Difference Between Aubergine and Eggplant (With Table)

If you ever go a grocery store and ask for a Brinjal and then an Aubergine and then an Eggplant you will find that the vendor gave you the same stuff, which is the difference between them Nothing! Aubergine and Eggplant are just two different names of the same vegetable. They are just two terms used in two different parts of the world. Aubergine is purple-colored and pear-shaped or rather egg-shaped vegetable.

Aubergine vs Eggplant

The main difference between Aubergine and Eggplant is that they are just different names or terms of the same vegetable because of the difference in the English-speaking regions where they are called so. They both are used for a purple-colored and pear-shaped vegetable. The Word Aubergine is used in the British dictionaries or rather in the European countries and the word Eggplant is used in North American countries.

The word aubergine is a term used for the same vegetable and is a French originated word for the same. Aubergine actually refers to “purple brown color” in French and that is how it may have been given this name (Britishers never bothered to change it but kept this in the loan word inventory), because of the color this vegetable inhibits.

Eggplant is a used term for the same purple colored and peared shaped or rather egg-shaped vegetable. This is just a commonly used term for the same vegetable in North American region. Aubergine and Eggplant is a same thing. According to historians this fruit got this name “Eggplant” as these were actually brought to America by the European traders and this was something new for the native American as they have never seen a plant or rather vegetable that is in a shape of an Egg (Aubergine is also white in color and it looks exactly looks like an egg) this lead to the name of the fruit as “Eggplant”.

This is an observed difference in the English, which is in the region of North America, Europe and Australia, although Australia also calls this vegetable as Eggplant. Eggplant now is becoming a widely accepted term for the vegetable may be because of the American influence over the world or this is closer to the easier side of pronunciation of the noun.


 

Comparison Table Between Aubergine and Eggplant

Parameter of comparison

Aubergine

Eggplant

Meaning

A purple colored and peared shaped or rather egg-shaped vegetable.

A purple colored and peared shaped or rather egg-shaped vegetable.

Region where used

Europe

North America

Acceptance

This is less widely used term except in Europe

This is widely accepted term for the vegetable

Origin of the term

A French word which means Purple color

Because this looked like an Egg

 

What is Aubergine?

Aubergine and Eggplant are just two different names of one same vegetable. They are just two terms used in two different parts of the world. Aubergine is purple colored and peared shaped or rather egg-shaped vegetable. The word aubergine is a used term for the vegetable and is a French originated word for the same. Aubergine actually refers to “purple brown color” in French and that is how it may have gotten this name, because of the color this vegetable inhibits.

In fact, there are variety of colors for aubrgine like white aubegine (this aubergine actually looks like an Egg) or green aubergine (and this actually looks like a pear) Aubergine and Eggplant is a same thing. This is more famous in Europe than the other parts of the world, like Brinjal which is used for the same vegetable but in South Asian countries and Egg plant in North America. This term is mainly used in European countries and if you visit any, you will see the term aubergine in almost every hotel.

 

What is Eggplant?

Eggplant is a used term for the same purple colored and peared shaped or rather egg-shaped vegetable. This is just a commonly used term for the same vegetable in North American region. Aubergine and Eggplant is a same thing. According to historians this fruit got this name “Eggplant” when they were actually brought to America by the European traders and this was something new for the native American and they have never seen a plant that is in a shape of an Egg (Aubergine is also white in color and it looks exactly like an egg) this lead to the name of the fruit as “Eggplant”.

This is an observed difference in the English, which is in the region of North America, Europe and Australia, although Australia also calls this vegetable as Eggplant and we can say that it is far more accepted term than Aubergine. Eggplant now is becoming a widely accepted term for the vegetable may be because of the American influence over the world or this is closer to the easier side of pronunciation of the noun.


Main Differences Between Aubergine and Eggplant

  1. Aubergine is used in the European countries
  2. Eggplant is a term that is used in North American countries.
  3. Aubergine is a French word and Eggplant is an American.
  4. Aubergine is less accepted than Eggplant which is now almost a common term for the vegetable.
  5. Aubergine means Purple color and Eggplant is used for this because of the shape of the vegetable.

 

Conclusion

They are just different names or terms of the same vegetable because of the difference in the English-speaking regions where they are called so. They both are used for a purple colored and peared shaped or rather egg-shaped vegetable. The Word Aubergine is used in the British dictionaries or rather in the European countries and the word Eggplant is used in North American countries.


References

  1. https://www.mamralin.com/resources/publications/briefs/38/download/isaaa-brief-38-2009.pdf
  2. https://www.actahort.org/books/412/412_6.htm