grits: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium-Low (Regionally High in Southern US)Informal, Culinary, Regional (Southern US)
Quick answer
What does “grits” mean?
A coarse-ground cornmeal cooked as a breakfast dish or side dish, popular in the Southern United States.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A coarse-ground cornmeal cooked as a breakfast dish or side dish, popular in the Southern United States.
Can refer to a similar consistency or texture (e.g., 'gritty'), or figuratively to something fundamental or quintessentially Southern.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Virtually unknown as a food item in British English. The word exists only in the 'small stone' or 'determination' senses.
Connotations
In American English (especially Southern), it connotes homestyle cooking, tradition, and comfort food. Elsewhere, it is an unfamiliar culinary term.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in the Southern US, low to zero elsewhere in the US, and negligible in the UK.
Grammar
How to Use “grits” in a Sentence
[verb] grits: eat, serve, cook, prepare, stir, love, hate[adjective] grits: creamy, lumpy, salty, bland, deliciousVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grits” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- She grits her teeth when the conversation turns to politics. (Note: this is the verb 'to grit', unrelated to the food.)
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- He has a grits-and-gravy approach to life. (Figurative, meaning simple, hearty, Southern.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in specific contexts like restaurant menus or food manufacturing.
Academic
Rare, might appear in cultural, historical, or anthropological studies of the US South.
Everyday
Common in the Southern US; uncommon elsewhere.
Technical
Used in culinary arts and agriculture.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “grits”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grits”
- Using a singular verb ('This grits is good') – treat as plural ('These grits are good'). Confusing with 'grit' (determination).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally savoury, served with butter, salt, pepper, cheese, or gravy. Sweet preparations with sugar or syrup exist but are less common.
Both are ground corn. Grits are typically made from 'dent' corn (often hominy) and have a finer, mushier texture. Polenta is from flint corn and is coarser, holding a firmer shape.
Yes, plain corn grits are naturally gluten-free. Always check packaging for cross-contamination warnings.
It's a plural noun like 'oats' or 'scissors', likely originating from the notion of it being composed of many individual grains or particles.
A coarse-ground cornmeal cooked as a breakfast dish or side dish, popular in the Southern United States.
Grits is usually informal, culinary, regional (southern us) in register.
Grits: in British English it is pronounced /ɡrɪts/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡrɪts/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'Kiss my grits!' (a mild, old-fashioned Southern exclamation of annoyance)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GRITS: Grains Resembling In Texture (a) Soupy meal.
Conceptual Metaphor
GRITS AS COMFORT/FOUNDATION: 'Grits are the bedrock of a Southern breakfast.'
Practice
Quiz
What is 'grits' primarily made from?