Vocabulary · British culture
Pancake Day in English
A2
Pancake Day in English: Shrove Tuesday and Lent, the ingredients and how to make pancakes, the famous pancake races and other traditions of the day. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
The day and its name
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Pancake Day(n.)“Pancake Day is in February or March.” | the day before Lent starts | /ˈpænkeɪk deɪ/ |
| Shrove Tuesday(n.) | the official name of Pancake Day | /ʃrəʊv ˈtjuːzdeɪ/ |
| Fat Tuesday(n.) | another name for this day (US) | /fæt ˈtjuːzdeɪ/ |
| Ash Wednesday(n.) | the first day of Lent | /æʃ ˈwenzdeɪ/ |
| Lent(n.)“Lent lasts 40 days.” | 40 days before Easter without some foods | /lent/ |
| to give up(v.) | to stop doing or eating something | /ɡɪv ʌp/ |
Basic ingredients
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| pancake(n.)“British pancakes are thinner than American ones.” | a thin, round food made from batter | /ˈpænkeɪk/ |
| flour(n.) | white powder made from wheat | /ˈflaʊə/ |
| milk(n.) | a white drink from cows | /mɪlk/ |
| egg(n.) | what a hen lays | /eɡ/ |
| butter(n.) | a yellow fat made from milk | /ˈbʌtə/ |
| sugar(n.) | sweet white crystals | /ˈʃʊɡə/ |
| lemon(n.) | a sour yellow fruit | /ˈlemən/ |
| maple syrup(n.) | a sweet sauce from a tree | /ˈmeɪpəl ˈsɪrəp/ |
| batter(n.) | a liquid mix of flour, eggs, milk | /ˈbætə/ |
| topping(n.) | what you add on food | /ˈtɒpɪŋ/ |
Cooking and preparation
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| frying pan(n.) | a flat metal dish with a handle | /ˈfraɪɪŋ pæn/ |
| to flip(v.)“You flip the pancake in the air.” | to turn over quickly | /flɪp/ |
| to toss(v.) | to throw something up in the air | /tɒs/ |
| to whisk(v.) | to mix eggs or cream quickly | /wɪsk/ |
| to mix(v.) | to put things together and stir | /mɪks/ |
| to fry(v.) | to cook in hot oil or fat | /fraɪ/ |
| recipe(n.) | instructions for cooking a dish | /ˈresɪpi/ |
Pancake races and traditions
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| pancake race(n.)“Olney is famous for its pancake race.” | running while tossing food in a pan | /ˈpænkeɪk reɪs/ |
| apron(n.) | something you wear to keep clothes clean | /ˈeɪprən/ |
| race(n.) | a competition to see who is fastest | /reɪs/ |
| feast(n.) | a big meal for a celebration | /fiːst/ |
| church(n.) | a building where Christians pray | /tʃɜːtʃ/ |
| tradition(n.) | something people have done for a long time | /trəˈdɪʃən/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
British pancake ≠ American pancake
Be careful: a British pancake is thin and large (like a crêpe), but an American pancake is small and thick (it rises because of baking powder). On Pancake Day in the UK, people eat the thin kind, often with lemon and sugar.
Shrove comes from to shrive
Shrove Tuesday comes from an old verb, to shrive (to listen to someone's sins and forgive them). Christians confessed their sins on this day to start Lent with a clean heart. Today, nobody uses the verb any more: only the name of the day keeps it.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Pancake Day
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Frequently asked questions
When is Pancake Day?+
Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, 47 days before Easter. The date changes every year, but it is usually in February or early March. For example, in 2027 it is on 9 February.
Why do people eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?+
It is a Christian tradition. Before Lent, people had to use up all the rich food in the kitchen (eggs, butter, milk). Pancakes were the perfect way to use these ingredients. Today, many people who are not religious still keep the food tradition.
What is a pancake race?+
It is a traditional race. The runners (often women in aprons) hold a frying pan and toss a pancake in it while they run, without dropping it. The most famous race is in Olney (Buckinghamshire), which has had one since 1445. Since 1950, Olney has also raced against the town of Liberal, in Kansas (USA).
Are British pancakes the same as American pancakes?+
No. A British pancake is thin and large, like a crêpe. An American pancake is small and thick, because the batter contains baking powder. To be clear, say crêpe for the thin kind and American pancake for the thick kind.
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/pancake-day
© 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.