Is it ok to spell ''barbeque'', or must it be spelt ''barbecue''?

Question

My grandaughter's teacher gave her and her classmates the spelling barbeque and will not admit it should be barbecue, according to our Collins dictionary. Could barbecue be an American spelling?

Answer 1

It could be, because it is indeed an American spelling. Barbeque comes from the French, "de barbe a queue", from chin to tail, meaning roasting a whole animal on a spit.

Answer 2

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Whether you spell it Barbecue, Barbeque, Barbaque, Barbicue, BBQ, B-B-Que, Bar-B-Q, Bar-B-Que, Bar-B-Cue, 'Cue, 'Que, Barbie, and just plain Q, the origins of the word barbecue (that's how I, and most American dictionaries, spell it) are a bit hazy. The word "barbacoa" is the real source of the word "barbecue". Every other goofy explanation (see sidebar) you have heard is wrong. Here are the facts. In 1492 Christopher Columbus made the first of his four voyages from Spain to the New World landing in what he called Hispanola, present day Dominican Republic and Haiti, and then went on to Cuba, and the Bahamas. Over the next 11 years he came back three more times and set foot on numerous Caribbean islands, Central America, and even northern South America. His tales of the strange new world, its people, animals, foods, and riches, launched a flurry of explorations by Spanish Conquistadors as well as French and English adventurers.

Answer 3

Spell Barbecue

Answer 4

I've not come across a UK dictionary that allows 'barbeque'. The OED is generally perceived as the accepted authority on language in the UK (it's used as the style guide for nearly all book and magazine publishers) and it only has 'barbecue'.

It claims the origin is:
originally in the sense wooden framework for sleeping on, or for drying meat or fish on: from Spanish barbacoa, perhaps from Arawak, ‘wooden frame on posts’.

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Barbeque Or Barbecue

Answer 6

In my dictionary it's 'barbecue'
It's a meal cooked out of doors over an open fire.
I don't understand where 'barbeque' comes from.
It would surely be pronounced 'barbeck'
Anyway, as you point out in your question, 'barbecue' is the correct spelling.
I'm in the UK and looked it up in the dictionary.

Answer 7

The English spelling is barbecue.

It's commonly misspelled because the last syllable sounds like "Q" - so people assume there's a Q in the word.

Answer 8

RE:
Is it ok to spell ''barbeque'', or must it be spelt ''barbecue''?
My grandaughter's teacher gave her and her classmates the spelling barbeque and will not admit it should be barbecue, according to our Collins dictionary. Could barbecue be an American spelling?

Answer 9

Traeger Grill Factory: Barbecue Grills
Barbeque Recipes - Allrecipes
Barbecues at Sears
www.sears.com - Fire up the barbecue with great deals on popular brands at Sears.com.

2005 Homecoming Barbeque Tailgate Party
... Good Time" at the annual Homecoming Tailgate Barbeque

Answer 10

Both spellings are indeed correct. I have never actually spelled it with a 'c' before though.