she-crab soup: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowinformal, culinary
Quick answer
What does “she-crab soup” mean?
A soup made primarily from female crabs, often including crab roe, traditionally associated with Southern United States cuisine.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A soup made primarily from female crabs, often including crab roe, traditionally associated with Southern United States cuisine.
A regional delicacy symbolizing Southern culinary heritage, often served in upscale settings or during festive occasions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily an American term, common in the Southern US; rarely used or recognized in British English.
Connotations
In the US, it evokes Southern tradition and gourmet dining; in the UK, it is largely unfamiliar or considered exotic.
Frequency
Frequent in specific US regions like South Carolina and Georgia; virtually absent in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “she-crab soup” in a Sentence
a bowl of she-crab soupshe-crab soup with sherryVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Featured on restaurant menus or in food tourism promotions.
Academic
Discussed in culinary history or regional cuisine studies.
Everyday
Mentioned in casual talk about food experiences or travel.
Technical
Referenced in cooking recipes or gastronomic guides.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “she-crab soup”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “she-crab soup”
- Misspelling as 'she crab soup' without hyphen.
- Mispronouncing 'she' as /ʃeɪ/ instead of /ʃiː/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
She-crab soup is a type of soup made from female crabs, typically including their roe, and is a traditional dish in Southern US cuisine.
It is named 'she-crab' soup because it uses female crabs, which contain roe that adds richness and flavor to the soup.
She-crab soup is most popular in the Southern United States, particularly in states like South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
Traditionally, it is made with female crabs for the roe, but variations may use crab meat without roe, though this alters the authentic flavor.
A soup made primarily from female crabs, often including crab roe, traditionally associated with Southern United States cuisine.
She-crab soup is usually informal, culinary in register.
She-crab soup: in British English it is pronounced /ʃiː kræb suːp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ʃi kræb sup/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember 'she' in she-crab soup indicates female crabs, whose roe enhances the flavor.
Conceptual Metaphor
A bowl of Southern comfort.
Practice
Quiz
What is a key ingredient that distinguishes she-crab soup?