Around the world, people debate things for fun. And by good fun, we mean things such as how a certain word is pronounced, how the best way to do something is, and, of course, the proper term for certain foods. Two countries that are constantly going back and forth between what's proper and what's incorrect - or suspected to be incorrect, anyway - are the U.S. and the U.K. For decades, the two nations have had their own ideas of which dishes are which and if the common debate over fries vs. chips is any indication, there is a playful rivalry between the two as to which names are proper for certain food items.
There's enough confusion when it comes to figuring out which pudding is the best (ahem, instant pudding from a box doesn't count in this argument) as well as whether or not a person means savory or sweet pudding... But we decided to add to the mix and throw in even more foods that are exactly the same but are called different names on either side of the pond.
Shrimp Vs. Prawns
Don't get it twisted - there are places in the U.S. where you can see 'prawns' on the menu. However, more often than not, prawns will consist of head-on shrimp that have not yet been peeled. In the U.K., prawns are just shrimp, in general. Therefore, if you're served a shrimp cocktail in the U.S., you'll likely get peeled, de-veined, tail-on shrimp, while in the U.K., it would be the same but referred to as a prawn cocktail... or something to that effect.
Seltzer Vs. Soda Water
No one is saying that either of these is right or wrong but calling seltzer 'soda water' feels a bit more true than calling it anything else. In the U.S., sparkling water is called seltzer or club soda, while in the U.K., it's only referred to as soda water. Club soda was born during the post-WWII era in the U.S. but soda water was a term that the U.K. has always used.
Chips Vs. Crisps
This is the real tongue-twisting confusing that many people stumble into when visiting either country. The U.K. has chips and crisps, but crisps are actually the U.S.'s chips while U.K. chips are fries. If you didn't get it, here's a simpler explanation: throughout the U.K., potato chips - which is what they're called in the U.S. - are actually called crisps. Whereas french fries, as they're referred to in the U.S., are called chips. Interestingly enough, french fries were also called chips once in America, until it was decided that a distinction needed to be made between the Americanized style of french fries vs. the thicker style of those in the U.K.
Sweets Vs. Candies
Sweeties is also another term for candy in the U.K., although chocolates don't fit this categorization and are often just referred to as 'chocolate.' The definition of sweets or sweeties is very broad though, and includes any type of candy under the sun that isn't chocolate or a bar of chocolate.
Cookies Vs. Biscuits
This could get confusing, especially if you're from the U.K. and visiting the U.S., and see something like sausage gravy and biscuits on the menu. In the U.K., a cookie is also referred to as a biscuit, with the exception of a chocolate chip cookie, which is the only 'cookie' referred to as what it is. In the U.S., every type of cookie - shortbread, sugar, gingerbread, etc. - is referred to, in general, as a 'cookie.' There, biscuits are actually flaky roll-like pieces of bread that are eaten with lunch, dinner, or occasionally for breakfast.
Cilantro Vs. Coriander
It's a wild world out there and if you didn't know that cilantro and coriander are the same plants, then you're welcome. However, there is a distinction between the two of them: cilantro is the name for the leaves and stalks of the plant while coriander usually refers to the seeds from which the plant grows. In the U.S., cilantro is the fresh or dried herb that's used to flavor dishes. There, coriander also usually refers to just the seeds, which are used in powder form to flavor dishes, as well. In the U.K., coriander refers to cilantro, in general, with no distinction.
Aubergine Vs. Eggplant
For the record, aubergine and eggplant both refer to the same purple vegetable. However, the term aubergine was first used during the 1600s in reference to its appearance to that of a swan egg, which was the first form the vegetable was found in. Nowadays, the deep purple form of the vegetable is more commonly used, and the term 'eggplant' began being thrown around during the 1800s and stuck in the U.S. as opposed to the U.K., where aubergine is still used more commonly.