What does omelette mean?
An omelette is a light dish made from eggs beaten together and then cooked in a pan. The eggs may be folded around a filling of cheese, vegetables, meat, herbs, or other ingredients, or cooked as a thin, plain egg pancake. In American English, “omelette” is the usual spelling, whereas British English generally uses “omelet”; both forms are widely understood. The term is most common in reference to breakfast, brunch, and light meals, although filled omelettes can also be served as substantial lunch or dinner dishes. Its associations with a soft texture, delicate flavor, and simple preparation make it a familiar feature of menus and home cooking. Although the dish often resembles a folded pancake, it is defined specifically by its egg-based batter rather than by a broader category of pancakes or crepes.
nounA dish made from beaten eggs cooked in a pan, often folded around or filled with ingredients such as cheese, vegetables, meat, or herbs.
- A cooked dish of beaten eggs, usually folded or filled with other ingredients.
- A thin, pancake-like egg dish served plain or with a filling.
"She served a light omelette filled with spinach and goat cheese for brunch."
"He ordered a plain omelette with toast for breakfast."
"The cookbook recommends a fluffy omelette filled with herbs and mushrooms."
The plural omelettes is standard in both American and British English.
"The café offers a variety of omelettes with seasonal fillings."
The omelette takes its name from the French œuf, meaning “egg”; the English word began as a diminutive form and ultimately traces back to the Latin ovum.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does omelette come from?
The word entered English from French omelette, a diminutive of œuf, “egg.” The French word ultimately derives from Latin ovum, the source of several English words connected with eggs and ova, including ovary, ovulate, and oviparous. In English, omelette became the established American spelling, while the shorter form omelet became standard in British usage.
How omelette is actually used
In American English, omelette is standard, although omelet is also common. British English generally prefers omelet. The word denotes a dish rather than the individual beaten egg mixture from which it is made.
Easily confused with omelette
Omelette is the common spelling in American English, while omelet is the standard spelling in British English and is also widely understood elsewhere.