[Vocabulary] What are they called in American English?

[Aamir Tariq]

What are they called in American English? We call them "chips" here in Pakistan in both Urdu and Pakistani English. Are they "crisps"?

Regards
Aamir the Global Citizen

 

[emsr2d2]

They're chips in AmE. They're crisps in BrE.

In BrE, these are chips. In AmE, those are fries.

 

[Aamir Tariq]

They're chips in AmE. They're crisps in BrE.

In BrE, these are chips. In AmE, those are fries.

Yes they are french fries in AmE.

 

[bhaisahab]

In Indian English (at least in Rajasthan) these are called "finger chips".

 

[Tarheel]

Strange. I am getting hungry.
;-)

 

[jutfrank]

If you use the term French fries, remember the initial capital for French.

I'm curious why you say we should use a capital for french here? We're not referring to a language, or even a nationality -- it's just an adjective.

 

[jutfrank]

Fries/Chips have nationality?! How about passports?

 

[emsr2d2]

It's no different from Brussels sprouts and Swiss chard.

 

[charliedeut]

Or the Spanish flu! :-?

 

[Roman55]

I'm curious why you say we should use a capital for french here? We're not referring to a language, or even a nationality -- it's just an adjective.

Let's not forget the fiasco that followed France's refusal to invade Iraq in 2003. There was a name change from French fries to freedom fries. 'French' was obviously taken to mean the French people.

 

[Raymott]

Or the Spanish flu! :-?

Or the Spanish Inquisition.

 

[GoesStation]

Or the Spanish Inquisition.

Yeah, but nobody expects that.

 

[Raymott]

Yeah, but nobody expects that.

They should if they've watched Monty Python.
In any case, that was my next line. Yours was supposed to be "I didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition."
But enough silliness for now. ;-)

 

[charliedeut]

Or the Spanish Inquisition.

Which started in France - well, not the Spanish one, of course... but you get it, right? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inquisition) (I guess you could follow now: I didn't expect... :lol

 

[Raymott]

Well, never mind expectations. Bueno, aqui está:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJZ2m6_T1wc

 

[jutfrank]

• french fries
• swiss chard
• Spanish Flu
• The Spanish Inquisition

For the sake of clarity, logic and style: capitals only for names. If just an adjective (of origin), no need to use capitals. Is there?

(If anybody disagrees, please say why.)

 

[emsr2d2]

I think that "french fries" has become such a generic term, that "french" probably isn't capitalised by most people. I'm honestly not sure I've ever written it down before so I can't really say what I would do. However, I always use a capital letter for "Swiss chard" and "Brussels sprouts".

 

[GoesStation]

The Economist's style guide seems to agree with your proposed rule (see "french [sic] windows"). This seems somewhat eccentric to me, but perhaps it's more common than I realize.

I can't find direct links to other guides, but the grammarphobia.com blog says that the Chicago Manual of Style supports the Economist, but various dictionaries either don't or are inconsistent.