Talk:French fries

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It is simply wrong to include the British "chip" in an article about "french fries". French fries are by definition thin, and as such french fries are a subset of the chip, and not the other way around - ie a thick cut chip can not be called a "french fry", but a french fry can be called a "think chip". As such to include chips in a discussion of french fries is to show a clear misunderstanding of the chip, and a bias for US english. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jamspandex (talk • contribs) 20:37, 2 May 2022 (UTC)

Agreed. Chips are not a type of french fry, they are chips. Foreigners don't get to decide the etymology of British food stuffs Marlarkey (talk) 12:55, 9 May 2022 (UTC)

There is a distinction, certainly in the minds of Brits as I've said on this page before, but sources either don't make that distinction clear enough, or don't make it at all, to justify a separate page. Find some good quality sources on this and then we can talk. Without sources, there is nothing that can be done. SpinningSpark 13:36, 9 May 2022 (UTC)

Re "French fries are by definition thin", that may be UK usage, but in US usage, French fries includes all sizes, from shoestrings (the fast food format) to steak fries (which can be very thick). --Macrakis (talk) 14:07, 10 May 2022 (UTC)

US usage is irrelevant. ~2025-33729-32 (talk) 20:42, 15 November 2025 (UTC)

Totally agree that's why the real fries (thin and crispy) are from belgium. French fry is originally more thick with more ponouced taste of potato 2A02:2788:10C4:2C9:69BB:598D:32DE:5F01 (talk) 14:40, 10 July 2024 (UTC)

Really, there are three items "crisps" (US "chips") which are fried *slices* of potatoes and *not* "chips" potatoes; chips (UK name for fried chipped potatoes) and then fries, for the thin cut potato. Really, "Chip" should have it's own item, "French fry" should have it's own item, and "crisps or potato chip" it's own item. In the UK call chips "chips" and not "potato chips", since the "potato" is implicit. For clarification, in France the "french fry" is "pommesfritte", also in Germany, where it is frequently referred to as "pommes". This is the most usual. These translate as "fried potato". It is unfortunate that that in the US they use the name "chip" for something that is not actually made from chips, but from sliced. A little like calling petrol, "gas" when it is not actually a "gas" but a liquid (yes I know it is short for gasoline, and I realise it is somewhat off topic, but is nevertheless an example of US english using words for things which are not actually correct descriptions). — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jamspandex (talk • contribs) 20:37, 2 May 2022 (UTC)

Agreed that UK crisps/US potato chips are different from UK chips/US french fries. But French-fried potatoes (pommes frites) are a single grouping, with a variety of thicknesses: very thin (pommes paille), thin (pommes allumettes, similar to fast-food fries), or thick (pomme Pont Neuf or bûches, similar to UK chips and US steak fries). --Macrakis (talk) 02:25, 10 May 2022 (UTC)

"US English using words for things which are not actually correct descriptions."? Right. Calling out the US for this sort of thing, when it is very common in British English, is a bit rich. 2601:547:CB00:3D40:CC87:B428:5151:642D (talk) 13:54, 11 October 2024 (UTC)

I had the same reaction when I got linked to 'french' fries, from 'chips', as an ozzie it pains when Wikipedia 'English' seems to be hijacked as American (no offense). I imagine this has cropped up in many similar situations, surely there is a way to reflect non-americanist articles? Perhaps the topic should be 'Fried Potatoes' with 'French Fries' as a section. ˥ Ǝ Ʉ H Ɔ I Ɯ (talk) 01:00, 24 June 2022 (UTC)

British "chips" = American "French fries". It's not that complicated. In British English "French fries" might be a subset of "chips", but everything Brits call "chips" are "French fries" to Americans. This is simply an example of WP:ENGVAR. And since this subject does not have a strong national affiliation, we use the title it was first given (French fries). Which, by the way, is also why the article should be written using American English, contrary to the argument made above. Tad Lincoln (talk) 21:01, 29 September 2022 (UTC)

"British "chips" = American "French fries". It's not that complicated." No, it's not. You're simply wrong. Obvious 'French fries' are sometimes sold as 'chips' in UK fast food outlets - kebab, burger, chicken sort of places but 'chips' are most commonly associated with fish and chip SHOPS - the vendors not the dish. Just about everywhere else (including British McDonalds) restaurants, pubs etc sell 'fries' NOT 'French fries, the latter is an expression rarely heard in the UK.

There is simply no comparison between a 'chip'(as from a British chip shop or British fish and chip shop) and a 'French fry'. The former is soggy and pulpy, the latter, crisp. The former is a pale yellow-white colour, the fry is dark yellow-brown. The chip is oily, the fry rarely so. Traditionally, the chips are splashed with a synthetic malt vinegar and heavily seasoned with fine salt and then sold over the counter wrapped in heavy paper. This food is not, I can attest from personal experience, much liked by Americans, who know only the French fry.

Us Brits clearly understand the difference between chips and (French) fries - as well as the fact that both may be encountered in popular British cuisine. The chip is an important part of British culture and it certainly isn't the place of Americans to lecture us about that. In fact, it's offensive and insulting.86.132.255.75 (talk) 15:35, 17 July 2023 (UTC)

How about Canadian? Best of both Englishes, or whatever the plural for English is. IPs are people too 🇺🇸🦅 02:13, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

The fact is for every article using North American English (both American and Canadian), there are about five articles using British English. Maybe that should be added to Wikipedia is fascist, but that essay doesn't exist. So one of the North American Englishes should be used, just to even things out. IPs are people too 🇺🇸🦅 04:30, 30 October 2023 (UTC)

That has no relevance whatsoever to this particular article. Ponsonby100 (talk) 07:51, 30 October 2023 (UTC)

I said at the end that the North American Englishes should be used in this article. The use of British English has clearly confused people, and American or Canadian English should be employed. Hell, I'm just going to switch to Canadian. IPs are people too 🇺🇸🦅 08:47, 30 October 2023 (UTC)

The English spoken in England is simply English. Just accept that the US has no language of its own. And chips ain't fries.

FTR, I have dual citizenship, so understand. 154.120.216.242 (talk) 18:10, 7 September 2024 (UTC)

Nope. When comparing dialects, there is British English and there is also American English, among many others. After gaining independence, we kept some things and discarded the rest. American English developed across a few centuries and is very much our own.

As to the chips/french fries debate, I agree with the previously stated idea that a new article titled "Fried potatoes" should replace the current "French fries" articles, international variants listed in alphabetical order, with all dialects of English allowed. I see no need to describe a chip as a variant of a french fry. 2601:547:CB00:3D40:CC87:B428:5151:642D (talk) 14:24, 11 October 2024 (UTC)

I came to Wikipedia to find an article on Chips, get redirected to French Fries, Realise this is dumb as they are clearly two different food items. So I come to the talk page to raise the point, to find people have been raising this point for years. Why is this happening? Just make a page for Chips already. ~2026-56230-1 (talk) 10:42, 26 January 2026 (UTC)

Me again replying to my own comment, the article literally states "Chips" are not "French Fries" here "In the UK, "chips" are not the same as French fries" It's dumb and somewhat offensive to call chips "French Fries" ~2026-56230-1 (talk) 10:49, 26 January 2026 (UTC)

Me once again with a bunch of sources in the hope that someone can fix this mess.

https://medium.com/sharing-food/british-chips-and-french-fries-are-not-the-same-thing-167c6240e451

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/sep/27/fries-are-not-a-synonym-for-chips

https://craftguildofchefs.org/news/research-finds-french-fries-are-more-popular-british-chips

https://spoonuniversity.com/school/bergen/difference-between-chips-vs-fries/

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/difference-between-french-fries-and-finger-chips/articleshow/70618432.cms

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/british-chips-actually-different-fries-162556744.html

https://www.mashed.com/279089/is-there-a-difference-between-british-chips-and-american-french-fries/

Here is a fun forum thread from the early 2000's with a close to a 100 posts and 238 votes where people are discussing which they prefer "Fries" or "Chips" as they are two different food items.....

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/do-you-prefer-french-fries-or-chips.18079722/ ~2026-56230-1 (talk) 11:10, 26 January 2026 (UTC)

I wonder whether a good way of addressing the long-standing 'French fries' vs. 'Chips' issue might be to compromise on 'Fries'? From a UK perspective, I'm OK with counting both french fries and chips as subsets of fries, but chips as a subset of french fries seems odd. From a US perspective, I think 'Fries' are in common usage (it's always been 'would you like fries with that?' when I've been visiting the US), at least as a shorter term? Even McDonald's in the US calls them Fries . Curious to hear thoughts - I guess it probably needs an RfC to do the move, unless there's consensus in an initial conversation? Thanks. Mike Peel (talk) 20:38, 19 January 2025 (UTC)

I agree. Maccas here in Australia calls them that too. HiLo48 (talk) 22:37, 19 January 2025 (UTC)

@HiLo48: Thanks, it's good to hear an AUS perspective too. I've stepped this up to a requested move, right below. Thanks. Mike Peel (talk) 20:17, 22 January 2025 (UTC)

I think we should consider the number of countries that simply call them what they are: "fried potatoes". This is the case in Greece. 5.203.165.49 (talk) 09:32, 2 August 2025 (UTC)

Also, My Dad told me that Chips are called Crisps in England. Is it true? I'm American. 2601:19C:8180:5060:BCC7:8C4D:AA56:2EB (talk) 01:56, 18 August 2025 (UTC)

Yes according to Potato chips (first sentence). Justjourney (talk | contribs) 02:07, 18 August 2025 (UTC)

No I think it's reasonable to keep "French Fries" as this is the common full-name for julienned and fried potato. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:French_fries#c-Strongwranglers-20250830061700-Add_(British_English_and_Hiberno-English)_to_chips

We should denote that "Chips" is a local reference and not an international one. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato_chips is the preferred nomenclature to thinly fried potato slices, as opposed to "crisps".

Overall, following a local language convention should not be the preference, but we should denote where those incorrect references occur for clarity. (for instance, someone looking at the Potato Chips article is given a clear indication that "crisps" is the (British_English_and_Hiberno-English) reference, and gracefully handles a redirect to French Fries as a disambiguation.)

Ultimately we should disambiguate the article based on the most commonly used definition, and then include variants within the article or denote confusing regional terms with "(British_English_and_Hiberno-English)", "(Indian English)," etc. Strongwranglers (talk) 06:23, 30 August 2025 (UTC)

Chips is an international as much as french fries is. ~2025-33729-32 (talk) 20:47, 15 November 2025 (UTC)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato_chips "Potato chips (North American English and Australian English; often just chips) or crisps (British English and Hiberno-English)"

I think we should follow the same convention here.

Currently: French fries, or simply fries, also known as chips, and finger chips (Indian English), are batonnet or julienne-cut deep-fried potatoes of disputed origin.

Suggested: French fries, or simply fries, also known as chips (British English and Hiberno-English), and finger chips (Indian English), are batonnet or julienne-cut deep-fried potatoes of disputed origin. Strongwranglers (talk) 06:17, 30 August 2025 (UTC)

The redirect Hotchips has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2025 October 31 § Hotchips until a consensus is reached. Thepharoah17 (talk) 22:38, 31 October 2025 (UTC)

Need to discuss air fryers since people are making chips in air fryers and no oil is involved. It is mentioned in the WP:LEAD and never again. Inayity (talk) 11:06, 29 December 2025 (UTC)