt
quizmaster	host	host
quotation	quotation, estimate, a quote	estimate, a quote

R
RAC, AA	CAA	AAA
racism, racialism	racism, racialism	racism
railway	railway	railroad
railwayman	railwayman	rail worker, railroad worker
rain (weather forecast)	rain, precipitation	rain, precipitation
raincoat, mac(k)	raincoat, slicker	raincoat, slicker
randy	randy, horny	horny
ratepayer	ratepayer	?
reader	associate professor	associate professor
really (I had a really good time)	real, really	real, really
reception	reception, front desk	front desk
receptionist	receptionist, desk clerk	receptionist, desk clerk
reception room, living room, sitting room, lounge, drawing room	living room	living room
recliner	recliner, la-z-boy	recliner, la-z-boy
red light, traffic light	red light, stop light	red light, stop light
redundancy	layoff, downsize, rightsize	layoff, downsize, rightsize
redundant	laid off	laid off
reel (as in cotton reel)	spool	spool
register	register, roster	roster
registrar (hospital)	admitting officer	admitting officer
registrar (marriage)	justice of the peace / registrar	justice of the peace
registry office (births, marriages & deaths)	City Hall	City Hall
reindeer	reindeer, caribou, cariboo (rare)	reindeer, caribou
reverse (car)	back up	back up
Remembrance Day, Poppy Day	Remembrance Day, Poppy Day	Veteran�s Day, Memorial Day
rent, let, let out	rent	rent
rent boy, male prostitute	male prostitute, rent boy, male escort, escort	male prostitute, rent boy, male escort, escort
repayable	repayable, payable	payable
repeat (TV)	repeat, rerun	repeat, rerun
report	report card	report card
residents� association	neighbourhood association, subdivision association	neighborhood association
resit (exam)	retake	retake
result (exam)	score, grade	score, grade
retirement party	retirement party, roast	retirement party, roast
return (ticket), day return	return, round-trip	round-trip
reverse the charges	call collect, reverse the charges	call collect
rib-eye steak (unusual)	rib-eye steak	rib-eye steak, Delmonica steak
ring, ring round, ring up, phone, on the phone, phone in, phone up, bell, buzz	phone, call, phone in, call in, phone up, call up, call round	call, call in, call up, call round
Ring-a-ring o' roses, A pocket full of posies, A-tishoo! A-tishoo! We all fall down.	Ring-a-ring o' roses, A pocket full of posies, Ashes! Ashes! We all fall down.	Ring-a-ring o' roses, A pocket full of posies, Ashes! Ashes! We all fall down.
ring off, hang up	hang up	hang up
ring-pull	pull tab	pull tab
ring road	ring road	beltway
rise (in salary)	raise	raise
road surface	road surface, asphalt	pavement
road works	construction	construction
rocking chair	rocking chair, rocker	rocker, rocking chair
roll, bap, bun, batch, cob	roll, bun	roll, bun
roll (sandwich), balm (regional)	sub, submarine, Subway	sub, submarine, Subway, sub sandwich, hoagy, hoagie, hogie, hero, poboy, poor-boy, grinder
roll of honour	honour roll	honor roll
roof rack	roof rack	luggage rack
room only (in a hotel)	European Plan (EP) (unusual)	European Plan (EP) (unusual)
roundabout	roundabout, traffic circle	traffic circle
row, quarrel, slanging match, argument	argument, quarrel, spat, row	argument, quarrel, spat
rowdy behaviour	roughhousing, rowdy behaviour	roughhousing, rowdy behavior
rowing boat	rowboat	rowboat
Royal Mail	Canada Post	Postal Service
RSPCA	SPCA	SPCA
rubber	eraser	eraser
rug	rug, area rug	rug, area rug
rumpus	ruckus	ruckus
runner beans, French beans	string beans	string beans
Rubbish!, Rhubarb!, Balls!, bosh, cack, Cobblers! Crap! Bollocks! Knickers!, Pants!, Piffle!, Pigshit!, Rot!, tommy rot, tosh	Nonsense!, Garbage! Crap!	Nonsense!, Garbage! Crap!
rubbish	garbage, trash	garbage, trash
rubbish bin, bin, wastepaper basket/bin	garbage can, trashcan	garbage can, trashcan
rumbustious	rambunctious	rambunctious

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R