A Quick Translator of British Meals and Mealtimes.

Breakfast – also called brekkie by some but not common. Breakfast is usually the same everywhere though the contents of breakfast will vary hugely.

Both Britain and Ireland are famous for their cooked breakfast is known as " Full" or " Cooked" breakfast.

Elevenses – is known around the world as the morning coffee or tea break. The term comes from the industrial revolution in Britain which saw the rise of factories and mills throughout Britain which coincided with tea becoming the drink of the workers (formally it had been gin and beer, so perhaps a good move).

The Tea Break came into being when the benefits of drinking tea and the revitalising of the workforce came to be known. Hence, the tea break was born as was the more familiar elevenses.

Lunch - in often called dinner and is considered a more working class term. However, school lunches in the mid 20th century were always called " School Dinners" and it is felt this is where the confusion came from.

The traditional Sunday lunch (usually consisting of Roast Beef and Yorkshire Puddings) is also often called Sunday dinner or a Sunday Roast.

Afternoon Tea – traditionally eaten around 3 – 4 o clock and though popular since the 18th century, went into decline after the World War II. Thankfully the popularity for this treat is now back, though more for holidays and weekends than a daily event.

Tea – (when meaning dinner and not the drink) is considered a mainly northern working-class term. When used in this context is eaten early evening and will often the main meal of the day on returning home from work.

Dinner - is dinner and eaten from early to late evening, used int he same way around the world.

Supper – can also be an evening meal but when attached to an invitation changes slightly. An invitation to supper would mean the arrangement is more casual than an invitation to dinner, which is usually more formal.

Supper is also considered a hot or cold snack before bedtime but again more a working class term when the evening meal was served around 5pm. meaning by bedtime many would be a little peckish.

A Take Away - certainly a modern word as it is a meal bought and brought home (to-go, carry-out).

Question: What is a Full Breakfast?

Throughout Britain and Ireland, the Full breakfast is famous. It is not now eaten every day but saved for weekends and vacations. The term full comes from the fact the breakfast is, well, full of different food stuff as you can read about below. Full Breakfast is served, as you would expect at breakfast time but is also popular at throughout the day, often replacing lunch.. Rarely is it eaten every day of the week, reserved instead for the weekend or on vacation in hotels and Bed and Breakfasts, where no stay would be complete without one.

Breakfast may begin with orange juice, cereals, stewed or fresh fruits but the heart of the Full breakfast is bacon and eggs, variously accompanied by sausages, grilled tomato, mushrooms, tea, toast, and marmalade.

Each country in the UK and Ireland also have their choice of accompaniments; it is up to the individual just how much they want on their plate and their preferences.

You may find the following:

• A Full English Breakfast may have Black Pudding, Baked Beans, and Fried Bread.
• A Full Scottish, as above but may also have, Potato Scones (Tattie Scones), Haggis and Oatcakes.
• A Full Irish – Again, as above but may also have White Pudding and Soda Bread.
• A Full Welsh – Laver bread or laver cakes. These are neither bread or cakes but made with seaweed, the cakes seaweed cooked with oatmeal.
• An Ulster Fry is not dissimilar to a Full English but may also have soda bread and is served again, throughout the day.

The origins of the breakfast are unclear and believed to originate in the rural England as a sustaining meal to carry workers through a long morning.