Charlie StrossApr 25, 2024

On which note it's worth reminding Americans that Brits do NOT say:
— elevator
— sidewalk
— railroad
— faucet
— crosswalk
— automobile
— 18-wheeler
— bellhop
— drugstore
— freeway/highway/turnpike/interstate
— parking lot
— attorney

(There are synonyms/equivalents but these are specifically AMERICAN things that flag you up as a foreign devil.)
https://mastodon.social/@tomhannen/112332893629022705

Show threadOl Tizzy
@cstross - on the flip side, no American would refer to a gas stove as a ‘hob’ - which detracted not one bit from my enjoyment of your __Family Trade__ novel
Apr 25, 2024 at 7:40pmMastodon for iOS
Show threadMarjorieRApr 25, 2024
@oltizzy @cstross needless to say we don't put gas in automobiles we put petrol in cars.
And a gas stove is actually a gas cooker, the hob is just the bit with the rings at the top,
Show threadMercApr 26, 2024

@marjolica @oltizzy @cstross North American English speakers also say "cars". Automobile is a term you'd only expect to see in a legal context or something.

For example, the Department of Motor Vehicles might have regulations for automobile emissions. AFAIK, that's because the more commonly used "car" can be used for other things: a cable car, the dining car on a train, etc. Is there a similar word in UK English that's more specific than "motor vehicle" but also more specific than "car"?

The only colloquial use of "automobile" I can think of is in the shortened form, "auto", and then only in the context of an "auto body shop" or something (car fixy uppy place).

Show threadMarjorieRApr 26, 2024

@merc @oltizzy @cstross you can say 'motor car' to avoid confusion with other types of car, its just usually shortened to 'car' as it's by far the most common type you'll encounter, the others always have the qualifier.

Interestingly we have saloon cars where I think you have sedans. We also have hatchbacks and estate cars.

Show threadMercApr 26, 2024

@marjolica @oltizzy @cstross Ah, right, motor car. I now remember hearing that.

Car type names are funny. In NA English, "saloon" is basically only heard in the context of the Wild West. Obviously, it comes from the French "salon". I wonder if the original idea was that the car was a room on wheels? Sedan comes from a sedan chair... so I guess being carried in luxury?

Station wagon and estate car must both come from the idea of moving a lot of goods, either picking them up at a station, or moving them from estate to estate.

IMO, car term etymology is full of fun stuff. Like "coach" comes from the Hungarian town named Kocs, then became the name of a vehicle, then became slang for a private tutor who the student rides, and is now mostly an athletic trainer.