# why do Americans call petrol Gasoline? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 18, 2001, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-petrol-gasoline/94045 "2001-11-18T06:55:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-petrol-gasoline/94045/21 "2001-11-18T22:38:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Niobium Knight \* > \*\*gasoline is not a chemical compound. how can you be so wrong like that? > > petrol/gasoline is a mixture of compounds like octane, heptane, hexene, benzene sorta molecules > i think the word gasoline comes from it being like gas (methane) but a liquid. petrol’s a nicer word, that’s why i started this thread. i think all you americans should start calling it petrol from now on. \*\* Oh, I’m SO sorry! I don’t know how I could be SO wrong! I should just RUN to the church and beg for forgiveness! Sheesh, try being nice to people who try to answer you question. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-petrol-gasoline/94045/22 "2001-11-18T23:28:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Niobium Knight \* > \*\*yes that is why “gas” is an ambiguous term. gas could mean gas (ie not a liquid) or petrol. petrol is clear, it means petrol. \*\* But why then do you use the term LPG in the UK? L= liquid P= **petrol** eum G= gas Seems like that doesn’t jive with your nomenclature. ---
**Author:** ![Niobium\_Knight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Niobium\_Knight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niobium_Knight)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-petrol-gasoline/94045/23 "2001-11-18T23:56:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CBEscapee \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Niobium Knight \* > > \*\*yes that is why “gas” is an ambiguous term. gas could mean gas (ie not a liquid) or petrol. petrol is clear, it means petrol. \*\* > > But why then do you use the term LPG in the UK? > > L= liquid > P= **petrol** eum > G= gas > > Seems like that doesn’t jive with your nomenclature. \*\* not completely sure if it’s a gas which is under pressure or if it’s gas made into liquid by some process but it’s known as LPG not just gas so it isnt as confusing as you calling petrol gas. LPG doesnt mean anything else as far as i’m aware. ---
**Author:** ![Niobium\_Knight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Niobium\_Knight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niobium_Knight)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-petrol-gasoline/94045/24 "2001-11-18T23:58:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hail Ants \* > \*\*This thread reminds me of that British show TLC plays about bad drivers- > > “Oh dear, the lorry’s al-u-mi-ni-um caravan has a puncture on the dual-carriage motorway just past the sliproad towards the roundabout after the zebra-crossing. Oh look, the Queen!” \*\* hey at least we know how to use roundabouts. ---
**Author:** ![Niobium\_Knight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Niobium\_Knight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niobium_Knight)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-petrol-gasoline/94045/25 "2001-11-18T23:59:42Z")
but anyway what’s a zebra crossing doing on the exit of a motorway? bloody death trap that! ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-petrol-gasoline/94045/26 "2001-11-19T00:15:52Z")
> [@](#): > > not completely sure if it’s a gas which is under pressure or if it’s gas made into liquid by some process but it’s known as LPG not just gas so it isnt as confusing as you calling petrol gas. LPG doesnt mean anything else as far as i’m aware. LPG is commonly called [propane](http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:UXVmEHLa6v0:www.energy.ca.gov/education/AFVs/LNG.html+lpg+propane+gas&hl=en). ---
**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-petrol-gasoline/94045/27 "2001-11-19T00:36:11Z")
We don’t call it “petrol” because we don’t want anyone to get confused and try to stuff a sea bird in the gas tank. Even if we did adopt your word, given our penchant for abbreviating and shortening everything possible, it would soon become “pet.” And that could cause some _real_ confusion. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-petrol-gasoline/94045/28 "2001-11-19T01:08:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Niobium Knight \* > > not completely sure if it’s a gas which is under pressure or if it’s gas made into liquid by some process but it’s **known as LPG not just gas** so it isnt as confusing as you calling petrol gas. LPG doesnt mean anything else as far as i’m aware. LPG is sold as **bottled gas** in the UK by **gas suppliers**! ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-petrol-gasoline/94045/29 "2001-11-19T01:24:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Niobium Knight: > hey at least we know how to use roundabouts. Yeah, but not counter-clockwise. I mean \*\*\*anti-\*\*\*clockwise… ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-petrol-gasoline/94045/30 "2001-11-19T01:29:32Z")
[Aussie in The Simpsons] Bullfrogs? That’s an odd name. I’da called 'em CHUZWOZZERS! [/Aussie in The Simpsons] I think we can clear this up. Henceforth, all the English-speaking nations will call petrol / gasoline “Dave”. Or maybe Bob. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-petrol-gasoline/94045/31 "2001-11-19T02:55:58Z")
> [@](#): > > gasoline is not a chemical compound. how can you be so wrong like that? Politely pointing out errors is perfectly acceptable, but yours is not the appropriate tone for GQ. > [@](#): > > petrol’s a nicer word, that’s why i started this thread. i think all you americans should start calling it petrol from now on. GQ is for answering factual questions, not for convincing us unenlightened foreigners to change our wicked ways. The General Question has been answered. This thread is closed. bibliophage moderator GQ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-petrol-gasoline/94045.md?page=1)