Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why.. (brace yourself)

696 replies

BackAgainSlimLady · 24/02/2025 12:29

Single cucumbers from the supermarket come wrapped in plastic.. but single courgettes don’t?

if you ask me.. courgettes have a slightly more fragile skin that cucumber.. so why the lack of protection?

OP posts:
JustBitetheKnotsOff · 25/02/2025 07:15

pronouncing basil, pasta and risotto the American way

How do Americans pronounce risotto, then?

phoenixrosehere · 25/02/2025 07:08

PickAChew · 24/02/2025 21:09

So what about yellow courgettes (yellow) or acorn squash (mostly green skin)?

Show quote history

I was referring to in the States.

Acorn squash was acorn squash. Saying that, I haven’t seen yellow courgettes or acorn squash in any of my major supermarkets in Oxfordshire.

Blubbles · 25/02/2025 07:01

MadinMarch · 24/02/2025 23:01

You're obviously not in the UK...

Show quote history

Cancel the cheque!!!

ClarafromHR · 25/02/2025 07:01

GrouchyKiwi · 24/02/2025 20:15

This is a very weird response.

Do you know the size of Australia's Italian population? Of course they're going to use Italian words like zucchini.

We call peppers "capsicum" too. Better word, frankly.

NZ and Australia have massive immigrant populations from across Europe and beyond, and plenty of our own native words too. Why on earth do we have to speak the same way as Brits?

Bonkers Grin

Show quote history

I should have written Canadians too. I’m Canadian living in the UK. It grinds my gears when I go home and hear Canadians using ‘cilantro’ instead of coriander, pronouncing basil, pasta and risotto the American way. This has all happened since I moved away. I guess I’m bonkers though. 🙄

LostMyLanyard · 25/02/2025 06:52

WillIEverBeOk · 24/02/2025 12:55

YANBU. But I had to google 'courgettes'. Very strange word to use. Not sure why you can't say zucchini which is what it is.

How sad that you are so insular and uneducated in anything outside your own country, that you had to 'google the word courgette' 🤦‍♀️ The world doesn't stop at your borders! And here in the UK we are all aware that courgette/zucchini are the same thing...but we prefer the French version 👌🏻

AussieMum135 · 25/02/2025 06:42

WillIEverBeOk · 24/02/2025 13:00

Genuinely had to google that word too. Its like a completely different language is spoken on here!

And yes, its eggplant.

Show quote history

I'm Australian and with you....its a zucchini and an eggplant!

CorduroySituation · 25/02/2025 06:38

@MegTheForgetfulCat I don't care who else has replied. I read down threads and reply to comments where and when I feel like it. I can state my opinion if one or 12 thousand people have said it.

MegTheForgetfulCat · 25/02/2025 06:31

CorduroySituation · 25/02/2025 06:14

@ThisKindOpalCrab why don't you piss off back to the US then, if you find us so annoying. Confused

Because ThisKindOpalCrab was simply highlighting the number of posters who make sweeping generalizations and assumptions about Americans, even where it's not even relevant? The poster people keep claiming is American is Australian. But you'd know that if you'd read any of the thread. Did you think that 400+ posts in you were the first person to reply to the 4th post on the thread? Confused

CorduroySituation · 25/02/2025 06:14

@ThisKindOpalCrab why don't you piss off back to the US then, if you find us so annoying. Confused

MegTheForgetfulCat · 25/02/2025 06:10

Devianinc · 25/02/2025 01:40

It’s not but spellcheck won’t let spell it correctly. It’s based on being left in a dry desert. Or just say he deserves it

Show quote history

Almost but not quite - it's spelt desert and pronounced dessert (and autocucumber courgette correct clearly gets confused by it), but it's nothing to do with either puddings or dry places. It's another use of "desert" that means "what you deserve".

https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/just-deserts-or-just-desserts

Or yes, we could avoid this whole thing by just saying the person deserves it!

CorduroySituation · 25/02/2025 05:34

WillIEverBeOk · 24/02/2025 12:55

YANBU. But I had to google 'courgettes'. Very strange word to use. Not sure why you can't say zucchini which is what it is.

Rude and/or ignorant comment.

It is the correct word in the U.K., and Mumsnet is a predominantly UK forum.

Words vary across the world, educate yourself before telling us we are wrong!

AnnoyedAsAllHeck · 25/02/2025 04:38

phoenixrosehere · 24/02/2025 20:27

Mind you, why do the Americans use 'zucchini' when they're a type of squash which is a truly American word?

Think it is a way of distinguishing between them.

Zucchini = green squash.

Squash = yellow/orange squash, such as a butternut squash

Show quote history

I thought we used the word squash to mean anything besides pumpkins that are a member of the gourd family. Zucchini is used because it sounds more fun to say zucchini bread instead of courgette or squash bread.

Really though, I don't know. I didn't even know that there were so many different shapes/varieties of zucchini. It's one of very few fruits/vegetables I don't like, along with most types of squash in general. It's confusing enough to know that squash, zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant and more are actually fruits, let alone the many varieties and ways to use them. Maybe I have been missing something?

I also had no idea so many varieties of squash and pumpkins existed. I knew plain pumpkins (knew there were different shapes, colors etc., but put them all into the same slot), yellow, acorn, crookneck, spaghetti and butternut and that's as far as I ever got. But there are at least 50. Mind-blowing.

Devianinc · 25/02/2025 01:40

maudelovesharold · 25/02/2025 00:36

If you think it’s ‘just desserts’, you’ve got another thing coming!

It’s not but spellcheck won’t let spell it correctly. It’s based on being left in a dry desert. Or just say he deserves it

maudelovesharold · 25/02/2025 00:36

If you think it’s ‘just desserts’, you’ve got another thing coming!

CustardySergeant · 24/02/2025 23:05

MadinMarch · 24/02/2025 23:01

You're obviously not in the UK...

Show quote history

She's in Australia.

MadinMarch · 24/02/2025 23:01

WillIEverBeOk · 24/02/2025 12:55

YANBU. But I had to google 'courgettes'. Very strange word to use. Not sure why you can't say zucchini which is what it is.

You're obviously not in the UK...

PickAChew · 24/02/2025 22:53

So there's a marrow song https://www.thewurzels.com/lyricsmarrow.htm

Chorus: Oh, what a beauty! I've never seen one as big as that before!
Oh, what a beauty! It must be two foot long or even more.
Such a lovely colour, so nice and round and fat;

ErrolTheDragon · 24/02/2025 22:35

MumGuilt101 · 24/02/2025 22:14

Wait what’s a marrow then??

Grown up courgette

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marrow_(vegetable)

That link gives lists of courgette vs zucchini countries.

Devianinc · 24/02/2025 22:28

Deserter

ErrolTheDragon · 24/02/2025 22:25

Just out of interest (because it has nothing to do with the expression 'just deserts' or even righteous puddings)- how would you pronounce the word 'deserter' (as in , for example, a person who has left the army in a disloyal or treacherous fashion)?

'Desert' as in abandoning your post is pronounced like 'dessert' not the arid 'desert', so 'deserter' likewise.

Devianinc · 24/02/2025 22:18

A curcibet. Squash. I might have spelled it wrong. That what marrow is.

MumGuilt101 · 24/02/2025 22:14

Wait what’s a marrow then??

Thereislightattheendofthetunnel · 24/02/2025 22:06

Cilantro is the Spanish word for coriander. Tipically used in Mexican cuisine. Maybe Americans borrowed it in its original form just as so many french words are used in the UK. See the aubergine discussion causing so many arguments…

BitOutOfPractice · 24/02/2025 21:56

@Devianinc M&S have got their posh snacky things on offer, including those tiny peppers stuffed with cream cheese that are absolutely blummin’ delicious.

Devianinc · 24/02/2025 21:54

AnnoyedAsAllHeck · 24/02/2025 17:00

I love the smaller ones and the seedless ones. I also love the small red and yellow sweet peppers that you can stuff with jalapeño or chive cream cheese.
The small cukes and peppers are nice for children's lunches as they are easier and less messy to eat.

Show quote history

I forgot the little peppers, they are good stuffed. I’m going to remember that the next time I food shop.