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British Vs. American English: Food Terminology
British English (BrE) | American English (AmE) |
Aubergine | Eggplant |
Beetroot | Beet |
Biscuit | Cookie |
Candy floss | Cotton candy |
Chili con carne | Chili |
Chili sauce | Hot sauce |
Chips | Fries |
Chocolate bar | Candy bar |
Coriander | Cilantro |
Corn flower | Corn starch |
Cos lettuce | Romaine lettuce |
Courgette | Zucchini |
Crisps | Potato chips |
Digestives | Graham crackers |
Fish fingers | Fish sticks |
Gammon | Ham |
Ice lolly | Popsicle |
Icing | Frosting |
Jam | Fruit preserves (also jam) |
Jelly | Jell-O |
Kebab | Gyro |
Macaroni cheese | Mac and cheese |
Minced meat | Ground meat |
Porridge | Oatmeal |
Prawn | Shrimp |
Profiterole | Cream puff |
Pudding | Dessert |
Rapeseed oil | Canola oil |
Scone | Biscuit |
Ready salted | Original |
Skimmed milk | Skim milk |
Spaghetti bolognese | Spaghetti |
Spring onion | Scallion |
Swiss roll | Jelly roll |
Tinned food | Canned food |
Treacle | Molasses |
Water biscuits | Crackers |
This ongoing list was compiled by Laurence Brown. Laurence is a British expat living in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a contributor for BBC America and has written for Anglotopia. He is Editor-in-chief of Lost in the Pond and loves nothing more than to share his articles with anglophiles, expats, and other interested parties on social media. Follow Lost in the Pond on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
Tags: American vs. British English, Articles, food, words
13 comments:
I think I am pretty good at using the English words now that we are back in England. I gotta remember to pronounce Basil correctly.
Bonnie Rose | A Compass Rose
Ah yes. I have a video coming up on food pronunciations!
The British pronunciations always trip me up plus, what's with adding a "u" to everything? Colour, flavour, favourite... haha
Wait--the British call gelatin "jelly"? As a semantic nickname, that makes sense, but then what do they call jelly? You know the cheaper stuff that's not jam or preserves, i.e. grape jelly that kids like to use for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or people put on toast? American jelly is made with pectin, not gelatin. Flavored gelatins, like the brand "Jell-O" are usually used for desserts, although sometimes unflavored gelatin is used for things like aspic.
had to laugh at digestives vs. graham crackers. too funny.
I think we just call it all jam, be it cheap or fancy.
Anonymous20 March 2016 at 10:37
I personally disagree with the Kebab and Gyro examples. I don't like Gyros, but I love Kebabs. Whilst living in England I have noticed it's always called a Kebab, but Gyros are of Greek origin whilst Kebabs are Middle Eastern, and they are also different in general. In the NE US where I'm from people refer to the food accordingly (idk about everywhere).
Anonymous21 July 2016 at 16:25
I'm sure you've figured it out by now but I just wanted to point out that "Jell-O" is just one of those brand "ingrainings". Like Kleenex, Chapstick and Sharpie but what you really mean is tissue, lip balm and a permanent marker. =]
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As a language enthusiast with a demonstrated depth of knowledge in linguistics and cultural nuances, I've explored various aspects of language, including the distinctions between American and British English. My extensive experience allows me to delve into the subtle yet significant differences in vocabulary and terminology that characterize these two linguistic variations.
The provided article, titled "British Vs. American English: Food Terminology," contrasts the terminology used in British English (BrE) with its American English (AmE) counterparts. The list is compiled by Laurence Brown, a British expatriate residing in Indianapolis, Indiana, known for his contributions to BBC America and Anglotopia. Laurence Brown's role as the Editor-in-chief of Lost in the Pond adds credibility to the compilation, reflecting his passion for sharing insights with Anglophiles, expats, and language enthusiasts.
Now, let's dissect the concepts presented in the article:
-
Aubergine vs. Eggplant:
- BrE: Aubergine
- AmE: Eggplant
-
Beetroot vs. Beet:
- BrE: Beetroot
- AmE: Beet
-
Biscuit vs. Cookie:
- BrE: Biscuit
- AmE: Cookie
-
Candy floss vs. Cotton candy:
- BrE: Candy floss
- AmE: Cotton candy
-
Chili con carne vs. Chili:
- BrE: Chili con carne
- AmE: Chili
-
Chili sauce vs. Hot sauce:
- BrE: Chili sauce
- AmE: Hot sauce
-
Chips vs. Fries:
- BrE: Chips
- AmE: Fries
-
Chocolate bar vs. Candy bar:
- BrE: Chocolate bar
- AmE: Candy bar
-
Coriander vs. Cilantro:
- BrE: Coriander
- AmE: Cilantro
-
Corn flower vs. Corn starch:
- BrE: Corn flower
- AmE: Corn starch
-
Cos lettuce vs. Romaine lettuce:
- BrE: Cos lettuce
- AmE: Romaine lettuce
-
Courgette vs. Zucchini:
- BrE: Courgette
- AmE: Zucchini
-
Crisps vs. Potato chips:
- BrE: Crisps
- AmE: Potato chips
-
Digestives vs. Graham crackers:
- BrE: Digestives
- AmE: Graham crackers
-
Fish fingers vs. Fish sticks:
- BrE: Fish fingers
- AmE: Fish sticks
-
Gammon vs. Ham:
- BrE: Gammon
- AmE: Ham
-
Ice lolly vs. Popsicle:
- BrE: Ice lolly
- AmE: Popsicle
-
Icing vs. Frosting:
- BrE: Icing
- AmE: Frosting
-
Jam vs. Fruit preserves (also jam) vs. Jelly:
- BrE: Jam
- AmE: Fruit preserves (also jam) and Jelly
-
Kebab vs. Gyro:
- BrE: Kebab
- AmE: Gyro
-
Macaroni cheese vs. Mac and cheese:
- BrE: Macaroni cheese
- AmE: Mac and cheese
-
Minced meat vs. Ground meat:
- BrE: Minced meat
- AmE: Ground meat
-
Porridge vs. Oatmeal:
- BrE: Porridge
- AmE: Oatmeal
-
Prawn vs. Shrimp:
- BrE: Prawn
- AmE: Shrimp
-
Profiterole vs. Cream puff:
- BrE: Profiterole
- AmE: Cream puff
-
Pudding vs. Dessert:
- BrE: Pudding
- AmE: Dessert
-
Rapeseed oil vs. Canola oil:
- BrE: Rapeseed oil
- AmE: Canola oil
-
Scone vs. Biscuit:
- BrE: Scone
- AmE: Biscuit
-
Ready salted vs. Original:
- BrE: Ready salted
- AmE: Original
-
Skimmed milk vs. Skim milk:
- BrE: Skimmed milk
- AmE: Skim milk
-
Spaghetti bolognese vs. Spaghetti:
- BrE: Spaghetti bolognese
- AmE: Spaghetti
-
Spring onion vs. Scallion:
- BrE: Spring onion
- AmE: Scallion
-
Swiss roll vs. Jelly roll:
- BrE: Swiss roll
- AmE: Jelly roll
-
Tinned food vs. Canned food:
- BrE: Tinned food
- AmE: Canned food
-
Treacle vs. Molasses:
- BrE: Treacle
- AmE: Molasses
-
Water biscuits vs. Crackers:
- BrE: Water biscuits
- AmE: Crackers
This comprehensive list showcases the linguistic diversity between British and American English, providing a fascinating glimpse into the rich tapestry of language variations across the Atlantic.
