Everyone knows that breakfast should be hearty, healthy and nutritious in order to energize us for the whole day. Protein dishes are suitable for morning meals, for example, a fluffy, airy, tender omelet familiar from childhood, which can be sprinkled with Provencal herbs or served with a juicy tomato. We will understand how they call the omelet in English, Russian and French.
Word history
The word omelet, like the dish itself, was born in France (omelette) and has undergone significant changes over time. So, for example, there were spellings of amelette and alemette. Some scholars associate the origin of the word with the root ame, which means "soul", others explain it with the word omelle - "life".
Briefly about the origin of omelets
As always in cooking, there are many recipes for this dish in the world. Many countries have their own omelette history, and when cooking they use their own tricks. In particular, the French version is very different from the usual dish in the most fundamental way: milk is not added to it, and the egg is whipped exclusively with a fork. The history of the American omelet is noteworthy: the first European immigrants, due to the harsh living conditions and lack of culinary skills, prepared this dish mixed with ham, potatoes, onions and peppers. Apparently, for Americans, scrambled eggs are a real delicacy, because Giant Omelette Days are celebrated annually in the United States.
In Russia, there was also an analogue of the French goodies with the unusual name "drachan". The cooking feature was mixing eggs with caviar.
Omelet in English: pronunciation and spelling
If you decide to try a treat in the States or in England, it should be borne in mind that the spelling and pronunciation of the word in British and American English is slightly different. The difference is very insignificant and not noticeable by ear, but it is. The word itself is not translated into English, only the pronunciation is changed with the characteristic English accentuation on the first syllable.
| British version | American option |
| Spelling | Omelette | Omelet |
| Pronunciation | [ˈⱰm.lət] | [ˈⱭː.mə.lət] |
| Plural | Omelettes | Omelets |
The British spelling of the word preserves the original French style, while the American, in its best traditions, seeks to simplify and removes unpronounceable letters from the base. Thus, you should not get lost if in several restaurants (mainly the USA) you will find different names for omelette: we are talking about the same treat, and you will be understood in any case.