# Does the term "full English" get used outside UK? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 11, 2019, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821 "2019-05-11T10:24:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/1 "2019-05-11T10:24:47Z")
In the UK a breakfast featuring a load of fried sausages, bacon, eggs, mushrooms and baked beans would generally be referred to as a “full English”, whereas a lighter breakfast, such as croissants would be “continental” Does this nomenclature exist outside the UK? Would a Frenchman describe such a plate of stodge as an “English breakfast?” ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/2 "2019-05-11T10:53:10Z")
I think most Americans would only have a vague idea of what “Full English” might mean, if they’ve heard the phrase at all. “Country breakfast” is sometimes used in the US for a traditional large breakfast, though IME the mushrooms and baked beans would usually be replaced. Mushrooms are common in omelettes, but If beans are involved at all(instead of the more common grits or potatoes)they would likely be ranch style, pintos, or refrieds. Oh, and I thought the Full English included fried tomatoes. We fry _green_ tomatoes, rarely the ripe ones. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/3 "2019-05-11T11:00:54Z")
Some hotels and pubs in Spain advertise “English breakfast”, but note that the ad is always in English. It’s speciffically directed to English tourists and expats. Our own _desayuno de granjero_, farmer’s breakfast, only includes one item that’s vegetable in origin and that’s bread (toast around Seville). ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/4 "2019-05-11T11:05:53Z")
There is also a ‘Full Irish’. Bacon, sausages, baked beans, eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and black or white pudding, there may also be some cooked leftover potatoes made into a hash or a bubble and squeak. Toast, butter, marmalade, and plenty of tea goes without saying. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/5 "2019-05-11T11:14:36Z")
> [@Bayaker](#): > > I think most Americans would only have a vague idea of what “Full English” might mean, if they’ve heard the phrase at all. The phrase “continental breakfast”, though, is much better known. Inexpensive hotels will often advertise a continental breakfast as part of their room rate. In practice, this usually means that they put out a buffet of pastries, coffee, yogurt, cold cereal, and juice, and guests can come help themselves. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/6 "2019-05-11T11:27:22Z")
“American breakfast”, when not in America, is eggs, hashed browns, toast and a meat (sausage or bacon), IIRC (English, but without the beans, mushrooms, etc.). Usually with coffee and a small orange juice. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/7 "2019-05-11T11:35:53Z")
“Full English breakfast” is a common term in Australia and New Zealand. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/8 "2019-05-11T11:49:53Z")
When I saw the thread title, I thought “Does he mean a big breakfast?”. So at least some Americans know it. I’d be more inclined to think of a “full Irish breakfast”, but that’s probably just because I’ve been to Ireland and stayed in B&Bs, but haven’t been to England. And I’m not sure what, if anything, the precise difference would be between a full English and a full Irish (I expect there’s a lot of variation and overlap in both). “Continental breakfast” is known in the US, mostly, as **MikeS** said, in connection with hotels. With how Americans are with food and portion sizes, though, it’s tended to inflate, and nowadays a lot of places that offer “continental breakfast” will also include make-your-own waffles and hot cereal. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/9 "2019-05-11T12:02:19Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > … And I’m not sure what, if anything, the precise difference would be between a full English and a full Irish (I expect there’s a lot of variation and overlap in both)… You’re right about the overlap. But I would say that a couple of items you would quite likely find in a full Irish are white pudding and potato farls, which you would likely not find in a full English. Other variations which might give a clue as to where you are would be Lorne sausage, which is not common outside Scotland, which is a shame, as it is delicious. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/10 "2019-05-11T13:12:51Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > “Full English breakfast” is a common term in Australia and New Zealand. Seems to be localised around Sydney, possibly in areas with lots of Brit backpackers. Elsewhere you’d see it as a ‘Big breakfast’, ‘[cafe name] special’ or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/11 "2019-05-11T13:58:44Z")
You might also see cafés advertising ‘All Day Breakfast’. This will usually be some variation on a ‘full English’ sometimes with the addition of chips (fries). You do have to read the small print though as I have seen the all-day breakfast advertised but only available before 11am…🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/12 "2019-05-11T14:07:54Z")
“Continental breakfast” is code for “We’re too cheap to hire someone to cook for you.” ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/13 "2019-05-11T14:16:01Z")
> [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > In the UK a breakfast featuring a load of fried sausages, bacon, eggs, mushrooms and baked beans would generally be referred to as a “full English”, whereas a lighter breakfast, such as croissants would be “continental” Does this nomenclature exist outside the UK? Would a Frenchman describe such a plate of stodge as an “English breakfast?” Nope. I’ve seen “English breakfast” being proposed sometimes, but it’s not common at all. And a Frenchman ordering such would expect eggs and bacon plus a glass of orange juice, nothing more. I don’t think that the average Frenchman knows of the existence of the “full English”. French people just don’t eat much for breakfast and even eggs and bacon would be very unusual. I often heard people expressing not just surprise but even disgust at the idea of eating anything significant in the morning, like a hot dish. You’d be hard pressed to find anybody willing to eat a full English for breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/14 "2019-05-11T14:27:50Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Some hotels and pubs in Spain advertise “English breakfast”, but note that the ad is always in English. It’s speciffically directed to English tourists and expats. Our own _desayuno de granjero_, farmer’s breakfast, only includes one item that’s vegetable in origin and that’s bread (toast around Seville). I’ve seen that too in Spain. The reason as I’ve seen is because the typical meat/egg combo breakfast is not done there, and breakfast is more of a pastry and a coffee drink. So yes it’s a shout out to get a breakfast like your used to having back home type of sign, and yes written in english. But I don’t recall seeing a ‘full engish’ breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/15 "2019-05-11T15:01:40Z")
“Full English” is pretty well known around these parts. Not that many restaurants use it, mind you. But people know the term. I’ve even used the term in front of my students without explanation and they knew enough to comment on the presence of beans and/or black pudding. More common is the “Lumberjack” or “Farmer” or “Some Other Hard Worker” breakfast, which drops the beans, mushrooms, tomatoes and black pudding in favor of more meat, a load of hash browns or country potatoes and a short stack. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/16 "2019-05-11T15:24:06Z")
> [@Bayaker](#): > > Mushrooms are common in omelettes, but If beans are involved at all(instead of the more common grits or potatoes)they would likely be ranch style, pintos, or refrieds. Speak for yourself. I ate many times as a child and adult white beans in a molasses-base sauce, one of the varieties of ‘pork and beans.’ The only time I’ve had beans such as you describe is when I’m eating in a Mexican restaurant for breakfast, or at least a Mexican-inspired dish in an American restaurant involving huevos rancheros or chorizo or something similar. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/17 "2019-05-11T15:35:27Z")
Even in England, it’s not always called a Full English - an “all day breakfast” might be offered instead, or just “English Breakfast” (perhaps with small or large variants). ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/18 "2019-05-11T15:39:39Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > “Continental breakfast” is known in the US, mostly, as **MikeS** said, in connection with hotels. Reminds me of[this Key & Peele sketch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st21dIMaGMs) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/19 "2019-05-11T15:42:16Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I’ve seen that too in Spain. The reason as I’ve seen is because the typical meat/egg combo breakfast is not done there, and breakfast is more of a pastry and a coffee drink. That varies by family/person; what you get in hotels and what people actually grab when at home or when faced with a Full Buffet Breakfast are two very different animals. Note that, while you quoted (by mistake I assume) my bit about _desayunos de granjero_, you apparently have not encountered one in the wild; I definitely have. My Dad used to have a fried egg for breakfast (although no bacon on the side), followed by a cup of milk with some _[galletas](https://www.artiach.es/p/marbu)_ (either dunked into the milk or broken down into it, as _sopas de leche_); us kids would have some sort of pork cold meat (chorizo, “_york ham_”, serrano, chopped pork, salchichón…) followed by milk and cookies. Mom has always had fruit, but if sweet teeth didn’t exist she would have had to invent it: her own parents were of the “meat and milk” variety. 1.SiL almost had a stroke when she discovered 1.Bro’s breakfast customs, as she is firmly on the “orange juice followed by fruit and then milk and cookies” camp; she had never had breakfast at someone else’s house and was surprised when a poll of their friends showed a wide range between “oh God I don’t even have a cup of coffee before 11am” and “I can’t leave the house having had less than one fried egg with fried blood sausage, some salchichón or maybe chorizo or perhaps a bit of serrano to wrap up, a big cup of coffee with milk and a pair of large muffins”. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821/20 "2019-05-11T15:45:51Z")
I think baked beans in tomato sauce are pretty much an English thing, although they are available all over the world. They are not spicy or especially sweet and the beans are specially bred to have virtually no taste of their own; 50,000 tonnes of navy beans are shipped annually to the UK from North America. There are many brands, but Heinz is probably the most popular; every day over one a half million cans of Heinz Baked Beans are consumed in the UK. That’s more than 540 million cans a year. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-term-full-english-get-used-outside-uk/833821.md?page=2)