Trust us: Chips and fries are just the beginning of how different American and British food names really are
1
/
14
Courgette
American name: Zucchini
If you want some summer squash during a U.K. visit, keep an eye out for courgette instead of zucchini. The name also lends itself well to British “courgetti”—courgette spaghetti, a spin on the American “zoodles.”
2
/
14
Prawns
American name: Shrimp
In the United States, there’s a difference between shrimp and prawns; shrimp are small crustaceans with short legs, while prawns are larger and have more claws. In the United Kingdom, though, both of the little crustaceans are almost always called prawns.
3
/
14
Soda water
American name: Seltzer water or club soda
If you’re looking for sparkling water in Britain, ask for soda water. Americans adopted the names “seltzer water” and “club soda” after World War II, but the original “soda water” name stuck around in the U.K. (Of course, we know they’re spending most of their waking hours drinking tea instead.)
4
/
14
Chips
American name: Fries
Don’t blame the British server if your order of a burger and “chips” comes with good old fries—in the U.K., that’s technically what you asked for. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a chip is “a small piece of potato (now commonly a stick or baton), fried or otherwise cooked in oil or fat and eaten.”
In the 19th century, people would use a knife to chip off pieces of a potato before frying them up in hot oil. Brits stuck with that usage of the word, shortening the common chipped potatoes to chips. That’s why they wouldn’t consider every french fry a chip. For them, chips have to be thick-cut fried potatoes, sort of like steak fries. So those skinny fries you get at restaurants (the American take on Belgian fries) aren’t chips in the British sense.
5
/
14
Crisps
American name: Chips
Ever wondered why Americans don’t use the word chips like the British do? Well, they once did. In the mid-19th century, Americans called fried potato slices “potato chips,” but they tended to make them thinner than the British ones. But because they didn’t want their version to be confused with the already popular British chips, they called them German fries. Once World War I started, “the word German was expunged from many American phrases, and french fries became the favored term for thin potato sticks,” according to a now-archived Oxford Dictionaries blog.
Chips has stuck around, though, just for a different fried potato product. Thinly sliced and fried potato discs go by that term in the U.S. If you are dead-set on having some American potato chips while in the U.K., ask for a bag of crisps. That’s the British food name.
6
/
14
Sweets
American name: Candies
A little packaged good for your candy craving would be called sweets or sweeties in Britain. Just don’t call that Cadbury bar a sweet: It’s chocolate, which is a category in its own. But when it comes to British food names, sweets can be any other confection, from fruity gummies to hard toffees.
7
/
14
Candy floss
American name: Cotton candy
The spun sugar still counts as candy in the U.K., where it’s called candy floss. Of course, floss is the name for embroidery thread, so in that way, it’s just a synonym for cotton.
8
/
14
Biscuits
American name: Cookies
In the U.K., a cookie specifically refers to a chocolate chip cookie. Anything else would be called a biscuit. But even so, biscuits aren’t the chewy cookies you’d find in American bakeries. Instead, they have a crisper texture, like shortbread or a snap. Just don’t confuse them with the American biscuit, which is savory and served as a side.
9
/
14
Coriander
American name: Cilantro
Cilantro is one of those foods you either love or join a hate club over. If you agree with the second group, steer clear of coriander in Great Britain. According to Merriam-Webster, cilantro comes from the Spanish (which makes sense for the U.S.), whereas coriander comes from the French, although they both have origins in a Latin word.
10
/
14
Toastie
American name: Grilled cheese
Don’t get disgruntled when you can’t find your favorite comfort food on a British menu. A cheese toastie—which is the British food name for grilled cheese—will give you that same deliciously toasted bread and heavenly melted cheese that you’re looking for. It might be panini-pressed or broiled in the oven instead of on a skillet, but it’s guaranteed to satisfy your craving.
11
/
14
Aubergine
American name: Eggplant
Brits say “aubergine” instead of “eggplant.” American clothing retailers seem to like the term too. You’ll usually see a dark purple shirt labeled “aubergine,” which we would imagine makes it a better sell than an “eggplant” top.
12
/
14
Ice lollies
American name: Popsicles
Whether you call them ice lollies like the Brits or popsicles like Americans, one thing’s universal: They’re the ultimate frozen treat for summer.
13
/
14
Bap
American name: Sandwich roll
A soft, round roll that you might consider a burger bun in the U.S. has a different name in Britain: a bap. Depending on where you are in the U.K., you might also hear them being called cobs, stotties, teacakes, oggies, muffins and more, according to Express.
They’re often eaten at breakfast with one simple meat, topped with ketchup or barbecue sauce. It’s worth ordering a sandwich in England if for no other reason than the fun of saying “bacon bap.”
14
/
14
Rocket
American name: Arugula
No, the rocket salad you see on a menu has nothing to do with space travel. Rocket is just the British food name for arugula.
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Smithsonian Magazine: “The Effervescent History of Seltzer, From the Early Days of Home Delivery to Today’s Trendy Cans”
- Oxford English Dictionary: “Chip”
- Tasting Table: “Here’s Why The British Call French Fries ‘Chips'”
- Merriam-Webster: “Coriander”
- Merriam-Webster: “Cilantro”
- Express: “Batch, Bap or Bridie? Brits just can’t decide what to call the humble bread roll”
