DIY Builds
Photo by cottonbro studio Pexels Logo Photo: cottonbro studio

How does a British person say garage?

GARE-idge Garage = Americans put a “zsa” on the end like Zsa Zsa Gabor, pronounced ga-RAHJ. In the U.K., it's pronounced "GARE-idge." Like, “Can I park my bike in your GARE-idge?” 7.

Can you learn woodworking online?
Can you learn woodworking online?

While online learning may not be suitable for every student, those with an independent drive to learn can benefit significantly from online...

Read More »
Do I need permission to concrete my front garden?
Do I need permission to concrete my front garden?

Patio Driveway Planning Permission Under the new regulations, homeowners wishing to pave a front garden with a hardstanding of more than five...

Read More »
Are shed plans easy to follow?
Are shed plans easy to follow?

These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.

Learn More »

These words look the same in both the U.S. and U.K., but for some reason they do not quite sound the same. Basically the stress is on different syllables, and in some cases it's hard to describe, but we'll give it a go: 1. Vitamin = In the U.K. it’s pronounced how it is spelled VIT-a-min, vit rhymes with wit. Americans pronounce it VITE-a-min, vite rhyming with bite. 2. Aluminum = The British pronunciation is a tongue twister. It comes easier after a few tries. But, then you’re in danger of forgetting how to say it in American-English. Sounding it out may help, al-loo-MIN-ee-um … There's a second "i" in the British form of the word, aluminium, hence the extra syllable. Here’s a video to help out. 3. Privacy = In the U.K. it’s sort of like privy, as in “You’re not privy to this conversation.” The word is pronounced PRIV-a-see, "priv" rhymes with the verb "live."

4. Schedule = This is a tricky one. Somehow, in the U.K., the word begins with a shh and the “c” disappears, here it is sounded out, SHED-ual. In a study by the British Library, interim results suggest a third of Britons taking part now adopt the American-style “SKED-ual.” Maybe they’re tired of getting “huh” looks?

5. Ate = In Britain, this word has been traditionally pronounced “et.” Yep, just two letters. You’d think ate was already short enough. “I’m full, I et a huge lunch.” This may be considered old fashioned though as it’s reported younger people in the U.K. are now pronouncing the word as spelled, a-t-e. 6. Garage = Americans put a “zsa” on the end like Zsa Zsa Gabor, pronounced ga-RAHJ. In the U.K., it’s pronounced "GARE-idge." Like, “Can I park my bike in your GARE-idge?” 7. Water = BBC America’s Mind the Gap polled our expat readers and a lot chimed in saying “water” is really hard for Americans to understand when said in a British accent. They don’t even know why! It comes across as "WAH-ta" vs. our "wodder."

8. Mobile = Actually, the Brits pronounce this as it is spelled, mo-BILE, with bile rhyming with "while." Americans pronounce it MO-bul. Hmm, fancy that?

9. Advertisement = Brits shorten this word to advert which sounds quite clever, “Did you see the new Jaguar advert?” Vert sounds like shirt. The whole word is broken down like this, ad-VERT-iz-ment. Americans on the other hand keep the “t” in the third syllable making the U.K “iz” into an American “tize” sounding like this, AD-ver-tize-ment. 10. Herb = Brits pronounce the "h" in herb, when referring to leafy greens, while it's silent in the U.S. and sounds like "erb". For instance, in the U.K. it'd be "herbal tea" versus here in the U.S. it'd be "erbal tea." If you heard a Brit say, "I picked herbs out of the garden," you'd know what they're saying but might think, "That's a lot of 'h'."

What word makes you wonder, “What's that again?”

See More:

10 American Words You’ll Never Hear a British Person Say

WATCH: American vs. British Words for Clothes

10 British Words That Baffle Americans

Should I update my bathroom before selling?
Should I update my bathroom before selling?

Myth No. 1: I need to redo my kitchen and bathroom before selling. Truth: While kitchens and bathrooms can increase the value of a home, you won't...

Read More »
How do you secure an outdoor shed?
How do you secure an outdoor shed?

How to Secure Your Shed, and Stop Break-ins Choose the Location Carefully. ... Anchor the Shed. ... Replace the Door Hinge. ... Improve the Lock....

Read More »
These are the Best Shed Plans!
These are the Best Shed Plans!

Comprehensive and Intuitive to follow. Build That Shed!

Learn More »

Can you put shelves up without nails?

Unfortunately, fasteners like nails are necessary to hang up extremely heavy shelves made of dense, solid materials like steel or oak. However, you can use adhesive fasteners to hang up light, hollow shelves made of things like balsa wood. As a general rule, try to hang shelves that weigh 3 lb (1.4 kg) or less.

This article was co-authored by Emily Fazio . Emily Fazio is a Home Improvement and DIY Specialist and the author behind Merrypad, a home improvement and DIY lifestyle blog. Emily develops content for Discovery including HGTV.com and DIYNetwork.com, among other influential interior design and homesteading websites. Her partnerships include companies such as Legrand, Sherwin-Williams, Stihl, and Kohler. Emily studied at St. Bonaventure University. This article has been viewed 352,220 times.

Article Summary

X

To hang a shelf with mounting strips, press the Velcro-like sides of your strips together to make pairs, remove 1 liner from each pair to expose their sticky side, and fix the strips to your shelf. Then, remove the remaining liners and press your shelf to the wall. After holding the shelf for 30 seconds, separate the pairs so that 1 side is attached to the wall and the other side is attached to the shelf. Press down on the wall strips for 30 seconds, and let them set for 1 hour before reattaching the shelf to the strips on the wall. To learn about alternatives like standing shelves and adhesive fixtures, read on!

How do you price a carpentry job?
How do you price a carpentry job?

Include the number of hours any assistants will spend on the job multiplied by their hourly rates. For example, if the job will take you and your...

Read More »
At what temperature does shivering stop?
At what temperature does shivering stop?

Typically, shivering stops between 86–90°F (30–32°C).

Read More »
These are the Best Shed Plans!
These are the Best Shed Plans!

Comprehensive and Intuitive to follow. Build That Shed!

Learn More »
What bit makes the cleanest hole in wood?
What bit makes the cleanest hole in wood?

Forstner Bits Forstner Bits These are great for drilling through-holes and flat-bottomed holes for hardware installation where your cutting depth...

Read More »
Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »
Can I use expanding foam to insulate my shed?
Can I use expanding foam to insulate my shed?

Expanding foam insulation can be applied to any surface that needs to be reinforced to prevent draughts and enhance structural integrity. Expanding...

Read More »