Potato, potahto

It is English, but is it American English? 10 unique terms

English is the official language of more than 50 nations across the world, so it’s not surprising that English speakers from different parts of the world have developed dialectal variations with unique vocabulary. But, being English —especially American English— used as an international common language, one would think that American vocabulary would have spread to foreign English speakers. While it has in some cases, certain terms are still unique to American English. Let’s have a look at some of them!

This might be the best example of a uniquely American term, though it is technically derived from the original name of the sport. Internationally known as football, soccer was originally called ‘association football’ to distinguish it from ‘Gaelic football’. With time, the popularity of the sport became associated with the term football, except in the U.S., where Gridiron or American football was more popular. So, for Americans, American football became just ‘football’, and association football became ‘soccer’.

Eggs are an integral element of American diners, where a specific vocabulary was developed to quickly explain the type of egg desired in the least amount of time. Where other English speakers would simply ask for a fried egg, Americans know that there are several ways to fry an egg: over easy is just one of them.

Have you ever wondered why the U.S. has a Postal Service but not postal codes? It’s not that they don’t exist; they just have a different name. The ‘Zone Improvement Plan’, or ZIP, was created to make mail services more efficient, but nowadays it’s key for analyzing demographics, sales, and the types of data. While the name ‘Zone Improvement Plan’ might sound strange, it was chosen with the ZIP acronym in mind to suggest that mail would zip along using the system.

Whether you use condo to mean an owned apartment of any kind or as a certain type of building, both are terms mainly used in America. Other English speakers would just say flat or apartment, and would use the term commonhold (UK), strata (Australia and parts of Canada), or divided co-ownership (Francophone Canada) for a building with common areas and services.

Let’s address the obvious first: yes, bodega is a Spanish word. However, it has a unique meaning in American English. While for Spanish speakers it means a winery, in the U.S., it refers to a specific type of convenience store or deli, traditionally owned by Hispanics.

If you hear the word ‘silverware’ in the UK, it won’t mean what you think it means. Kind of. For Americans, the term ‘silverware’ encompasses all eating utensils, including forks, knives, spoons, and even chopsticks. Outside of the U.S., it is more common to say ‘cutlery’, while silverware is used for cutlery actually made from silver.

While words such as ‘university’ or ‘school’ are typical when discussing higher education, ‘college’ is the more commonly used term in the U.S., even present in the names of famous institutions. In other English variants, ‘college’ can be used to talk about trade schools, vocational training, or a university’s residential hall.

If we consider that Canadians also use the term ‘period’ for the punctuation mark, we could say that this term is uniquely North American, but it’s a term other English speakers commonly associate with the U.S. In other parts of the world, ‘full stop’ is the preferred name. What a mouthful!

Again, why do we have a Postal Service but prefer the term ‘mailman’? It’s just a matter of use. Originally, ‘post’ was used for domestic letters, while ‘mail’ was used for letters sent abroad. While the term ‘postal service’ is common to all English variants, mail and its derivatives, such as mailman, are now the norm in American English, while other English dialects tend to use post.

Although Canadians might sometimes use ‘nightstand’ to talk about this piece of furniture, outside of American English, it is common to use the term ‘bedside table’. Originally, the word nightstand implied a furniture piece with built-in storage, while a bedside table was simpler, but nowadays they are equivalent terms.

HAVE THE CAKE AND NAME IT TOO

Why Angel Food Cake? We Explain The Name Of 10 Cakes

Image: Ravi Sharma

While a cake can be a common, modest sweet treat for everyday situations, this kind of preparation is usually made to mark special occasions or to enjoy as a delicacy in tea houses. And, as such, some of these confections can get quite fancy. Some of its notable exponents have ambitious names like Chiffon Cake or Angel Food Cake—names that attempt to express with words the flavor experience these treats provide. Follow us as we uncover the meaning behind some of these delicious names!

Image: amirali mirhashemian

Velvet is a lush, dense fabric, famous for its softness. Its name is usually associated with smooth surfaces and textures, and the world of food is no exception. The famous Red Velvet Cake got the "velvet" part of its name thanks to the softness of its texture, and the "red" part, thanks to the raw cocoa powder employed in its confection, which turned red in the presence of buttermilk.

During World War I, many bakers were forced to turn to grated beets or beet juice when eggs and milk were in short supply.

Image: matheussgoncalves

Despite its dark brown chocolate color, the Black Forest Cake is not called that way because it resembles the dark wooden logs in the forest. Instead, its name comes from a sour cherry brandy called Schwarzwalder Kirschwasser (Black Forest Cherry Brandy) developed in the Black Forest region of Germany.

Black Forest cake is made by soaking the chocolate sponge in sugar syrup flavored with cherry brandy and topped with whipped cream. The German variation of Black Forest cake uses buttercream, while Austrians make theirs with whipped cream, gelatin, and cornstarch.

Image: Aveedibya Dey

The habit of pairing coffee with cake began in Europe around the 1600s, with the introduction of the beverage. Germans and Dutch favored sweet pastries and cakes as their accompaniment of choice.

The "coffee cake" was brought to the United States in the late 1800s and it was adapted into more of a pastry than bread. Then, in the 1950s, bakers began making coffee cakes in Bundt pans to better support a heavier batter and thick streusel topping. Modern coffee cake can be made with a variety of toppings, icing, fruits, and nuts.

Image: Nathalie Jolie

The angelic nature of the Angel Food Cake resides in its light, airy texture, made possible by a ridiculous amount of eggs. It is categorized as a "foam cake" because it derives its structure from heavily beaten egg whites.

Angel Food Cake is highly versatile. Although vanilla is the most traditional flavor, bakers can substitute citrus or almond extracts, as well as add unsweetened cocoa powder for a chocolate version. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves can also be used for a spiced undertone.

Image: Olga Petnyunene

On the other side of the spectrum, we find Devil’s Food Cake. This confection has a dense texture and derives its structure from vegetable oil. Unlike its angelic counterpart just mentioned, Devil's Food Cake uses leavening agents like baking soda and baking powder to rise.

There is evidence that shredded beets were added to the first Devil's Food Cake recipes to add moisture and sweetness, making it a precursor to the popular red velvet cake.

Image: sheri silver

A simple name for a simple cake, indeed. The Pound Cake’s origins stem from the 18th century British, illiterate home bakers who relied on simple memorized recipes to produce consistent bakes. A classic pound cake is made with a pound of each of the following ingredients: butter, sugar, eggs, and flour. While the recipe has been updated over time, its core ingredients remain the same.

Image: CreativeCoffeeConsulter

A cake as fancy as its name implies, the Opera Cake is a traditional French dessert with three layers: almond sponge, espresso buttercream, and chocolate ganache. This cake was named after French pastry chef Cyriaque Gavillion's wife, who remarked that his chocolate creation resembled the Paris Opera House.

The flour is traditionally made of a mix of almond flour and white pastry flour, and a layer of espresso-brandy syrup is soaked into the cake for flavor before the entire cake is covered in espresso buttercream and delicate chocolate ganache.

Image: freestocks

In a similar style to the previously mentioned Red Velvet Cake, Chiffon Cake was named after a fabric. Chiffon is known for its lightness and the Chiffon Cake aims to recreate this texture with vegetable oil and soda for texture and rise. These ingredients give chiffon cake a comparatively heftier texture than a sponge cake.

Chiffon cake is most commonly associated with citrus flavors. Orange, almond, chocolate, and coconut are four of the most popular chiffon cake flavors; the citrus notes are accented by a light, fluffy batter.

Image: Luke Pennystan

Quite similar to pancakes or hoecakes but not exactly the same, Johnnycakes are made with yellow or white cornmeal mixed with hot water and milk. They may be served slightly sweet or savory.

The origin of Johnnycakes is not entirely clear, but they likely have Native American roots, originating from what Pawtuxet Indians referred to as "Shawnee cakes." Johnnycakes can also be served with syrup and butter (a la pancakes) or fresh fruit.

Image: yadetzy0

A more straightforward name than most of the ones found on this list (with the possible exception of the Pound Cake), Poke Cake is made by poking small holes in the top of a baked cake and adding a layer of flavored gelatin or pudding.

To make this cake, prepare the mix as directed on the box and bake. Then poke ½-inch holes into the cake and pour the prepared Jell-O mixture over. Once the cake has set, it is topped with whipped cream and served.