Eteamology

Tea. Such a tiny word, you wouldn’t think its origins are anything to write home about. And yet…

The word “tea” comes in many, many different forms for some interesting reasons. While of course words are different in every language, the evolution of “tea” is an interesting one. So we thought we’d spend some time looking at the eteamology of our favorite little word that has had such a worldwide impact.

Land vs. Sea

As we all know, tea originated from China and was originally exported from there to the rest of the world. While there is only one character for the word “tea” in Chinese – 茶 –  there are several pronunciations depending on what part of China you were from.

As tea left China, eventually the words used in different parts of the world were influenced by the trade routes. In general, the countries that received their tea by a sea route use words that start with a “t” – examples include:

• Tea: English
• Thé: French
• Tè: Italian
• Té: Spanish
• Tee: German
• Tae: Gaelic
• Thee: Dutch

These “t” pronunciations are believed to have been derived from the Min-Nan dialect (also called the Amoy dialect, which was a port (now known as Xiamen) where tea was shipped from). In that dialect, the character for tea has a “t” pronunciation and spelling (“te”).

If the tea came by land, however, you will find “tea” words with a “ch” pronunciation and spelling. This is believed to have origins from the Mandarin “cha.” Examples include:

• Cha: Portuguese, Greek
• Chai: Hindi, Swahili
• Chay: Russian, Turkish, Persian
• Ocha: Japanese
• Shay: Arabic

When ordering chai in the U.S., it is perfectly acceptable to ask for a chai tea…”, a beverage that around these parts, has come to mean you’re getting the spicy, milky, delicious tea that is the national drink of India. But should you find yourself in India and you ask for “chai tea,” – you’ve just asked for “tea tea.” You’ve basically said the tea equivalent of “I’m going to the ATM machine, hope I remember my PIN number. Since “chai” means “tea,”.

Wee Bit o’ Tea Slang

If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Ireland, you may want to order a “cuppy tay” which is the colloquial version of the Gaelic “cupán tae.” Remember, it will be strong!

Not surprisingly, the British have several slang phrases for their beloved tea. These include our favorite, “cuppa,” which is obviously short for and now synonymous with enjoying a cup of tea. Tea might be referred to simply as “brew” or “cha,” and a teapot may be called a “billy.”

“Char” is another slang term for tea in Britain, thought to have been brought into the country by British India servicemen and is a derivative of “chai.” The word “charwoman” has two possible origins. A charwoman is a person who typically cleans homes or offices. In that case “char” is thought to have been derived from the word “chore.” However, these women also typically served tea and biscuits in those homes or offices, so the use of “char” as slang for “tea” is also applicable in that case!

Finally, we have the uniquely British language known as British or Cockney rhyming slang. It is a fascinating use of words that rhyme with the word intended to be used and can be incredibly confusing while also highly entertaining. The creativity behind it is inspiring.

Likely the most well-known use of Cockney rhyming slang ‘round these parts comes from the Ocean’s 11 movie. The character Basher, who is British, at one point says “We’re in Barney.” When the team doesn’t understand what he means, he says “Barney. Barney Rubble. Trouble. We’re in trouble.”

That’s how it works. “Rubble” rhymes with “trouble,” so the Flinstones’ character Barney Rubble’s name, shortened to Barney which doesn’t even rhyme, stands for “trouble.” Got it?

Back to tea. In Cockney rhyming slang, “Rosie Lee” means “tea.” To make it even better, it’s shortened to “Rosie” – so if you want to enjoy some tea, just ask for a cup of Rosie! Those Brits have all the fun. Let’s see if you can guess this one for fun – what does “loaf” (short for “loaf of bread”) stand for in Cockney rhyming slang? Leave your guess in the comments!