Vocabulary

English people speak English, right? That’s the theory at least. I never cease to be amazed by how many subtle differences there are, including the ones below that could come in handy:

  • Coriander is cilantro.
  • A swede is a rutabaga. Tastes a lot like butternut squash to me.
  • Black pudding is congealed pork blood (really).
  • Suet is animal fat that’s often used in pie crusts (head’s up vegetarians).
  • Yorkshire pudding is a flavorless pastry usually served with roast beef. You’re supposed to pour your gravy over it. Gravy is served with everything.
  • Chips are fries (and also served with absolutely everything).
  • Potato chips are crisps.
  • Bangers and mash is sausages with mashed potatoes – a kid favorite, along with sausage, chips, and beans, which consists of sausages, fries, and baked beans. Kids will also sometimes order beans on toast, which is literally a can of baked beans dumped on top of a piece of toast. They serve many things on toast.
  • Mince is ground beef.
  • Mince pie is not made from ground beef but is a sweet pie with a filling made from dried fruits (delicious).
  • A biscuit is a cookie. A cookie is also a cookie.
  • A “Full English” is a massive breakfast consisting of eggs, sausages, bacon (the fat kind, not the crispy kind), baked beans, roasted tomatoes (why?!), and toast. Ed says good for hangovers.