# When did "beet" become "beetroot"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 27, 2015, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838 "2015-10-27T02:24:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/21 "2015-10-27T16:17:26Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Do you also refer to “carrotroot” and “turniproot” and “sweet potatoroot”? I yam what I yam. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/22 "2015-10-27T16:21:17Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > Now onto a really divisive subject. What colour is Turnip? Scots and Irish will typically say orange, and English will say white… The Scots and Irish are right of course 🙂 The thing with “turnips” is Americans (and maybe other people) are calling two separate vegetables by one name. The white ones are turnips while the yellow ones are actually rutabagas, which are also called neeps or swedes in some contries. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/23 "2015-10-27T16:38:25Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > To be fair, there are sorts of slaw than just cabbage (cole) slaw, like broccoli slaw using shredded broccoli, so that usage isn’t necessarily wrong. It’s just that coleslaw is such a dominant variety in the US… Saying “slaw” rather than “coleslaw” is just lazy; it’s not necessarily pretentious, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/24 "2015-10-27T16:46:34Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > And just plain nasty everywhere. > > Yes, I’m a beethater. We say ‘antibeetrootite’ now. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/25 "2015-10-27T17:05:08Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > EXCEPT for foodie types, beets have a very low profile in the U.S. They are dimly known as those purple things in jars in the canned vegetable section, and they are ‘beets’. I guess if McDonalds started putting ‘beetroot’ on burgers as in other countries, the term would become more widespread. For now, beets will do, if anyone refers to them at all. Remember the Beach Boys put “beetroot” into pop culture briefly back in 1963: “_Beetroot to your school…_” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/26 "2015-10-27T17:19:35Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Remember the Beach Boys put “beetroot” into pop culture briefly back in 1963: > > “_Beetroot to your school…_” I graduated high-school with a Bob Moran. We used to sing, “Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob Moran” to him. /Beach Boys Bonanza ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/27 "2015-10-27T17:36:40Z")
I always just assumed “beetroot” was one of those charming Britishisms, like going on “holiday” or having a meal called “tea.” Sometimes I suspect they do it just to fuck with us. “Let’s all start saying ‘brilliant’ all the time and see if the Yanks start copying us!” ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/28 "2015-10-27T17:57:58Z")
When money became monies. ---
**Author:** ![epolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@epolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epolo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/29 "2015-10-27T19:00:18Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Again, to be fair, for two out of three of those example you wouldn’t eat the leaves anyway so the distinction would be unnecessary. Just for the record, the leaves of all three noted roots (turnip, carrot, and sweet potato) are edible. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/30 "2015-10-27T19:58:46Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Do you also refer to “carrotroot” and “turniproot” and “sweet potatoroot”? 😛 Nope, but there again, nor do I say codfish or tuna fish, which seem to be common terms in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/31 "2015-10-28T01:47:00Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Do you also refer to “carrotroot” and “turniproot” and “sweet potatoroot”? 😛 I think that’s actually sweet potatotuber. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/32 "2015-10-28T02:01:15Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > When I first heard “beetroot” it was being described as an Aussie burger garnish. I immediately adopted the term and have used it since. Mate. Goodonya Cobber.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/33 "2015-10-28T03:04:54Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Nope, but there again, nor do I say codfish or tuna fish, which seem to be common terms in the USA. I wouldn’t use “codfish” for anything, and “tuna fish” is only if it comes from a can. A “tuna fish sandwich” (to me) implies canned tuna mixed with mayonnaise and maybe some vegetables, whereas a “tuna sandwich” damned well better be a filet. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/34 "2015-10-28T04:09:11Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > To be fair, there are sorts of slaw than just cabbage (cole) slaw, like broccoli slaw using shredded broccoli, so that usage isn’t necessarily wrong. “Slaw” is never wrong, just as “soup” or “bread” is not wrong, just because the variety is unspecified. ---
**Author:** ![pseudograph](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pseudograph/32/19768_2.png) [@pseudograph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudograph)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/35 "2015-10-28T11:40:38Z")
Watching _Masterchef Australia_ almost had me convinced that beetroot must be a different (better) vegetable than the American beet. No culture could possibly want to eat that much of the stuff. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/36 "2015-10-28T11:53:44Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > Saying “slaw” rather than “coleslaw” is just lazy; it’s not necessarily pretentious, IMO. I dunno…if it’s a carrot slaw or jicama slaw or broccoli slaw you’re making, referring to it as “cole slaw” (_trans: cabbage salad_) just seems inaccurate. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/37 "2015-10-28T18:33:11Z")
> [@pseudograph](#): > > Watching _Masterchef Australia_ almost had me convinced that beetroot must be a different (better) vegetable than the American beet. No culture could possibly want to eat that much of the stuff. I likewise thought beetroot was something different from just plain beets. But I guess it’s just used because it’s used in British English, and thus a bit of a prestige dialect among Americans. Hence it would be the domain of foodies, who tend to use elevated language in order to try and capture the flavor of using quality ingredients. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/38 "2015-10-28T19:17:24Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Hence it would be the domain of foodies, who tend to use elevated language in order to try and capture the flavor of using quality ingredients. Real Chef: “First we taste with our eyes” Foodie: “First we taste with our ears” ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/39 "2015-10-29T00:36:22Z")
> [@epolo](#): > > Just for the record, the leaves of all three noted roots (turnip, carrot, and sweet potato) are edible. Well, I’ll give you “non-toxic.” ---
**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:** [October 29, 2015, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838/40 "2015-10-29T01:10:10Z")
I dunno; my (American) family eats plenty of beets, roots and greens both. And “beetroot” does absolutely nothing at all to distinguish between red beets and sugar beets, because the root is the primary part eaten for both of those. Never mind that nobody ever talks about sugar beets in any context where there’s room for confusion, anyway. > [@](#): > > Quoth **Balthisar** : > > I mean, really, would any Americans have issues understanding corriander leaf? Probably. A lot of us don’t even realize that those two seasonings come from the same plant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-beet-become-beetroot/735838.md?page=3)