RD.COM Boos Madtips
Marissa LaliberteUpdated: December 14, 2023
The difference between chips and fries is just the beginning.
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Courgette
If you want some summer squash while visiting Britain, look for 'zucchini' instead of zucchini. The name also lends itself well to the British 'courgetti' – zucchini spaghetti – or as the Americans say: 'zoodles'. Here iswhy Americans and British don't have the same accent.
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Breeding
In the US, there is a difference between shrimp and shrimp; Shrimp are small with short legs, while prawns are larger and have more claws. In Britain, both small crustaceans are almost always called shrimps. Check out this listother words that mean something completely different in Britain.
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Seltzer
If you're looking for sparkling water in Britain, ask for soda. The Americans took over the names"seltzer water" and "soda"after the Second World War, but the original name 'soda' stuck in Britain. Of course, we know they spend most of their waking hoursdrink teainstead of.
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French fries
Don't blame your British server if the burger and "chips" are served with fries - in Britain, that's technically what you asked for. According to the Oxford Dictionaries blog, in the 18th century, the word "chip," referring to food, meant a slice or part of a fruit or vegetable. In particular, chips were usually fried, and the British stuck with that use of the word. Therefore, they would not consider every fries as a chip. Chips should be cut thick, just like steak fries. The thin chips you get at American fast food restaurants are not real chips. Speaking of this oneMcDonald's menu items can only be found in Great Britain.
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Chips
So why don't Americans use the word "chips" like the British do? Well, they once did. In the mid-nineteenth century, Americans called fried potato slices "chips", but they tended to make them thinner than the British. But because they didn't want their version to be confused with the already popular British one, they called them French Fries or German Fries. But when World War I began, “the word 'German' was dropped from many American sentences, andFrench friesbecame the preferred term for thin potato sticks," according to the Oxford Dictionaries blog. If you're really craving some American crisps, ask for a bag of crisps. Oh, and look for the Walkers brand, the brand of British Lay's. Crème fraiche and onion may be popular in America, but you're more likely to find cheese and onion in Britain.why Americans like ice in their drinks and the British don't.
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Such an
A little wrapped, good for your sweet cravings, would be called 'sweets' or 'sweets' in Britain. Just don't call that Cadbury's bar too sweet: it's chocolate. Chocolate bars are their own category, but candy can be any other treat, from fruity gummies to hard caramels. Did you know there is one?difference between saying "Great Britain" and "United Kingdom?"
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Candyfloss
The spun sugar still gets its 'candy' claims in the United Kingdom, where it is called cotton candy. Of course, "thread" is the name for embroidery floss, so in that sense it's simply a synonym for cotton. On the way to the circus? Here iswhy Americans and British drive on opposite sides of the road.
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Cookies
In Great Britain, a cookie refers specifically to a chocolate biscuit. Anything else would be called a "cookie". Cookies are not the chewy cookies you find in American bakeries, but have a crispier texture, like shortbread or schnapps. It's a fact thatBritish bacon tastes better – and here's why.
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Cilantro
Cilantro is one of those foods you either love or hate. If you fall into the latter group, avoid "coriander" in Britain. According to Merriam-Webster, "cilantro" comes from Spanish (which makes sense for the US), while "cilantro" comes from French, although they both come from Latin. Confused? Here iswhy British and Americans spell 'colour' differently.
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Grilled cheese
Don't be dissatisfied if you can't find your favorite comfort food on a British menu. A cheese toastie gives you the same delicious toasted bread and delicious melted cheese you're looking for. It can be pressed into panini or baked in the oven instead of on a baking sheet, but it's guaranteed to satisfy your cravings. This12 brands have funny names in other countries.
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Aubergine
The British say 'eggplant' instead of 'eggplant'. American clothing retailers also seem to like the term. You'll usually see a dark purple shirt with the writing "eggplant," which we think is a better seller than an "eggplant" top. This iswhy Americans say 'soccer' instead of 'soccer'.
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Is popper
If you think of the frozen treats as a popsicle, the British simply take a different part of the word and call them popsicles instead of pops. Perfect your dialect with this11 British proverbs everyone should know.
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Sandwich sandwich
A soft, round bun that you might think of as a burger bun in the US, with other names in Britain: a bap. Depending on where you are, you can also call them bars, cobs, stotties, teacakes, oggies, muffins and more, according to Express. They are often eaten for breakfast with a single meat, drizzled with ketchup or BBQ sauce-like brown sauce. It's worth a sandwich just for the fun of saying "bacon bap." So check this one outfunny food namesIt sounds ridiculous, but it's completely real.
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Rocket
No, the arugula salad you see on the menu has nothing to do with space travel. 'Rocket' is just another name for 'arugula'. Then you have to learnvery British expressionsAmericans are always confused about it.
Sources:
- Oxford Dictionaries blog: "snip away"
- Merriam Webster: "Cilantro"
- Merriam Webster: "Cilantro"
- Emphatic: "British regional names for roles"
Originally published: January 28, 2021
Marissa Laliberte
Marissa Laliberte-Simonian is a London-based associate editor with WebMD's Medscape.com global campaigns team and was a former staff writer for Reader's Digest. Her work has also appeared in Business Insider, Parents magazine, CreakyJoints and the Baltimore Sun. You can find her on Instagram @marissasimonian.
