What do British People Call a Fridge?
British people have a word for a refrigerator, but Americans don't - and it's not "refrigerator" - it's "freezer". This is the type of thing I can't get over, so I thought I'd share it with you.
British people call a fridge a fridge.
Brits seem to really enjoy talking about the things they don’t understand. Maybe that’s why it’s so hard to figure out what the heck a British person actually calls a refrigerator.
It seems like every single one of us has our own idea of what the word “fridge” means, but let’s face it—the Brits sure aren’t helping. We’re willing to bet that the answer to this question is not one that you would expect.
Suppose you’ve ever wondered why Brits call their fridges “freezers,” you’re not alone. But what does the name “fridge” actually mean? The first thing that pops into mind
when you hear the word “fridge” in Britain might be “a freezer,” but that’s not what a Brit calls a refrigerator.
As you might expect, the term that Brits use to describe a fridge is much more literal: it’s called a “refrigerator.”
1. What do British people call a fridge?
‘A refrigerator’ is a common term in the United States but there is another term in Britain which is used in a similar context: ‘freezer’.
While the terms are similar in meaning, there is a subtle difference between the two: the freezer does not need to have a door to keep its contents cold whereas a refrigerator has a door that seals off the cold air inside the container.
Thus, a refrigerator is a container for food, while a freezer is a device that cools food.
We call a fridge in Britain a larder (or larder if you're being cheeky), and that's the word that's going to come up when you ask people.
In the UK, we call our fridges freezers. Americans tend to use the term refrigerator and Canadians tend to use the term fridge
. The fridge in the UK is a small, low-energy device that stores food. In the US, the same fridge is known as a freezer. In Canada, the same fridge is known as a "cold box."
2. A refrigerator, a freezer, a wine room, or a beer cellar?
What’s the difference between a refrigerator, a freezer, a wine room, or a beer cellar? All four contain food items, but they do so in different ways.
Refrigerators are used for storing perishable food (like meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, eggs, milk, and dairy products).
Freezers are used for storing nonperishable food (like grains, nuts, seeds, dry goods, spices, canned food, etc.)
They differ in terms of temperature, size, and purpose. The wine room is used for storing wine, champagne, liquor, and beer. The beer cellar is a specialized wine room designed for storing beer and other fermented beverages.
Final Words
A fridge is referred to as a “fridge” in the UK. The fridge has been around since the 1800’s when it was first developed in Germany. This refrigerator was called “Kühlfach,” and it was sold in stores where it was located on shelves.
, A small team of two researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University spent several months working out exactly what people call fridges
. Some examples included Fridge, Freezer, Fridge-Freezer, Refrigerator, Cooler, Cold Room, Food Freezer, Food Refrigerator, Electric Cooler, Fridge, Cooler, Freezer, Cooler Box, Freezer Box, Frozen Food Storage, Frozen Food Unit, Icebox, Cooler Cabinet, and a few others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do British people have refrigerators?
Refrigerator – British refrigerators tend to be smaller than American ones, though it's increasingly common to see larger models in newer homes.
Why do Brits have small fridges?
Although smaller fridges mean using less energy and paying less for utilities, culture plays a big role. Europeans tend to live in compact cities and towns where specialty food shops are present in every neighborhood.
Why don't Americans say fridge?
The fridge is not the short version of “refrigerator”. It actually is a brand of refrigerators that used to be commonly used. It's like saying “can you hand me the Kleenex” when you're talking about another brand of a handkerchief.
What do Brits call Americans?
The shortened form Yank is used as a derogatory, pejorative, playful, or colloquial term for Americans in Britain, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Ireland, and New Zealand.
Do British people have freezers?
In addition, 1.9 million people are living without a cooker or a washing machine, leading to feelings of stress, anxiety, and low self-worth while 2.8 million Brits don't have access to a freeze
Why do Americans have huge fridges?
Over the nineteenth century, the ice went from a luxury to a necessity for the vast majority of Americans and has remained so ever since.
In the early twentieth century, the ice market developed into a market for large refrigerators to keep all the foodstuffs that ice once preserved.