LexBrew
Usage Entry 1432 / 1605 60-second read

Cilantro vs. Coriander

American name for the leaves versus British name (or American name for the seeds).

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

Add cilantro seeds.

✓ Correct

Add coriander seeds — in US English, CILANTRO = the leaves; CORIANDER = the seeds. In UK English, CORIANDER = both.

The ruleii

US: cilantro = leaves.

In US English the herb (Coriandrum sativum) splits — CILANTRO for the fresh leaves (Spanish loanword); CORIANDER for the seeds. UK English uses CORIANDER for both. Recipes that travel can confuse.

Memory aidiii

Remember it like this

US splits. UK uses one word.

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