Please note that American terminology can vary from state to state, and this glossary is incomplete. Please Contact Us if you can help us add to it.
U.S.A. | The U.K. |
| An “All-Way Stop” (sometimes a.k.a. a 4-Way Stop) | A crossroads or multiple junctions at which traffic from all directions must stop at a ‘Stop’ sign or a stop line. |
| Backing Up | Reversing (Americans seemingly never say “reversing”) |
| Bathrooms (at a “Rest Area”) — a.k.a. “Restrooms.” | Toilets |
| Bicyclist | Cyclist |
| Cargo Van (see also “Van” and “Mini-Van”) | A van for the carriage of goods |
| Carpool Lane (a.k.a. a ‘Diamond’ or ‘H.O.V.’ Lane) | Lanes are restricted to vehicles with multiple passengers |
| Citation | Being reported by the police for a traffic offense |
| Commuter Lane | A central lane is used for traffic in different directions at different times of day, sometimes between movable concrete barriers (hence the ‘zipper’ reference below) |
| Coupe (pronounced “koop”) | Coupé (pronounced ‘koop-ay’) |
| Crosswalk | Pedestrian Crossing |
| Cruiser | Police Patrol Car |
| Curve | Bend |
| Diamond Lane (a.k.a. Carpool or H.O.V. Lane) | Lanes are restricted to vehicles with multiple passengers |
D.M.V. is “Dept. of Motor Vehicles” (also see R.M.V.) | (Issue driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations) |
| D.U.I. | Driving Under the Influence of alcohol |
| DWAI | Driving While Ability Impaired (through alcohol) |
| D.W.I. | Driving While Intoxicated |
| Directionals | Indicators |
| Divided Highway | Dual Carriageway |
| Defogger | Heated Rear Window |
| (L.C.V.) Double Trailer | An articulated wagon (“tractor-trailer”) with two trailers in tandem. (Only an L.C.V. if over 80,000 pounds) |
| Emergency Brake | A misleading name for the Handbrake |
| Emergency Signals | Hazard Lights |
| Expressway | Motorway |
Flashers (also “Four-Way Flashers” and “Warning Lights) | Hazard Lights |
| Four-Way | Crossroads |
| Four-Way Stop (a.k.a. an All-Way Stop) | A crossroads at which traffic from all directions must stop at a ‘Stop’ sign or a stop line. |
| Freeway | Dual Carriageway; usually a Motorway equivalent |
| Complete (or “Full Service”) at a “Gas Station” | Attendants will put your petrol in. Asking for “ten regular” will get you ten dollars worth, not ten gallons |
| Gas | Petrol (See “Regular”) |
| Gas Pedal (or just “the gas”) | Accelerator |
| Gas Station | Petrol Station |
| A “Grade” (often just a “hill”) | Hill |
| H.O.V. (High-Occupancy Vehicle) Lane (q.v. Carpool) | Lanes are restricted to vehicles with multiple passengers |
| Highway | This generally means a dual carriageway of motorway standards, but it can also be used for any road with two or more lanes. |
| Hood | Bonnet |
| A number preceded by the letter “I,” such as “I-90.” | This is an Interstate Highway (q.v.) |
| Intersection | Any road junction, on major and minor roads |
| “Interstate,” or “Interstate Highway” | Motorway |
| “Jct 78” (any number) | Sign on the approach to a junction with the relevant road |
| L.C.V. (“longer combination vehicle”) | An articulated wagon (“tractor-trailer”) with either two or three trailers in tandem. (“Double Trailers” are only L.C.V.s if they are over 80,000 pounds) |
| Lights | Traffic Lights |
| Median | Central Reserve |
| Mini Van (see also “Van” and “Cargo Van”) | A “people carrier” with seats for six or more. |
| One Way | A One-Way Street or, in some states, the right side of a Divided Highway (q.v.) |
| Parkway | Contrary to what it may sound like, it is a road. |
| Pavement | The road surface. Do not confuse this with Sidewalk! |
| Pavement Markings | Road Markings (But beware! On the approach to ‘Stop’ junctions, etc., these are usually absent. Be vigilant.) |
| “Pike” (as in, for example, the “Mass. Pike”) | See ‘Turnpike’ |
| R.M.V. is “Registry of Motor Vehicles” (see D.M.V.) | (Issue driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations) |
| Railroad Crossing | A Railway ‘Level Crossing’ |
| Ramp | The ‘access’ or ‘exit’ slip-road at an ‘Intersection.’ |
| Regular (in respect of coffee!) | With milk and sugar! (Massachusetts) |
| Regular (in respect of petrol or “gas”) | Unleaded |
| Rest Area | Usually a proper ‘Service Area’ (but even on ‘Interstates,’ some are only lay-bys with portable toilets — no petrol and no food) |
| Restrooms (at a “Rest Area”) — a.k.a. “Bathrooms.” | Toilets |
| Rotary | Roundabout (rare or non-existent in many states) |
| S.U.V. (“Sports Utility Vehicle”) | 4-by-4’s, often similar to Range Rovers, etc. |
| Sedan | Saloon Car |
| “Self” (at a “Gas Station”) | Self-Service Petrol |
| A “Semi” (pronounced ‘seem-eye’) or an “18-wheeler.” | Articulated Wagon (a.k.a. as an ‘Artic’) |
| Semi-trailer (see just “Semi” above) | The trailer from an articulated wagon |
| Shoulder | The hard shoulder on the outer edge of the road |
| Sidewalk | Pavement (but see “Pavement” above!) |
| Signals | Traffic Lights |
| Station Wagon (or just “Wagon”) | Estate Car |
| Stick Shift | Either a manual-transmission car or the actual gear lever |
| Ticket (a.k.a. a Citation) | Being reported for a traffic offense |
| Generally, an airport taxiway or even the runway | Tarmac — Americans may look at you strangely if you talk about driving on it! |
| Tractor-trailer | Articulated Wagon (a.k.a. as an ‘Artic’) |
| Traffic Circle | Roundabout (rare or non-existent in many states) |
| Traffic Signals | Traffic Lights |
| (L.C.V.) Triple Trailer | An articulated wagon (“tractor-trailer”) with three trailers in tandem. |
| Trunk | Boot |
| Turnpike (often known as the “Pike”) | A toll road, often of motorway standards |
| U-Turn | A 180º turn (usually in the middle of an intersection!), but be careful, some U.S. states have signed only when this is illegal, and in others, it is only legal if a sign says you may do it. |
| Undivided Highway | Single Carriageway |
| Van (see also “Mini-Van” and “Cargo Van”) | A “people carrier” with seats for six or more. |
| Wagon (as in “Station Wagon) | Estate Car |
Warning Lights (also “Four-Way Flashers” and “Flashers”) | Hazard Warning Lights |
| Western Double | Nickname for an articulated wagon (“tractor-trailer”) with two trailers in tandem (weight under 80,000 pounds) |
| Yield | Give Way |
| Zipper Lane | See ‘Commuter Lane’ |
Page last updated February 26, 2023.