Coldslaw? No Way, It’s Coleslaw!

Difference Between “Coldslaw” and “Coleslaw”

Have you heard the words “Coldslaw” and “Coleslaw”? They may sound the same, but only one is correct. Let’s see which one is right and how to use it.

History of the Words

The word is coleslaw. It comes from the Dutch word “koolsla,” which means cabbage salad. People have been eating this dish for many years. But “coldslaw” is not a real word. It is a mistake people make when they try to spell coleslaw.

How to Use the Words

Use coleslaw when you talk about the cabbage dish. Do not use coldslaw. It’s wrong. Think of “cole” as meaning cabbage and “slaw” as meaning salad.

Examples of Using “Coleslaw”

• I like to eat coleslaw with my sandwich.
• Mom made coleslaw for the picnic.
• The restaurant serves the best coleslaw.
• Would you like some coleslaw with your meal?
• We need cabbage to make coleslaw.

Examples of Using “Coldslaw”

• He put coldslaw on his plate by mistake.
• We learned that coldslaw is not the correct word.
• Some people say coldslaw, but they mean coleslaw.
• The sign had a typo: it said coldslaw instead of coleslaw.
• She typed coldslaw in the recipe but fixed it later to coleslaw.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Remember: “Cole” means cabbage. So, coleslaw is the right word. If you think of a “cold” slaw, it might be easy to mix up, but just remember it comes from cabbage.

Summary of Usage

Use “coleslaw” to talk about the cabbage salad. Do not use “coldslaw” because it is incorrect. A trick to remember is to think “cole” means cabbage.