You famously have to break some eggs to make one, but knowing whether it’s omelet or omelette can be extremely confusing. It’s enough to scramble anyone’s brains, but they do thankfully mean the same thing. Omelet just happens to be preferred in the U.S., while omelette is preferred in the U.K. and Europe. Who was the practical yolker who made two versions of the same word?
Omelet is the standard spelling in American English. In fact it appears about twice as often as omelette in American publications. But omelette beats omelet in British English. When you’re choosing which spelling you should use, pick the one your audience will be more familiar with and stick with it in your writing.
For the breakfast dish consisting of eggs that have been beaten, cooked until set, and folded over, American publications prefer omelet, and this is the spelling recommended by most American English reference sources. In all other main varieties of English, the French spelling, omelette, is preferred.
These are the preferences shown in 21st-century edited writing, anyway. There’s no rule saying Americans can’t prefer the French spelling or that British writers can’t prefer the American one, and both spellings appear to varying degrees throughout the English-speaking world.
Omelet is not American in origin. The word has actually had several English spellings over the centuries—including aumulet, ammulet, omlet, and amelet, all found in the OED’s historical examples—and omelet first appeared as long ago as the early 17th century (before the U.S. existed). By the 19th century, however, much of the English-speaking world had settled on the French spelling. Americans went a different direction.
“Omelet” or “Omelette”: Which Is Correct?
Both omelet and omelette refer to a food made of beaten eggs heated in a pan, usually with meat, vegetables, and other fillings folded into the eggs.
Neither spelling is wrong. Omelette is simply preferred in British English, but omelet is more common in American English.
Of course, these are general usage rules. You can still write omelette in America, and Brits might still write omelet on their brunch menus.
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FAQ
Why is omelette spelled two different ways?
Are omelets just scrambled eggs?
Is an omelette healthier than scrambled eggs?
What are the four types of omelets?
What is the difference between omelette and Omelet?
Although both styles of the egg dish are made with essentially the same ingredients — eggs, butter, and salt — each method produces a different masterpiece. There’s one key difference between the two (aside from the fact that the French spelling is omelette, while the American spelling is omelet). It all comes down to texture.
Is it safe to eat omelet if one has diabetes?
Yes, eggs are low in carbohydrates and low on the glycemic index, which makes them suitable for diabetics. They are also a source of protein, vitamins and minerals and have many health benefits.
What is a French omelette?
As I learned in culinary school at the Natural Gourmet Institute, three years and approximately 9,136 eggs ago, a French omelette actually refers to the style you make and present it. The French technique differs from the classic omelet we’re used to, known, fittingly, as the American omelet.
How do you say omelette in English?
However, both “omelet” and “omelette” are typically pronounced as ˈä-mə-ˌlet in English, regardless of the number of ‘t’s or the presence of the ‘e’ at the end. Incorrect: “I prefer an omelette because it’s lighter than an omelet.” Correct: “I prefer the omelette style of cooking eggs, which is lighter.”