It’s common knowledge that there are quite a lot of differences between the American and British English vocabularies. I still learn new ones all the time. There are plenty of books offering “translations” between the two, but I have actually discovered a whole set of different terms directly related to babies, children, and pregnancy, so I am developing a Mum to Mom Translator:
General
Nappy = diaper (so also nappy bin = diaper pail; nappy cream, nappy bag, etc.) Derives from “napkin”
Buggy/pram/pushchair = stroller
Kicking off = (baby) starting to fuss
Strop = tantrum
Whinging = complaining in an irritating and persistent way
Dummy = pacifier
Teat = bottle nipple
Cot = crib
Carrycot = travel crib, or the large Moses basket-style part of the buggy for babies up to 6 months
Go to the loo/go to the toilet = go potty
Wee/poo = pee/poop
Poppet; sausage; pickle = apparently these are appropriate terms of endearment for adults to call children (like sweetie; honey)
Wind/winding = gas/burping
Muslin = burp cloth
Cuddle = hug
Beaker = drinking cup
Milk teeth = baby teeth
Father Christmas = Santa Claus
Crèche = daycare/drop-in childcare
Playtime
Disco = dance party
Hokey Cokey = Hokey Pokey
Noughts and crosses = tic-tac-toe (x’s and o’s)
Soft play = area for little ones to play in that’s all foam-filled objects, maybe with a slide and a ball pit
Roly-poly = somersault
Twit twoo = what an owl says, rather than hoo/hoot
Cockerel = rooster
Telly = TV
Pocket money = allowance
Fancy dress party = costume party
Health
(Sticking) plaster = Band-Aid
Jab = shot (injection)
Poorly = sick (as in, “Rachel wasn’t at school today because she was poorly”—E has actually said this, and it makes it sound like poor Rachel has been suffering from smallpox or something)
School
Nursery = preschool
Public school = private school
State school = public school
Full stop = period
Rubber = eraser
Sellotape = scotch tape
Rubbish bin = trash can
Zed = how you pronounce the letter Z
Minibeasts = insects/invertebrates
Maths = yep, they put an s on it
Rucksack = backpack
Clothing
Tank top = vest
Vest = onesie (for babies), tank top (for older kids/adults)
Nought to three = zero to three months (clothing size)
Baby grow = sleeper/sleepsuit
Gro bag = sleeping bag for infants, which come in different weight/thickness called tog, e.g., 1.0 tog for a lightweight one for summer or 2.5 tog for a heavier one for winter
Jumper = sweater
Trousers = pants (For some reason, it is really hard for both M and me to remember to say trousers instead of pants. You don’t want to make the mistake of telling someone you don’t know very well that your pants are wet. We have so thoroughly confused E with our inconsistency on this that now she says things like “underwear panties.”)
Tracksuit bottoms or joggers = sweatpants
Trainers = tennis shoes
Swimming costume = swimsuit
Fancy dress = costume
Kit = appropriate clothing/equipment for an activity, e.g., P.E. kit, tennis kit
Rip-tape = Velcro
Maternity-Related
Antenatal = prenatal
Postnatal = postpartum
Rugby hold = football hold (breastfeeding position)
Waters have gone = water broke
NCT = National Childbirth Trust. This organization does lots of things to provide support for new parents, but you primarily hear people referencing their “NCT friends” or “NCT group,” which is the group of women they did antenatal/birthing/get-ready-for-baby classes with, and then continued to get together with once the babies were born for “coffee mornings” and various baby classes you can do when you have the luxury of a whole year of maternity leave.
Expressing = pumping
Midwife = a nurse who specializes in delivering babies and providing ante- and postnatal care
Health visitor = the person who takes over the baby’s and mother’s general well-being after the initial midwife visits
Mummy Matters
Mothering Sunday = Mother’s Day (late March instead of early May)
In the diary = on the calendar
Have a lie in = sleep in (as in, “It’s been literally years since I had a proper lie-in”)
Bubbles/fizz = Prosecco, the London ladies’ drink of choice
Yummy mummy = hot mom
Fit dad = hot dad
Slummy mummy = my new favorite phrase, used proudly by mums who aren’t ashamed to admit they give their kids fish fingers for tea while they pop open a bottle of pinot grigio
Kid Food
Tea = the kids’ dinner, usually served early, about 5. As in, “What are you giving the kids for tea?” I’m sure this derives from the custom of “high tea,” but it really confused me to begin with, as it doesn’t include actual tea for the kids to drink.
Pudding = dessert (“Will you have treacle tart or Eton mess for pudding?”)
Biscuit = crisp cookie, such as a McVitie’s Digestive or Walkers shortbread
Chips = French fries
Crisps = chips
Fish or chicken goujons = Fish sticks or chicken tenders
Macaroni cheese = what you’d expect, but for some reason they ditched the “and”
Sweeties/sweets = candy
Toad in the hole = sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter
Spag bol = spaghetti Bolognese, or pasta with meat sauce
Jelly = Jell-O
Sausage roll = A big pig in a blanket–a sausage rolled in puff pastry
Ice lolly/choc ice = popsicle/ice cream bar
Pick’n’mix = self-serve bulk candy you put into a bag and then pay by weight, a popular snack at the cinema
Babyccino = a gateway drug designed to ensure the next generation continues to spend loads of money on fancy espresso drinks (essentially foamed warm milk with a sprinkle of chocolate powder on top served in a plastic cup; all the coffee shops around here have these on the menu)
Squash = a sweet artificial fruit juice concentrate, which you dilute with water (similar to Kool-Aid, I suppose). Knowing this is essential for understanding this headline. The more you know…