🌍 American vs British · vocabulary

elevator vs lift

A machine that carries people or goods vertically between floors of a building.

American
elevator

“Take the elevator to the fifth floor and turn left.”

British
lift

“Take the lift to the fifth floor and turn left.”

Good to know

Americans say 'elevator' while the British say 'lift'. Both terms are widely understood across English-speaking countries, but each region overwhelmingly uses its own.

Related comparisons

🌍 Is your English British or American?

Take the British vs American English Test — 20 word pairs, instant result.

Take the test

Built by the team behind Deep In.