Vocabulary · UK culture
British food in English
A2
British food in English: fish and chips, pies, the full English breakfast and the Sunday roast, afternoon tea with scones, sauces and the pub. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Traditional dishes
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| fish and chips(n.)“Fish and chips is a British classic.” | fried fish with thick fried potatoes | /fɪʃ ən tʃɪps/ |
| shepherd's pie(n.) | minced lamb under mashed potato | /ˈʃepədz paɪ/ |
| cottage pie(n.) | minced beef under mashed potato | /ˈkɒtɪdʒ paɪ/ |
| full English breakfast(n.) | eggs, bacon, sausages, beans and toast | /fʊl ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ ˈbrekfəst/ |
| Sunday roast(n.) | a big lunch of roasted meat and vegetables | /ˈsʌndi rəʊst/ |
| bangers and mash(n.) | sausages with soft, crushed potato | /ˈbæŋəz ən mæʃ/ |
Tea and baking
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| tea(n.) | a hot drink made from leaves | /tiː/ |
| afternoon tea(n.) | a small meal of cakes and sandwiches | /ˌɑːftəˈnuːn tiː/ |
| scone(n.)“Scones with jam and cream.” | a small round cake eaten with jam | /skəʊn/ |
| biscuit(n.) | a small, flat, sweet baked snack (UK) | /ˈbɪskɪt/ |
| crumpet(n.) | a soft, spongy cake that you toast | /ˈkrʌmpɪt/ |
| shortbread(n.) | a rich, buttery Scottish biscuit | /ˈʃɔːtbred/ |
Sides and sauces
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| gravy(n.) | a hot sauce made from meat juices | /ˈɡreɪvi/ |
| mint sauce(n.) | a green sauce served with lamb | /mɪnt sɔːs/ |
| Yorkshire pudding(n.) | a savoury baked batter cup for roasts | /ˈjɔːkʃə ˈpʊdɪŋ/ |
| mash(n.) | potatoes crushed until soft and smooth | /mæʃ/ |
| gravy boat(n.) | a jug for serving sauce at the table | /ˈɡreɪvi bəʊt/ |
Places and customs
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| pub(n.) | a traditional British place to eat and drink | /pʌb/ |
| pub grub(n.) | simple, filling food served in pubs | /pʌb ɡrʌb/ |
| tea room(n.) | a small café serving cakes and hot drinks | /tiː ruːm/ |
| fish and chip shop(n.) | a takeaway that sells fried fish meals | /fɪʃ ən tʃɪp ʃɒp/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
Biscuit (UK) or biscuit (US)?
In the UK, a biscuit is a small, dry, sweet snack (a cookie in the US). In the US, a biscuit is a small bread roll that is not sweet. Same word, different food!
Pudding: often just “dessert”
In the UK, pudding often means the dessert, any dessert: What's for pudding? Yorkshire pudding is the exception: it is not sweet, and people eat it with roast meat.
Practice quiz
Related pages: British food
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Frequently asked questions
What are typical British dishes?+
Some famous dishes are fish and chips, shepherd's pie, the full English breakfast, the Sunday roast and bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potato). Yorkshire pudding is a side dish with a roast, and people eat scones with a cup of tea.
What is afternoon tea?+
Afternoon tea is a British tradition: a cup of tea between about 3 and 5 pm, with scones, small sandwiches and little cakes. It started as a custom of rich, upper-class families in the 19th century.
What is the difference between a cookie and a biscuit in the UK?+
In the UK, a biscuit is a small, flat, sweet snack: Americans call it a cookie. In the US, a biscuit is a small, soft bread roll that is not sweet. British people use cookie too, mostly for big, soft biscuits with chocolate chips.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/british-food
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.