Fish and Chips… But Which Chips? A Guide to UK-US Food Terms

Have you ever spoken about food with someone in English and noticed that British and American people use different words? 

Let’s look at some examples:

„Aubergine“ vs. „Eggplant“: In the UK, it’s an aubergine. In the US, it’s an eggplant. Same vegetable, different name.

„Biscuit“ vs. „Cookie“: In the UK, a biscuit is a sweet, crispy snack (what Americans call a cookie). In the US, a biscuit is a soft, savory bread, like a plain scone.

„Chips“ vs. „Fries“: In the UK, chips are what Americans call fries (the long, fried potatoes).

„Crisps“ vs. „Chips“: In the UK, crisps are what Americans call chips (the thin, crispy snacks).

„Jelly“ vs. „Jam“: In the UK, jelly is a wobbly dessert. In the US, jelly is a fruit spread (what British people call jam).

„Pudding“: In the UK, pudding can mean any dessert. In the US, pudding is only a specific creamy dessert.

But wait, there’s more! Here are some other interesting differences:

• „Courgette“ (UK) vs. „Zucchini“ (US)
• „Rocket“ (UK) vs. „Arugula“ (US)
• „Coriander“ (UK) vs. „Cilantro“ (US)
• „Icing sugar“ (UK) vs. „Powdered sugar“ (US)
• „Candy floss“ (UK) vs. „Cotton candy“ (US)
• „Jacket potato“ (UK) vs. „Baked potato“ (US)

Remember, talking to people from other countries isn’t just about speaking the same language—it’s about understanding small differences too.

Have you had any funny mix-ups with food words when talking to people from other countries?