English (Australian) Word Substitution

About

Based on the Word Substitution page for en-GB translations.

Most en-US to en-AU translation work involves making simple word substitutions. Below is an attempt to create a comprehensive list of translations. Please use our Launchpad team to discuss any changes that you wish to make before committing them.

The information contained in this table may be used as data for an automated translation tool, such as our Greasemonkey script (soon to be available on the translations page).

In some cases, the spelling or use of particular words depends on context. The Ask? column indicates that the user should be questioned prior to the change being made. If it is empty, that word can be substituted without question.

Note that merely making word substitutions is not enough to perform a full translation. Grammar, style and punctuation are just as important, and must be dealt with manually.

Substitutions

• en-US Spelling	English (AU) Translation	Ask?	Explanation
  acronym	initialism	Y	acronyms are pronounced as words (e.g. NATO); initialisms consist of initial letters pronounced separately (e.g. BBC)
  adapter	adaptor
  adrenalin	adrenaline
  agenda	agendum	Y	'agendum' is the singular form; 'agenda' is the plural
  airplane	aeroplane
  already		Y	some en-us speakers nonsensically add 'already' to the end of sentences => remove
  aluminum	aluminium		en_US usage is based on the brand Aluminum, en_GB based on the element
  analog	analogue
  analyze	analyse
  analyzed	analysed
  analyzer	analyser
  analyzing	analysing
  anchor	newsreader	Y	someone who reads the news on television/radio
  anemia	anaemia
  anesthesia	anaesthesia
  anesthesiologist	anaesthetist
  anesthetic	anaesthetic
  annex	annexe	Y	verb: 'annex'; noun: 'annexe'
  antennas	antennae
  antialiased	anti-aliased
  antialiasing	anti-aliasing
  anymore	any more
  appall	appal
  archeology	archaeology
  armor	armour
  ass	arse	Y	'ass' means 'donkey'; 'arse' is a vulgar word for the buttocks
  artifact	artefact
  authorization	authorisation
  authorizational	authorisational
  authorize	authorise
  authorized	authorised
  authorizing	authorising
  automobile	motorcar
  ax	axe
  backward	backwards	Y	use 'backward' only as an adjective
  balk	baulk
  barnyard	farmyard
  basicly	basically
  bathroom	toilet	Y	when referring to a WC, not a room with a bath
  beet	beetroot
  behavior	behaviour
  behoove	behove
  bill	note	Y	"a £100 note"
  binder clip	bulldog clip
  bobsled	bobsleigh
  boogey	bogey
  brace	curly bracket	Y
  braces	curly brackets	Y	'braces' could mean a type of orthodontic treatment
  braked	broke
  broil	grill
  buddy	mate
  bullhorn	megaphone
  burned	burnt
  bum	tramp	Y	'bum' can also mean 'buttocks'
  cafe	café
  caliber	calibre
  canceled	cancelled
  canceling	cancelling
  candy	sweet	Y
  candy bar	chocolate bar	Y
  canned	tinned	Y
  capitalization	capitalisation
  capitalize	capitalise
  capitalized	capitalised
  capitalizing	capitalising
  carburetor	carburettor
  cart	trolley	Y	"a shopping trolley"
  case insensitive	case-insensitive
  case sensitive	case-sensitive
  caster	castor
  catalog	catalogue
  categorization	categorisation
  categorize	categorise
  categorized	categorised
  categorizing	categorising
  CCW	ACW	Y	CCW as in Counter-clockwise
  chapstick	lip balm
  centimeter	centimetre
  center	centre
  centered	centred
  centering	centring
  centralization	centralisation
  centralize	centralise
  centralized	centralised
  centralizing	centralising
  cesium	caesium
  check	cheque	Y	"a bank cheque"
  check	tick	Y	tick the box
  checkbox	tickbox
  checked	chequered	Y	"a game of chequers", "a chequered floor"
  checked	ticked	Y	"the box is ticked"
  checker	chequer
  checkerboard	chequerboard
  checkered	chequered
  chips	crisps	Y
  cipher	cypher
  coffee shop	café
  cold	neutral	Y	the connection in an electrical circuit that returns current to the source (source)
  color	colour
  colored	coloured
  colorer	colourer
  colorful	colourful
  coloring	colouring
  colorkey	colour-key
  colorspace	colour-space
  congress	parliament	Y
  congressman	Member of Parliament, MP	Y
  cookie	biscuit	Y	could refer to a web/internet cookie
  cooperate	co-operate
  coordinate	co-ordinate
  corn	maize
  cornsilk	maize silk
  cotton candy	candy floss
  counterclockwise	anti-clockwise
  counter-clockwise	anti-clockwise
  coupe	coupé
  coveralls	overalls
  cozy	cosy
  curb	kerb	Y	a kerb is the edge of the pavement, to curb is to limit something
  curriculums	curricula
  customizable	customisable
  customization	customisation
  customize	customise
  customized	customised
  customizing	customising
  dealed	dealt
  defense	defence
  delete	Permanently Delete	Y	make this change if a Delete action will bypass the Rubbish Bin (Trash)
  dialed	dialled
  dialer	dialler
  dialing	dialling
  dialog	dialogue
  diaper	nappy
  diarrhea	diarrhoea
  digitization	digitisation
  digitize	digitise
  digitized	digitised
  digitizer	digitiser
  digitizing	digitising
  dishrag	dish cloth
  dishtowel	tea towel
  disk	disc	Y	If describing a round object (e.g. a CD or DVD), use 'disc'. Otherwise, use 'disk'.
  disorganized	disorganised
  distill	distil
  donut	doughnut
  downspout	drainpipe
  downward	downwards	Y	use 'downward' only as an adjective
  Dr.	Dr	Y	Only use a full stop if the final letter of the abbreviation is not the final letter of the word it is abbreviating. So, 'Doctor' = 'Dr' but 'Drive' = 'Dr.'
  draft	draught
  dreamed	dreamt
  drugstore	pharmacy
  dumpster	skip
  eastward	eastwards	Y	use 'eastward' only as an adjective
  eggplant	aubergine
  e-mails	e-mail
  email	e-mail		The e in e-mail is pronounced as a distinct letter rather than as part of the following word. If it were the latter, the pronunciation would be merged with the following letter, in this case the letter m. The first syllable is pronounced ee, not em.
  emails	e-mail
  encyclopedia	encyclopaedia
  endeavor	endeavour
  England	Britain	Y	a common mistake amongst some Americans is to refer to the whole island as 'England'
  English	British	Y	a common mistake amongst some Americans is to refer to the whole island as 'England'
  English	Imperial	Y	Americans often refer to imperial system of measurements as 'English'
  enology	oenology
  equaled	equalled
  equaling	equalling
  equalize	equalise
  equalized	equalised
  equalizer	equaliser
  equalizing	equalising
  esophagus	oesophagus
  esthetics	aesthetics
  estrogen	oestrogen
  expressway	motorway
  fag	homosexual	Y	'fag' means 'cigarette' in en-GB
  fall	autumn	Y
  familiarization	familiarisation
  familiarize	familiarise
  familiarized	familiarised
  familiarizing	familiarising
  fanny	buttocks	Y	'fanny' is a vulgar word
  fanny pack	bum bag
  faucet	tap
  favor	favour
  favored	favoured
  favoring	favouring
  favorite	favourite
  fetus	foetus
  fiber	fibre
  filet	fillet
  fill out	fill in
  flashlight	torch
  flatware	cutlery
  flavor	flavour
  flavored	flavoured
  flavoring	flavouring
  forever	for ever	Y	In en_GB, 'for ever' means for eternity (or a very long time), as in "I have been waiting for you for ever." 'Forever' means continually, always, as in "They are forever arguing."
  formulas	formulae
  forums	fora
  forward	forwards	Y	use 'forward' only as an adjective
  forward slash	slash		redundant: a slash is 'forward' by definition
  fourth	quarter		fourths are quarters
  freeway	motorway
  french fries	hot chips
  freshman	fresher
  fries	chips	Y	French fries
  fueled	fuelled
  fueling	fuelling
  furor	furore
  garbage	rubbish
  gas	petrol	Y	a commonly-used (and imprecise) abbreviation for 'gasoline' is 'gas'
  gasoline	petrol
  globalization	globalisation
  globalizational	globalisational
  globalize	globalise
  globalized	globalised
  globalizing	globalising
  globaly	globally
  glycerin	glycerine
  goiter	goitre
  gotten	got	Y	Use 'got' unless using the humorously-intended phrase 'ill-gotten'.
  gray	grey
  graylist	greylist
  graylisted	greylisted
  graylisting	greylisting
  ground	earth	Y	The term 'ground' and 'grounding' are used in US electrical engineering to represent electrical equipment that is securely bonded to the ground (i.e. that on which we stand) for safety reasons. In the UK the equivalent terms are 'earth' and 'earthing'. (source)
  grounded	earthed	Y	The term 'ground' and 'grounding' are used in US electrical engineering to represent electrical equipment that is securely bonded to the ground (i.e. that on which we stand) for safety reasons. In the UK the equivalent terms are 'earth' and 'earthing'. (source)
  grounding	earthing	Y	The term 'ground' and 'grounding' are used in US electrical engineering to represent electrical equipment that is securely bonded to the ground (i.e. that on which we stand) for safety reasons. In the UK the equivalent terms are 'earth' and 'earthing'. (source)
  guerilla	guerrilla
  gynecology	gynaecology
  hanged	hung	Y
  harbor	harbour
  harbored	harboured
  harboring	harbouring
  hemophilia	haemophilia
  hemophiliac	haemophiliac
  hauler	haulier
  hobo	homeless person
  homeopathic	homoeopathic
  homeopathy	homoeopathy
  honor	honour
  honored	honoured
  honoring	honouring
  hood	bonnet	Y	The lid of the engine compartment of a car.
  hot	live, active	Y	Phase ('active') electrical connection (source)
  humor	humour
  humored	humoured
  humoring	humouring
  infeasible	unfeasible
  initialization	initialisation
  initializational	initialisational
  initialize	initialise
  initialized	initialised
  initializer	initialiser
  initializing	initialising
  inquire	enquire	Y	enquire is to be used for general senses of 'ask', while inquire is reserved for uses meaning 'make a formal investigation'.
  inquiry	enquiry	Y	enquire is to be used for general senses of 'ask', while inquire is reserved for uses meaning 'make a formal investigation'.
  insure	ensure	Y	use 'ensure' unless talking about insurance
  internet	Internet	Y	internet with a small i refers to an internetwork, a connection of two or more distinct computer networks. The Internet with a capital I is the largest such internetwork.
  internationalization	internationalisation
  internationalizational	internationalisational
  internationalize	internationalise
  internationalized	internationalised
  internationalizing	internationalising
  jail	gaol
  jello	jelly
  jell-o	jelly
  jelly	jam	Y	in en_US, 'jelly' can mean 'jam'
  jeweled	jewelled
  jeweler	jeweller
  jewelery	jewellery
  journaling	journalling
  judgment	judgement
  kilometer	kilometre
  kiwi	kiwifruit	Y	'kiwi' is a bird, not a fruit
  kneeled	knelt
  labeled	labelled
  labeler	labeller
  labeling	labelling
  labor	labour
  labored	laboured
  laboring	labouring
  ladybug	ladybird
  last name	surname
  leaned	leant
  leaped	lept
  learned	learnt
  leukemia	leukaemia
  license	licence	Y	'license' is a verb, 'licence' is a noun
  license plate	number plate
  licorice	liquorice
  lighted	lit
  line	mains	Y	mains power - the primary electrical power supply wires entering a building, connected to the Main fuses or breakers ; or mains lead - the flexible electric cable from plug to appliance (source)
  liter	litre
  localization	localisation
  localizational	localisational
  localize	localise
  localized	localised
  localizing	localising
  mail	post	Y
  mailbox	letterbox
  mailman	postman
  mail slot	letterbox
  math	maths
  medieval	mediaeval
  meter	metre	Y	are we referring to the measurement unit or a measuring device?
  micrometer	micrometre	Y	micrometre is a measurement, micrometer is a measuring device
  milliliter	millilitre
  millimeter	millimetre
  maximize	maximise
  maxmized	maximised
  maximizing	maximising
  minimize	minimise
  minimized	minimised
  minimizing	minimising
  misspelled	misspelt
  modeled	modelled
  modeler	modeller
  modeling	modelling
  mold	mould
  molt	moult
  mom	mum
  momma	mumma
  mommy	mummy
  mom-and-pop	mum-and-dad
  most	almost	Y	some en-us speakers erroneously use 'most' to mean 'almost'
  movie	film
  movies	cinema	Y
  movies	films	Y
  Mr.	Mr	Y	Only use a full stop if the final letter of the abbreviation is not the final letter of the word it is abbreviating. So, 'Mister' = 'Mr'.
  Mrs.	Mrs	Y	Only use a full stop if the final letter of the abbreviation is not the final letter of the word it is abbreviating. So, 'Missus' = 'Mrs'.
  Ms.	Ms	Y	The title, "Ms", is not an abbreviation.
  mustache	moustache
  nanometer	nanometre
  neighbor	neighbour
  neighboring	neighbouring
  neuron	neurone
  newsdealer	newsagent
  normalcy	normality
  normalization	normalisation
  normalize	normalise
  normalized	normalised
  normalizing	normalising
  northward	northwards	Y	use 'northward' only as an adjective
  offense	offence
  off of	off
  oftentimes	often
  onward	onwards	Y	use 'onward' only as an adjective
  optimization	optimisation
  optimizational	optimisational
  optimize	optimise
  optimized	optimised
  optimizing	optimising
  organization	organisation
  organizational	organisational
  organize	organise
  organized	organised
  organizer	organiser
  organizing	organising
  ornery	irritable
  orthopedic	orthopaedic
  ouster	ousting
  pacifier	dummy
  pajamas	pyjamas
  paneled	panelled
  paneling	panelling
  pants	trousers	Y	'pants' are an undergarment
  pantyhose	tights
  paren	bracket
  parentheses	brackets
  parenthesis	bracket
  parenthesized	bracketed
  parking lot	car park
  pediatric	paediatric
  period	full stop	Y
  persnickety	pernickety
  picometer	picometre
  plow	plough
  pop	dad	Y
  popsicle	ice lolly
  porch	veranda	Y	a 'porch' is a covered structure in front of the entrance to a building, but not a veranda
  postpend	suffix
  pound sign	hash	Y	are we referring to the symbol for pound stering, or a number sign?
  power cord	flex/mains lead, mains wire/wiring (source)	Y
  practice	practise	Y	'practise' is a verb, 'practice' is a noun
  premiere	première
  prepend	prefix
  prioritization	prioritisation
  prioritize	prioritise
  prioritized	prioritised
  prioritizing	prioritising
  program	programme	Y	Contextual: use 'program' in computing contexts, and 'programme' everywhere else (e.g. a computer program, a television programme)
  prong	pin
  proved	proven	Y
  pry	prise	Y	To open/lift something. 'Pry' means to ask questions.
  quint	quin
  railroad	railway
  randomization	randomisation
  randomize	randomise
  randomized	randomised
  randomizing	randomising
  rappel	abseil
  realator	real estate agent
  realization	realisation
  realize	realise
  realized	realised
  realizing	realising
  recognizable	recognisable
  recognize	recognise
  recognized	recognised
  recognizing	recognising
  reinitialize	reinitialise
  reinitialized	reinitialised
  reinitializing	reinitialising
  resume	CV	Y	common misspelling of résumé => curriculum vitae
  résumé	CV	Y	curriculum vitae
  route	round	Y	a set of regular visits that you make to a number of places or people, especially in order to deliver products as part of your job
  row house	terraced house
  rumor	rumour
  rumored	rumoured
  saber	sabre
  sailboat	sailing boat
  sanitarium	sanatorium
  Santa Claus	Father Christmas
  scalawag	scallywag
  scepter	sceptre
  schedule	timetable	Y	schedule: a list of planned activities or things to be done showing the times or dates when they are intended to happen or be done ; timetable: a list of the times when events are planned to happen, especially the times when buses, trains and planes leave and arrive
  season	series	Y	a set of television or radio broadcasts on the same subject or using the same characters but in different situations
  serialization	serialisation
  serializational	serialisational
  serialize	serialise
  serialized	serialised
  serializing	serialising
  shivaree	charivari
  sidewalk	pavement
  signaled	signalled
  signaling	signalling
  simultanous	simultaneous
  skeptic	sceptic
  skeptical	sceptical
  skepticism	scepticism
  sled	sleigh
  sneakers	trainers
  snicker	snigger
  soapbox	podium
  soccer	football
  soda	soft drink	Y
  solitaire	patience	Y	the card game
  southward	southwards	Y	use 'southward' only as an adjective
  specialization	specialisation
  specializational	specialisational
  specialize	specialise
  specialized	specialised
  specializing	specialising
  specialty	speciality
  specter	spectre
  spelled	spelt
  spider	spyder	Y	For a two-seat convertible car.
  spilled	spilt
  spiraled	spiralled
  spiraling	spiralling
  spoiled	spoilt
  St	St.	Y	'St' = 'Saint' and 'St.' = 'Street'
  St.	St	Y	'St' = 'Saint' and 'St.' = 'Street'
  standardize	standardise
  stickshift	gear stick
  story	storey	Y	Level of a building.
  stories	storeys	Y	Levels of a building.
  streetcar	tram
  stroller	pram
  sulfur	sulphur
  sulfurous	sulphurous
  summarization	summarisation
  summarizational	summarisational
  summarize	summarise
  summarized	summarised
  summarizing	summarising
  sweater	jumper	Y
  symbolization	symbolisation
  symbolizational	symbolisational
  symbolize	symbolise
  symbolized	symbolised
  symbolizing	symbolising
  synchronization	synchronisation
  synchronizational	synchronisational
  synchronize	synchronise
  synchronized	synchronised
  synchronizing	synchronising
  synthesize	synthesise
  taffy	toffee
  tailpipe	exhaust pipe
  taliban	taleban		latinisation used by the UK press
  teleprompter	autocue
  templatization	templatisation
  templatizational	templatisational
  templatize	templatise
  templatized	templatised
  templatizing	templatising
  theater	theatre
  thumbtack	drawing pin
  tic-tac-toe	noughts and crosses
  tidbit	titbit
  tire	tyre	Y	Rubber part of a wheel.
  totaled	totalled
  totaler	totaller
  totaling	totalling
  toward	towards	Y	use 'toward' only as an adjective
  trackless trolley	trolleybus
  transportation	transport
  trapezium	trapezoid	Y	A quadrilateral with no two sides parallel and no equal sides.
  trapezoid	trapezium	Y	A quadrilateral with two non-adjacent parallel sides.
  trash	rubbish, Rubbish Bin	Y	When referring to generic waste, use 'rubbish'. When referring to the place where deleted files go, use 'Rubbish Bin'
  truck	lorry	Y
  trunk	boot	Y	The luggage compartment of a car.
  turnpike	toll road
  turtleneck	polo neck	Y	A type of neck on a sweater.
  tuxedo	dinner jacket
  uncategorized	uncategorised
  undershirt	singlet
  unauthorized	unauthorised
  uninitialization	uninitialisation
  uninitializational	uninitialisational
  uninitialize	uninitialise
  uninitialized	uninitialised
  uninitializing	uninitialising
  unorganized	unorganised
  unrecognizable	unrecognisable
  unrecognized	unrecognised
  upcoming	forthcoming
  upscale	upmarket
  upward	upwards	Y	use 'upward' only as an adjective
  useable	usable
  utilization	utilisation
  utilize	utilise
  utilized	utilised
  utilizing	utilising
  vacation	holiday
  vacationer	holidaymaker
  vapor	vapour
  vectorization	vectorisation
  vectorizational	vectorisational
  vectorize	vectorise
  vectorized	vectorised
  vectorizer	vectoriser
  vectorizing	vectorising
  virtualization	virtualisation
  virtualize	virtualise
  virtualized	virtualised
  virtualizing	virtualising
  vise	vice
  visualization	visualisation
  visualize	visualise
  visualized	visualised
  visualizing	visualising
  vs.	vs	Y	abbreviation of versus
  web	Web	Y	Capitalised when referring to the World Wide Web (e.g. a Web browser).
  westward	westwards	Y	use 'westward' only as an adjective
  windshield	windscreen
  yogurt	yoghurt
  zee	zed	Y	Phonetic spelling of the 26th letter of the English alphabet.
  ZIP code	postcode
  zucchini	courgette	Y

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