What Do You Call a Pancake in North Carolina? – The Goods (2024)

Uncommon Knowledge

August 8, 2016

What Do You Call a Pancake in North Carolina? – The Goods (1)

If you’ve ever asked for a co*ke, then been asked what kind of co*ke you wanted, then been utterly confused by the question, you’re familiar with the phenomenon of different areas of the U.S. using different words to describe the same thing. There are more reasons behind these linguistic lunacies than there are words for a sub… or a hoagie, or a grinder (or a hero, a poor boy, or sarney).

In 2002, two language professors, Bert Vaux and Scott Golder, set out to track regional dialect in a linguistics project called the Harvard Dialect Survey. They found that the words people use, as well as when they use them and how they say them, can accurately indicate the region of the country they’re from. Since then, many other sources have generated quizzes you can take that let you put together your own personal dialect map.

Some of our favorite word wars include: flapjacks (North Carolina) vs. pancake (everywhere else); dropped eggs (New England) vs. poached eggs (everywhere else); a cabinet (Rhode Island) vs. a milkshake (everywhere else); a clicker (New England) vs. a remote (everywhere else); and a firefly (West Coast) vs. a lightning bug (East Coast).

Spicy Syrup | $14

What Do You Call a Pancake in North Carolina? – The Goods (2)

Kelly

Kelly Marages is a New York City writer and editor whose work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, literary journals, and here, on the information superhighway. Her favorite gig was as a horoscope writer working under the pen name Luna C. (As a Libra, she hopes you will fall in platonic love with her after learning this.) She has an M.F.A. in fiction and rarely appears in a photo without a prop.

2 Comments

  • What Do You Call a Pancake in North Carolina? – The Goods (3)

    ReplyLizzAugust 22, 2016 at 2:20 pm

    I lived in Florida from about 2 or 3 until I was 10 and we moved to North Carolina (by the way I knew ‘flapjack’ = pancake and the thing about co*ke = soft drink ).
    I remember a day years ago now, in middle school during lunch we got to choose if we would prefer a hot dog or a cheese dog. Who’s silly enough to get JUST a hot dog when there’s cheese dogs? I chose a cheese dog, took it and went to put my condiments on my food.
    I opened the hot dog bun and found …… a long block of cheese in a hot dog bun.
    I went back to” the lunch lady that had served me and inquired where my hotdog was and she replied “You asked for a cheese dog.”
    And I nodded “yeeeeaaah…..”

    If you ever want a hot dog with cheese in/on it ask for a combination dog.

  • What Do You Call a Pancake in North Carolina? – The Goods (4)

    ReplyCassieAugust 25, 2016 at 1:31 pm

    This is a great example of one of those regional food things causing confusion. Thanks for sharing! We’d love to hear more stories like this.

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    What Do You Call a Pancake in North Carolina? – The Goods (2024)

    FAQs

    What are pancakes called in North Carolina? ›

    Since then, many other sources have generated quizzes you can take that let you put together your own personal dialect map. Some of our favorite word wars include: flapjacks (North Carolina) vs. pancake (everywhere else); dropped eggs (New England) vs. poached eggs (everywhere else); a cabinet (Rhode Island) vs.

    Where are pancakes called flapjacks? ›

    The nuance in naming exists depending on where you live and the method in which you prepare it. For instance, folks from the South and Southeast call them flapjacks, while people from the West, North, and even the East tend to call them pancakes. Some states have entirely different names for pancakes altogether.

    What's the difference between a pancake and a hotcake? ›

    Those who believe these delights should be identified differently mention the specific difference in cooking method, where hotcake is a type of griddle cake cooked for a longer time, thus having a browner surface. Some would also say that pancakes are rather thin, while hotcakes are significantly thicker.

    Why are pancakes called pancakes? ›

    A pancake is a thin, flat cake that's made by pouring batter into a pan—hence its name—and then flipping it so that both sides are cooked.

    What do Southerners call pancakes? ›

    In the South, pancakes are interchangeably called hotcakes, griddlecakes, and flapjacks, though British flapjacks are made with rolled oats cooked in the oven.

    What are the old names for pancakes? ›

    People began using the word “pancake” during the 15th century, and the word became standard in 19th century America. Previously, people referred to them as Indian cakes, hoe cakes, johnnycakes, journey cakes, buckwheat cakes, griddle cakes, and flapjacks. Early American pancakes were made with buckwheat or cornmeal.

    What is the American term for pancake? ›

    American and Canadian pancakes (sometimes called hotcakes, griddlecakes, or flapjacks) are usually served at breakfast, in a stack of two or three, topped with maple syrup or table syrup, and butter. They are often served with other items such as bacon, toast, eggs or sausage.

    What does McDonald's call pancakes? ›

    Hotcakes is another word for pancakes. That's just what McDonald's decided to call them.

    What is a pile of pancakes called? ›

    (stæk )

    What do the French call their pancakes? ›

    Crêpes are an ultra-thin pancake common in France that can be made sweet or savory, typically rolled or folded with a variety of fillings from jam or Nutella to ham and cheese to seafood.

    What's the difference between American flapjacks and pancakes? ›

    In the US, the terms flapjack and pancake are interchangeable; there is no difference between the two. Flapjack is a term that you will hear more often in the South, while you will see pancakes on more menus in the north (similar to the divide between stuffing and dressing).

    Why is it called Shrove? ›

    The word 'shrove' comes from a Roman Catholic practice – to 'shrive' meant going to confess your sins and being absolved by a priest. In the past, a 'shriving' bell was rung on Shrove Tuesday to call people to church to confess their sins.

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