DISCLAIMER: I am a dumb American who will be looking at this subject from my decidedly dumb American perspective, so keep that in mind!
1. "Why do Americans call it cotton candy? That's so lame."
why do americans call it cotton candy thatβs so lame
Sorry, but cotton candy looks like cotton and tastes like candy, so cotton candy is the perfect name! Calling it candy floss or fairy floss as they do in other parts of the world is kind of weird...it doesn't look like anything you'd use to floss your teeth. And if by "floss" they mean the kind that makes up a silkworm's cocoon, well, that makes more sense, but who wants to think about eating a cocoon when they're trying to enjoy a delicious treat?
VERDICT: Point to America.
2. "Hate seeing Americans call a chicken burger a chicken sandwich. Shut up."
hate seeing americans call a chicken burger a chicken sandwich shut up
A chicken sandwich IS a lot like a hamburger, but I guess many Americans view hamburgers to be exclusively made with ground beef. That doesn't make sense, though, when you consider we call them HAMburgers. Confusing things even more, we also have ham sandwiches! And chicken sandwiches that are actual sandwiches and not to be confused with the chicken sandwiches that are like burgers. Oh man, America, what are we doing?
VERDICT: Point to the world.
3. "I find it funny how Americans call chocolate bars candy bars. Like, chocolate isn't CANDY."
i find it funny how americans call chocolate bars candy bars like chocolate isnβt CANDY
It's not? Come on! I don't get making a big thing about separating candy and chocolate into distinct categories. They're both full of sugar and delicious, right?
VERDICT: Point to America.
4. "Why TF do Americans call it zucchini and not courgette? WTF is wrong with you guys?"
why tf do americans call it zucchini and not courgette wtf is wrong with you guys
Look, if you're going to try to blast us for using a weirdo name like zucchini, you probably shouldn't call it something equally weird like courgette.
VERDICT: Draw.
5. "Still upset after finding out Americans call pencil crayons colored pencils."
still upset after finding out americans call pencil crayons colored pencils
We call them colored pencils because that's literally what they are! A crayon and a pencil are totally different things, so "pencil crayon" doesn't make all that much sense! Do you call colored pens "pen crayons"?
VERDICT: Point to America.
6. "Why do Americans call swearing 'cursing'? You're not a bloody witch, luv."
why do americans call swearing βcursingβ youβre not a bloody witch luv
Yeah, this one is kind of silly. I've tried to think of a clever comeback, but got nothing. Kudos, Lucy, you've scored a direct knockout!
VERDICT: Point to the world.
7. "It's literally football, why do Americans call it soccer?"
its literally football why do americans call it soccer
It's true you mainly use your feet when playing soccer, so on the face of it, "football" seems like a much better name for the game. Especially when β outside of the lonely kicker and punter β players don't use their feet much in American football (except, you know, to move).
But!
Before you anti-soccerites get too smug, did you know that a number of other countries besides the United States call it "soccer," like Australia, South Africa, the Philippines, and Canada (to name just a few)? Also, did you know that the word "soccer" is of British origin, and was used by 19th century Brits as a nickname for what they now call football? So don't make fun of the word "soccer" too much, British people...you made it!
VERDICT: Point to the "football"-using part of the world. While the history lesson above may have won the ol' US of A some points, in the end, it makes more sense for the game where you kick the ball to be called football.
8. "Remembered Americans call cheese toasties grilled cheese and now my day is ruined."
Remembered Americans call cheese toasties grilled cheese and now my day is ruined
Let me say right away that grilled cheese isn't a perfect name, especially when you don't grill the cheese, you grill the bread! You also don't grill it generally, you cook it in a pan. But "pan-cooked bread with cheese inside" doesn't quite have the right ring to it.
All that said, you "cheese toastie" fans don't automatically win this one. First, from what I can see online (including from British chef Jamie Oliver), you don't toast your toasties, you cook them in a pan. So they're not toast any more than ours are grilled! And while a cheese toastie sounds cute, it might be a little embarrassing to order if you're older than 10.
VERDICT: Draw. I propose we all switch to "pan-cooked bread with cheese inside." Who's with me? Anyone? Bueller?
9. "Americans call most of their domestic competitions winners 'world champions,' which is annoying. ... It is 'domestic,' so you are NOT 'world champions'!!!"
@piersmorgan Actually Americans call most if their domestic competitions winners "World Champions" which is annoying That to my knowledge includes @NBA, @NFL, @NHL and @MLB It is "Domestic" so you are NOT "World Champions" !!!
If I wanted to be all jingoistic, I could say that the winners of the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, and World Series could probably beat any other team in the world at their respective sports, but considering we just call our winning teams world champs without giving any other teams around the world a go, that's kind of bad form, isn't it?
VERDICT: Point to the world.
10. "Can't believe Americans calls capsicums bell peppers."
Can't believe Americans call capsicums bell peppers...
Capsicum? Ugh. Just saying it makes me lose my appetite a little. Now, bell pepper, that sounds like a food! It's a pepper, but also a bell...or something. I don't know, maybe it's not the best name either, but sorry β it tops capsicum!
VERDICT: Point to America.
11. "Why do Americans call herbs 'erbs' as if the 'h' doesn't exist? WHAT DID THAT LETTER EVER DO TO YOU?"
why do americans call herbs βerbsβ as if the h doesnt exist WHAT DID THAT LETTER EVER DO TO YOU
Sorry, but we drop the "h" because it's a word with French origin, and we respect our French friends.
Also, Herb used to be a fairly common name for British men, so it seems kind of weird to say herb with a hard "h," don't you think? It'd be like if we Americans were in the kitchen and hollered, "Hey, did you throw in the Larrys?" "Yup, lots of Larrys in the soup!"
VERDICT: Point to America.
12. "Why the heck do Americans call single beds twin beds?"
Why the heck do Americans call single beds twin beds???
We call them twin beds because they originally were meant to be sold as pairs, especially to hotels and motels. But yeah β when you only buy one, it makes little sense to call it a twin! A single bed is definitely a more appropriate name, especially when the next size up is a double. Why they then jump to queen-size instead of triple I'll never know, though!
VERDICT: Point to the world.
13. "One thing I really don't get is why Americans call it horseback riding. Why are you specifying? Where else are you riding them? I'm concerned."
one thing i really don't get is why americans call it horseback riding,, why are you specifying? where else are you riding them? i'm concerned
Have you met us Americans? Some of us could use the specific instruction! I kid, I kid. Yeah, you're right. It's a pointless extra word.
VERDICT: Point to the world.
14. "I forgot Americans call biscuits cookies. What the fuck?"
i forgot americans call biscuits cookies what the fuck
Come on, "cookie" is a great name! Plus, you call some of your biscuits "digestive biscuits" or just "digestives." What kind of name is that for something that's supposed to be delicious?!
VERDICT: Point to America.
15. "Why do Americans call shopping centres 'malls'?"
Wife...."Why do Americans call shopping centres "Malls"..?? Me....."Because when they go shopping, they just don't go to one shop , they go to theM all".....π€π€π²
There's an interesting history to how "mall" came to mean what it does to Americans today (it went from the name of a game to a term for a "public space"), but it's true, "shopping center" makes a lot more sense than "mall." Of course, our term allows us to say with one syllable what you say in four, so it's shorter at least!
VERDICT: Point to the world.
16. "I just learned from TikTok that garbanzo beans are what Americans call chickpeas, and my mind is blown."
I just learned from tik tok that garbonzo beans are what Americans call chickpeas and my mind is blown π€―ππ
Personally, I like to say garbanzo. Garbanzo! Yes! GARBANZO! You probably like saying "chickpeas" too. Frankly, both of these are kind of cool words for a vegetable. Google tells me chickpeas is derived from Latin, whereas garbanzo comes from Spanish, which, considering how many Spanish speakers live in the Americas, makes it especially appropriate.
VERDICT: Draw. Both sound cool if you ask me.
17. "Still can't believe Americans call crisps 'chips.' It sounds so silly."
still can't believe Americans call crisps "chips" it sounds so silly
I gotta say, if an impartial third party came in, they'd probably be like, "'Crisps?' 'Chips?' Sound about the same to me." I mean, they're both one syllable words that start with "c" and end with "s." I honestly can't find the strength to advocate for one over the other.
VERDICT: Draw.
Reminder: I am an American idiot with a limited understanding of almost all of the above, so don't take it too seriously!
