Vocabulary

Different words are used here for things than at home (shocking, I know). I do not know how much of this is British influence, although some of it obviously is. Here is a list I have compiled to date.

Obviously, the words on the right are the ones I am accustomed to using in the US (Northern Virginia) and I realize that there are regional differences (i.e. soda vs. cola vs. Coke, etc.). These are just my observations.

Ghanaian American
invigilate - proctor (although invigilate is an IB term, so not unfamiliar)
timetable - schedule
to mark - to grade
units (for cell phones) - minutes (for cell phones – all are pay-as-you go)
minerals - soda
salad - lettuce
ground nuts/ground nut paste - peanuts/peanut butter
rubber/poly bag - plastic bag
arms/organs of government - branches of government
overtaking - passing (while driving)
overspeeding - speeding (also while driving)
junction/interchange - intersection
sssssss (a hiss) - shhhh or excuse me (to ask for quiet or to get someone’s attention)