# For Non-Americans: "Would you like peas, squash, or \_\_\_\_? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 30, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516 "2005-06-30T14:42:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/1 "2005-06-30T14:42:31Z")
I know that ‘corn’ is one of those words that has varying meanings – maize in America, other grains elsewhere. What I’m wondering is how you refer to ‘american-type corn’ in eating contexts? As in the subject line, if you were asking someone which of several vegetable choices he wanted. Would it be maize there, too? How about if it were, uh, ‘maize-on-the-cob’? (That just sounds sooo wrong.) ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/2 "2005-06-30T14:54:43Z")
I don’t really see the problem. I am likely to offer corn (maize) with turkey and mashed potatoes to my guests, but I am not likely to offer to serve them boiled stalks of wheat. Sure, I could offer them wheat processed and baked, but that is called bread, not corn. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/3 "2005-06-30T15:04:22Z")
In UK, Sweet corn if served as individual corns, corn on the cob otherwise. Squash is also a problem, mixed gourds might be a better name in UK or the name of the actual gourd being used. Squash is a soft drink made of fruit syrup and water in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/4 "2005-06-30T15:04:55Z")
Scott Plaid, thanks for posting, but you didn’t answer my question(s). ☹ Which is, what word would you utter in referring to the vegetable Americans call ‘corn’ in a dining context in your own country to your own countrymen? Is it “Would you like some more corn?” or “Would you like some more maize?” or what? (I know there should be no problem in understanding between host & guest, since you’d share the same culture.) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/5 "2005-06-30T15:06:35Z")
Off-topic, but interesting: I’ve been told that in Cuba (and maybe other Latin American countries) corn on the cob is viewed as “pig food”, and you’d _never_ offer it to a guest. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/6 "2005-06-30T15:07:21Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > In UK, Sweet corn if served as individual corns, corn on the cob otherwise… Ah. Thanks! > [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > Squash is also a problem, mixed gourds might be a better name in UK or the name of the actual gourd being used. Squash is a soft drink made of fruit syrup and water in the UK. Lol! Okay, I knew it was a drink, too… Now, will someone tell me ‘peas’ changes its meaning, too? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/7 "2005-06-30T15:14:38Z")
In Norwegian it’s always ‘mais’, if it’s on the cob you have a ‘maiskolbe’. Most meanings of corn **and grain** would be ‘korn’. (Including ‘grainy’ - ‘kornete’) ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/8 "2005-06-30T15:15:54Z")
I would use the word corn. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/9 "2005-06-30T15:23:33Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I’ve been told that in Cuba (and maybe other Latin American countries) corn on the cob is viewed as “pig food”, and you’d _never_ offer it to a guest. Certainly not true in Panama. Chunks of corn-on-the cob (though almost never the whole cob) called _mazorcas_ are a standard side dish in cafeterias and as an ingredient in stews. Actually, I think it’s more commonly served this way than as separate kernels. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/10 "2005-06-30T15:36:50Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I’ve been told that in Cuba (and maybe other Latin American countries) corn on the cob is viewed as “pig food”, and you’d _never_ offer it to a guest. On the same hijack, there’s some places (I think parts of the western Africa coast) where lobster is a mundane everyday staple. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/11 "2005-06-30T15:47:13Z")
How do non-americans refer to popcorn? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/12 "2005-06-30T15:51:41Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > How do non-americans refer to popcorn? Popcorn 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/13 "2005-06-30T15:55:45Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Popcorn 😃 But in England, wouldn’t that mean popped rye? There is puffed wheat and puffed rice, and I assume that they are made in a similar manner to popcorn. Or is this just a case where the given term, popcorn, is just accepted? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/14 "2005-06-30T15:59:34Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > Or is this just a case where the given term, popcorn, is just accepted? Yes, that’s it. I’m guessing the term & the stuff itself are both recent linguistic immigrants. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/15 "2005-06-30T16:01:35Z")
As i understand it, in england, they call it “What the bloody hell is that!?” Cite: A SD column I can’t seem to find on the archives ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/16 "2005-06-30T16:06:11Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > How do non-americans refer to popcorn? In movies theaters in Panama it’s called “popcorn”; but it’s also called _palomitas_, “little doves,” which I think is a great name. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/17 "2005-06-30T17:46:21Z")
There’s only one word in frenchh : mais. “Mais” intented for human consumption is called “mais doux” (sweet maize). “Mais” intended for animal consumption I often heard called in the countryside “mais à bec” (beak maize, refering to the poultry). Popcorn is called popcorn. Corn on the cob is very rarely eaten in France, and I can’t remember how it is called. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/18 "2005-06-30T18:28:27Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Popcorn is called popcorn. > > Corn on the cob is very rarely eaten in France, and I can’t remember how it is called. Here in Québec, popcorn may also be called “maïs soufflé”, but the word “popcorn” has also been borrowed to describe this. As for corn on the cob, it is called “maïs en épi” and is a rather popular traditional dish. The phrase “blé d’Inde” (Indian wheat) is also used to refer to corn. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/19 "2005-06-30T18:33:39Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > On the same hijack, there’s some places (I think parts of the western Africa coast) where lobster is a mundane everyday staple. AFAIK, lobster used to be considered poor folk food in the Northeast US back in the day 1700s or possibly 1800s. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516/20 "2005-06-30T18:35:39Z")
[Well, here’s one anecdotal account from Nova Scotia](http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_recipes_fish_seafood/article/0,1801,HGTV_3179_1958332,00.html), and it goes well into the 1900s: > [@](#): > > Hall’s Harbour, Nova Scotia — When John Cody’s grandfather grew up here, he hated to take lobster sandwiches to school because other kids would tease him. Everyone thought bologna was better. > > Nancy Knowles knows how it was, too. Back in the 1940s, she says, the family ran around the house getting all the lobster shells out of sight when company was coming. You wouldn’t want guests to know you were so poor you had to eat lobster. > > “Rich people ate bologna; poor people ate lobster,” she tells visitors. > > Even earlier, the first settlers to Nova Scotia tossed lobsters onto their gardens as fertilizer. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-non-americans-would-you-like-peas-squash-or-____/310516.md?page=2)