Why do the U.S. and the U.K. use different names for the same foods?

Even though we speak the same language as the Brits, walking into a grocery store across the pond can feel like learning a whole new code. Why do we use completely different terms for the exact same thing? Setting aside cooking and recipes, it all comes down to centuries of history, different language roots, immigration, and old trade roots. Here is the fascinating story behind the word origins that drove these transatlantic food names apart.

Over centuries of farming trade, these green onions have had different names. In the United States, we use the word scallion, which can be traced back to Old French (escalogne) and Latin (Ascalonius), meaning "onion of Ascalon", an ancient port city in the Levant (modern-day Israel) famous for growing this vegetable.

The preferred British term, in contrast, is a straightforward description based on the time of year (spring) when these young onions are harvested.

The general term sausage is rooted in the Latin salsus ("salted"), entering English via the Old French saucisse to describe minced meat preserved in casings.

The British colloquialism banger, however, is a 20th-century linguistic creation. Originating during the meat shortages of World War I, pork links were stretched with water, cereal, and starches. When placed into a hot frying pan, the trapped internal moisture turned to steam, causing the casings to rupture with a popping sound. The resulting noise gave rise to the moniker "bangers".

The history of baked goods reflects centuries of trade and travel around the world. The word biscuit comes from the Latin bis cactus (meaning "twice-cooked"). It passed through Old French as the word we use today to describe hard-baked items made to last on long ocean voyages.

The word cookie came to America through early Dutch settlers in New Netherlands (now New York). It stems from the Dutch word koekje, a diminutive version of koek ("cake"). In brief, British English kept the Latin-based term for dry baked snacks, and American English adopted the Dutch word to describe a treat similar to a small cake.

Used in British English, the word aubergine was adopted from French, which inherited the term from the Catalan albergínia. This European form can be traced back through the Arabic al-bāḏinjān, which itself borrows from the ancient Persian bādengān and ultimately the Sanskrit vāti-maṅga. The plant itself is native to southern or eastern Asia, so it’s no surprise that the word has undergone a linguistic journey rooted in the East.

But in the United States, we use the term eggplant instead, which emerged in the 18th century because early European varieties imported to America looked remarkably similar in color, size, and shape to white or yellow goose eggs.

While both words designate cured cuts from the hind leg of a pig, their historical roots reflect different aspects of Germanic and Romance vocabulary development in medieval Europe. Ham is a direct inheritance from Old English hamm, which originally referred not to the meat itself, but to the hollow or bend of the knee or the thigh of an animal.

Gammon, on the other hand, entered English during the Middle English period via Old French (gamon), deriving from jambe (leg), which traces back to the Late Latin gambum. While American English merged these terms under just "ham", British English kept the etymological distinction between the raw cured cut (gammon) and the finished product.

These tiny, colorful sugar decorations used on ice cream and baked goods have completely different names on either side of the Atlantic. In American English they are called sprinkles, a name derived from the verb sprinkle, which traces back to Middle English and Germanic roots meaning to scatter small particles or droplets.

Funnily enough, in Britain they are known as hundreds & thousands, a playful descriptive phrase from the 19th century that refers to the sheer multitude of tiny sugar beads packed together on a treat.

Both terms for this green summer squash share a distant ancestor in the Latin cucurbita ("gourd"), but they took different paths through Romance languages. Americans use zucchini, which comes directly from zucchina, the plural diminutive form of the Italian zucca ("pumpkin or gourd").

The British term courgette arrived via the French language as a diminutive form of courge ("gourd"). Therefore, both words etymologically mean "little gourd", separated only by whether Italian or French traders and loanwords dominated the respective nation’s lexicon.

Even though this peppery green has different names today, they both come from the same ancient word. Rocket, used in Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, evolved from the French roquette. This French term is a direct descendant of the Latin noun eruca, the ancient name for the plant.

Arugula, on the other hand, entered American English as a loanword from regional Italian dialects (specifically rucola), which is a corruption of the Latin eruca. In the end, despite of sounding very different, both rocket and arugula are phonetic variations of the same ancient Roman botanical term.

The term French fries (often shortened to "fries" in the U.S.) refers to the culinary technique of "Frenching"—cutting vegetables into long, thin strips—popularized in American English during the early 20th century.

In British English, fried potato strips are called simply chips, using an existing English word traditionally used for carved pieces of wood or stone. To distinguish thin, bagged potato slices from hot potato chips, in the 20th century the British coined the term crisps, in reference to the adjective describing their brittle texture.

What people call this plant actually depends on whether they mean the seeds or the green leaves. The word coriander has ancient roots, entering English via Old French from the Latin coriandrum, which was borrowed from the Greek koriannon. Interestingly, linguists trace the Greek root back to koris (a bug), likely a reference to the pungent aroma of the fresh leaves.

Cilantro, used in American English specifically for the leaves, is the Spanish word for the plant, derived from the same Latin root (coriandrum).

Which one stole your heart?

No, Golden Retrievers weren't bred to fetch gold: Dog breed names 101

Image: Glenn

Do you love dogs? From royal companions to fearless hunters and from German badger dogs to barkless African hounds, the names of our favorite breeds often hold surprising stories. Whether you’re a fan of the stoic Mastiff, the sassy Poodle, or the majestic Husky, there’s a tale behind each name that might surprise you. Let’s dig in!

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The beautiful, blue-eyed Husky is inseparable from dog-sledding lore. The breed’s name evolved from the word "Eskimo."

English sailors once slurred "Eskimo" into "Uskee" or "Huskemaw," which eventually transformed into "Husky."

Image: Alondra Pavón

What’s not to love about wiener dogs? Their original name, however, refers not to their iconic sausage shape but to the purpose for which the breed was developed.

Dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers and other burrowing animals, with their long bodies and short legs making them ideal for digging into tunnels. The name is a German compound of Dachs (badger) and Hund (dog), meaning "badger dog."

Image: Irene

There are three beloved varieties of Schnauzer—miniature, standard, and giant—and each has had its moment in pop culture.

The breed takes its name from its distinctive "mustache" or schnauze (snout) in German, literally meaning "snouter" or "muzzle." Originally, Schnauzers were used as rat-catchers and guard dogs in Germany.

Image: Anna Kozakova

Often portrayed as guard dogs or police K-9s in film, Dobermans were named after Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann, a 19th-century German tax collector who developed the breed as a loyal and protective companion for his dangerous rounds.

Image: Alvan Nee

Queen Elizabeth II’s beloved Welsh Corgis made the breed internationally famous. In Welsh, cor means "dwarf" and gi (a soft mutation of ci) means "dog," so Corgi translates to "dwarf dog." Indeed, the breed originated in Wales, where it was used for herding cattle by nipping at their heels. Over time, Corgis also became a cultural symbol of British royalty.

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Known as the "barkless dog" of Central Africa—because of its unique larynx structure, which produces a yodel-like sound (baroo) instead of a bark—the name "Basenji" comes from a Bantu language and roughly translates to "village dog" or "bush thing." The breed is ancient and was used for hunting in the Congo.

Image: Joshua Köller

Did you know the Labrador Retriever has been America’s most popular dog breed for decades? Despite its name, the breed did not originate in Labrador but in Newfoundland.

It was called "Labrador" because British breeders associated the dogs with the Labrador Sea and the nearby region, while "Retriever" refers to the breed’s role in hunting.

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So, did Golden Retrievers retrieve gold? Short answer: no. Like Labradors, they were bred to retrieve game for hunters, but the "golden" part of their name refers to their beautiful coat.

The breed was developed in Scotland in the 19th century by crossing several breeds to create an obedient, water-loving gun dog.

Image: Rahul danga

Snoopy is perhaps the most famous Beagle out there, even though we only saw him in black and white.

The origin of this beloved breed’s name is debated. It may derive from the Old French begueule, meaning "open throat," a nod to their baying howls. Others trace it to Celtic or Old English words meaning "small."

Image: Tra Tran

Always pampered and impeccably groomed! If the term "Poodle" has always reminded you of "puddles," you are not far off. The name comes from the German Pudel or Pudelin, meaning "to splash in water." Poodles were originally bred as water retrievers, so their name reflects this aquatic work.

Image: Bruce Galpin

Pugs’ features and expressive faces have made them a source of comic relief in pop culture. There is no consensus about the origin of their name, however.

Some say that it derives from the Latin pugnus, meaning "fist," perhaps referencing their squished, fist-like face. Others say that in 18th-century England, "pug" was also a term of endearment for something small and compact-looking.

Image: Jackson Jorvan

Athletic, energetic, and full of protective instincts, Boxers are true family guardians. But why the name?

It is thought to come from the breed’s tendency to use its front paws in play, like a boxer in the ring. Another theory links the name to the German word Boxl, a nickname for the breed in Bavaria.

Image: Sophie Hollies 🇨🇭🇫🇷 🇬🇧

As calm and noble as they are huge, Mastiffs were named after the Old French mastin or the Latin mansuetus, meaning "tame" or "domesticated." Despite their imposing size, Mastiffs were bred to guard homes and estates while remaining loyal and gentle with their owners.