another name for eggplant
Liam Parker
Updated on July 02, 2026
Aubergine is a French word, and it is how Europeans refer to what Americans would typically call an eggplant. We call it eggplant because the original aubergine that was brought to North America by immigrants looked like white eggs.
What is the name of this fruit ?
The name “eggplant” was given to the fruit by Europeans sometime in the mid-18th century. The size and shape of the fruit was similar to those of goose eggs.
What is the European name for eggplant?
According to Ina Lipkowitz, PhD, the etymology of its northern European name reads like a who’s who of early marauders. The French and the British (copying the French), call eggplants aubergine, which is derived from the Sanskrit word vatinganah (literally, “anti-wind vegetable”).
What do they call eggplant in England?
Eggplant or Aubergine
The British have borrowed quite a few foods terms from their French neighbors and none is more well-known than aubergine,known as eggplant in the U.S.. The word aubergine comes from the Catalan word alberginia, which came from the Arabic al-badhinjan and the Persian word badingan before that.
What is eggplant called in Italy?
Melanzane, or eggplant, is a staple of Southern Italian cooking.
What is eggplant vegetable?
The eggplant is a nightshade vegetable, like potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers. It originally comes from India and Asia, where it still grows wild.
Is brinjal and eggplant same?
Brinjal and eggplant are two different terms we use interchangeably to refer to the same food. Eggplant is an egg-shaped fruit. It is quite fleshy and frequently cooked as a vegetable. Brinjal is a less common name used for eggplants; South Asians such as Indians and Sri Lankans mainly use this name.
What vegetable family is eggplant?
Nightshade is a family of plants that includes tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, and peppers. Tobacco is also in the nightshade family. Nightshades are unique because they contain small amounts of alkaloids.
Who called aubergine?
In Britain, it is usually called an aubergine, a name which was borrowed through French and Catalan from its Arabic name al-badinjan. That word had reached Arabic through Persian from the Sanskrit vatimgana, which indicates how long it has been cultivated in India.
What countries call eggplant?
Eggplant = aubergine
Americans and Aussies call it eggplant because of its shape. Brits still refer to it by its original French name.
What do the British call sidewalks?
It is called a sidewalk in American English, but can also be called a pavement (mainly British English and South African English), a footpath (Australian English, Irish English, Indian English and New Zealand English) or footway (Engineering term).
What is the British name for a zucchini?
But that’s just a guess. Courgette crossed the English Channel to Britain from France but first came to America from Italy which is why Americans call it zucchini.
What is the Sicilian word for eggplant?
What is the Sicilian word for eggplant? This last word sounds most like the Italian word for eggplant, which is melanzana (plural: melanzane).
Why is it called eggplant parmigiana?
Why Is It Called Parmigiana? In spite of the name, which means “Parma-style Eggplant,” this dish originated in southern Naples, not the northern Emilia-Romagna town of Parma where the well-known cheese was first produced.
Where is eggplant from?
Eggplant requires a warm climate and has been cultivated in its native Southeast Asia since remote antiquity. A staple in cuisines of the Mediterranean region, eggplant figures prominently in such classic dishes as the Greek moussaka, the Italian eggplant parmigiana, and the Middle Eastern relish baba ghanoush.