Sophia Mitchell
Breakfast is the first meal of the day and is considered by many to be the most important. The word itself means breaking the fast in English, French, and Spanish. However, the same concept is expressed differently in other languages. For instance, in Italian, breakfast is colazione, derived from the Latin collation, which means to gather. In Estonian, breakfast is hommikusöök, or morning dish/food/meal. In Russian, zavtrak means breakfast, which comes from zavtra, meaning tomorrow. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it gives a glimpse into the diverse ways people around the world express the concept of breakfast in their languages.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Irish | Bricfeasta or béile na maidne |
| Italian | Colazione |
| Polish | Kolacja |
| Spanish | Desayuno |
| French | Petit déjeuner or déjeuner |
| Russian | Завтрак |
| Latin | Ieiūnus |
| Cantonese | 早餐 (zou2 caan^1) |
| Tagalog | Almusal or agahan |
| Arabic | فُطُور (fuṭūr) |
| Macedonian | појадок (pojadok) |
| Swedish | Frukost |
| Norwegian | Frokost |
| Danish | Morgenmad |
| English | Breakfast |
| Philippines (Ibanag) | Pagkaon sa Buntag |
| Tanzania (Swahili) | Chakula cha asubuhi |
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What You'll Learn
French: 'petit déjeuner' or 'déjeuner'
In French, the word for breakfast is "petit déjeuner". This phrase literally translates to "break the fast", with "déjeuner" meaning "to break the fast", and is similar to the word for breakfast in English and other languages. Interestingly, "petit déjeuner" is only used in France; in other French-speaking countries, such as Quebec, Canada, Switzerland, and Belgium, the word for breakfast is simply "déjeuner".
When ordering breakfast in a French café, a continental breakfast usually includes fruit juice, a hot drink, and a couple of croissants with jam and butter. If you're having breakfast in a hotel, you can expect a similar offering, with the addition of bread.
If you're looking to order breakfast for two in France, you can say, "Un petit déjeuner pour deux, s'il vous plaît", which translates to "Breakfast for two, please".
It's worth noting that the French language has specific phrases for different types of breakfast. For example, when referring to a working breakfast, you would specify "un déjeuner de travail", which distinguishes it from a casual breakfast.
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Spanish: 'desayuno'
In Spanish, the word for breakfast is "desayuno". This word is derived from the concept of "breaking the fast", which is consistent with the word for breakfast in English and French.
The Spanish word "desayuno" is a combination of "des-" and "ayuno", with "des-" being a prefix that indicates removal or negation, and "ayuno" translating to "fast". Thus, the word "desayuno" literally means breaking or ending the fast.
In Spanish, breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day, as indicated by the phrase "El desayuno es la comida más importante del día".
Interestingly, the Spanish word "desayuno" has also influenced other languages. For example, the Tagalog word for breakfast, "almusal", is believed to be derived from Spanish.
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Italian: 'colazione'
In Italian, the word for breakfast is 'colazione' (feminine, plural: colazioni). Interestingly, the Italian word for breakfast does not mean "breaking the fast", unlike in English, Spanish, and French. The Italian term is derived from the ancient French word 'collatiòn', which in turn originates from the low Latin 'collatiònem', meaning to contribute or bring together.
The first meal of the day in Italy is traditionally referred to as 'la prima colazione' (the first breakfast), while the midday meal was called 'la seconda colazione' (the second breakfast). However, the term for the midday meal has since been replaced by the word 'pranzo', meaning lunch.
Italian breakfasts differ significantly from those in North America. Savory breakfast items are almost non-existent in Italy; you won't find Italians eating bacon and eggs or bagels, and these dishes are not typically served in restaurants. Italian breakfasts tend to be sweet, and may include 'caffè latte' (hot milk with coffee) with baked goods such as bread or toast with butter and/or jam, pastries, or 'fette biscottate' (rusks). Children often drink warm milk, sometimes with barley coffee or chocolate. Yogurt, fruit juices, honey, and cereal are also popular choices. Italians may also opt for a quick breakfast at a 'bar' (a licensed coffee shop) before work or school, where they might enjoy a cappuccino or espresso with a croissant or pastry.
It is worth noting that Italians consider lunch (pranzo) to be the most important meal of the day, and many businesses offer a lengthy lunch break from 1 pm to 3 pm.
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Estonian: 'hommikusöök'
In Estonian, the word for breakfast is "hommikusöök". This word is derived from the word "hommik", which means "morning". The Estonian word for morning is similar to how other languages refer to breakfast, such as the Irish "béile na maidne" or "bia na maidne", both translating to "morning meal", and the Faroese "morgunmatur", meaning the same.
The concept of breakfast as a morning meal is a common theme across many languages. In English, French, and Spanish, the word for breakfast directly translates to "breaking the fast". In Italian, "colazione" is derived from the Latin "collation", meaning "to gather", and in Polish, "kolacja" is the name given to the evening meal. Interestingly, in Swedish and Norwegian, "frukost" is used for breakfast, whereas in Danish, "frokost" means lunch and "morgenmad" is used for the morning meal.
The word for breakfast in different languages often has interesting etymologies. For example, the Italian "colazione" is derived from the French "colation", which was originally used by monks. In Arabic, "فُطُور" ("fuṭūr") means breakfast and comes from the root word "فَطَر" ("faṭara"), which means "to cut or break". Similarly, the Russian "завтрак" ("zavtrak") comes from "завтра" ("zavtra"), which means "tomorrow", and ultimately traces back to "за утро", or "after morning".
While many languages have unique words for breakfast, some languages have borrowed from others. Romanian, for example, borrowed from French, adopting "a lua micul dejun" ("to take the small lunch") as their term for breakfast. Similarly, the Irish term "bricfeasta" is derived from the English word "breakfast", and before this, the Irish used the term "mochlongadh", meaning "early eating".
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Russian: 'zavtrak'
In Russian, the word for breakfast is "zavtrak" (завтра́к). The word is derived from the Old Russian "zautrok," with roots in the word "utro," which means "morning" or dawn. Thus, "zavtrak" refers to the meal eaten after dawn or in the morning.
The Russian language and culture have interesting insights into how and what people eat. Russians typically eat three meals a day and have a preference for home-cooked meals over prepared supermarket food. Breakfast is usually eaten early, around seven or eight in the morning, before leaving for work. Traditional breakfast foods include kasha (a type of porridge made from various grains), butterbrots (a sandwich made with a single slice of bread and a topping such as butter or ham), boiled or fried eggs, tvorog (similar to cottage cheese), or cereal.
Lunch, or "obed" (обе́д), is the main meal of the day in Russia. It is typically served between 1 pm and 3 pm and often includes hot soup as the first course, followed by meat with potatoes, porridge, or pasta as the second course. The third course is usually a drink, such as kompot (a non-alcoholic fruit drink), tea, coffee, or juice, sometimes accompanied by cake or chocolates.
Dinner, or "uzhin" (у́жин), is another important meal in Russia. It is the second-largest meal after lunch, and it is when the whole family gathers together after returning home from work and school, usually around 7 or 8 pm. A typical Russian dinner consists of one or two appetizers and a hot main dish, often featuring potatoes, meat, or fish. After dinner, Russians often drink tea with sugar or jam, and rye bread, also known as "black" bread, is considered a traditional food in Russian homes.
Some other words for breakfast in different languages include:
- Italian: Colazione
- Irish: Bricfeasta or béile na maidne
- Cantonese: 早餐 (zou2 caan^1), meaning "early meal"
- Arabic: فُطُور (fuṭūr)
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Frequently asked questions
In France, the word for breakfast is "petit déjeuner". In casual language, it is often shortened to "ptidej". In Quebec, they say "déjeuner" for breakfast.
In Latin America and Spain, the word for breakfast is "desayuno".
In Italian, the word for breakfast is "colazione".
In Estonian, the word for breakfast is "hommikusöök", which translates to "morning dish/food/meal".
