A full English breakfast traditionally includes eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, and toast. While there’s no such specific definition for a full American breakfast, if you were to ask for such a thing at an American diner, you’d likely get some form of eggs, bacon, and a stack of thin, hot, and starchy cakes, smothered in syrup. Depending on where you’re from, those cakes may be called “pancakes” or “flapjacks” — though we wouldn’t blame you if you scarfed them down so quickly, you don’t care about the name. This choice is one of several linguistic food debates common throughout America, with the words varying based on region.
The word “pancake” was the first of these similar terms to be coined, with an etymology dating to circa 1400. The food is defined as “a thin, flat cake of batter, usually fried and turned in a pan. Pancakes are usually eaten with syrup or rolled up with a filling.” The word was created as a literal reference to the cooking process. It’s perhaps the most common variant in the country, especially in large urban areas and the northern United States.
“Flapjack” is a Southern term that can describe pan-fried cakes, but also a specific type of apple turnover. However, in Canada and the United Kingdom, a flapjack is an entirely different food item akin to a biscuit containing rolled oats, as noted by Dictionary.com.
A third contender is “hotcake” — a term you’ll find on the McDonald’s menu. This word was coined in the United States in the late 17th century, referring to “any of various types of cake which are baked on a griddle or fried.” You’re probably familiar with the idiom “sell like hotcakes,” so it makes sense for the fast-food giant to use the alternative term as a tactic to help the food item stand out on the menu (compared with the more generic “pancake”).
Other hyper-regional terms for pancakes include “johnnycake,” which was used by New Englanders in colonial times, but might still be heard in the area. In parts of the South, you also may come across “hoe cakes” on a menu. Put any modern associations with the first word aside — this is related to the practice of cooking cakes on the metal part of a field hoe, which was common among enslaved individuals in that part of the country. Whichever term you decide to use, rest assured that you’ll be getting some decadent goodness on your breakfast plate. Now the only question is: chocolate chips or blueberries?
More from our network
Word Smarts is part of Optimism, which publishes content that uplifts, informs, and inspires.
