Why do Americans call Petrol Gas?

[jake87385]

Not sure if this should be posted in the debates section or not as it's more of a rant but why do Americans call Petrol gas?

I'm not going to make the point that Petroleum isn't a gas because I believe 'gas' was an abbreviation of the word 'Gasoline', but I still don't understand why you call it Gasoline?

[Ms.Aquamarine]

I don't know the history behind the word gasoline, but since I was born and raised in America that's what I've learned to say and hear all the time over here.

Like over here we say 'We're going on vacation', but y'all say 'going on holiday'. So yeah - just depends on where you live.

[David]

go-go juice

[Zak]

because they like to be different

[scottish]

because American and English have loads of different words for the same thing..

Petrol and Gasoline is just one of them.

[Lewis]

I hear gas just as often as petrol here.

[FlyingJesus]

Doesn't everyone call it broombroom drink?