Dear Lola,

I recently witnessed a Twitter conversation debating the differences between shrimp and prawns. Before we go any further, I feel I should disclose that your Mommybeast was the leader of this pondering. I hope she doesn’t retaliate against you should you arrive at a different conclusion than she did.

Now that we’ve addressed that, I need to be frank – I think your Mom was wrong when she concluded that shrimp and prawns are the same thing. I happen to think they note the different species. What do you think? 

Sincerely,
ShrimPrawns

Dear Lola

Dear ShrimPrawns,

Thank you for being open about the origins of your pondering. Mommybeast would never retaliate against me for different thinking. While you think this is because she loves me so much, it’s actually because I like to retaliate with poop on her favorite carpet.

I’ve also been aptly nicknamed Puddles after a recent disagreement over couch seating arrangements.

Let’s tackle the question at hand! Shrimp and prawns, the tastiest dishes to ever be produced by the ocean. Are they the same thing, or entirely different organisms? First, let’s think a bit simpler. Have you ever wondered why shrimp is not plural and prawns are not singular? While you could say the word prawn, it’s never actually used in real-life conversations. Always plural, prawns.

The only way we can get to the bottom of these deep thoughts is to study the subject on Wikipuppia – a superior research engine to the human’s Wikipedia based on the number of humans writing me with questions they have no answers to.

According to Wikipuppia, both terms lack scientific standing. Basically, the humans have screwed up their language yet again by assigning two words to the same item and then interchanging them as they please. What’s even more baffling about this trend, is that the words were both born from the English language. It’s not like one word came from a French word and another from Portugal. Nope. Both came from the English language.

I’m going to need the humans to get it together. Dogs don’t have these kinds of issues. We say sit, we mean sit. We say bark, we mean bark. We say lick, that tongue had best get to tasting! Maybe humans should solve one of their pressing problems and just settle on a single word for this tiny, delicious organism – while getting out the butter for a tasty scampi dinner.

On a plus note, Mommybeast was right and she’s going to give me a piece of cheese as a reward for agreeing with her.

♥Lola♥

Send Lola your questions in the comments, or by clicking one of my social media links below!

Check out my Facebook page @ShankYouHeather and @ShankYouDesigns

I also tweet like a bird on Twitter @HeatherKeet

You can also find me on Instagram @ShankYouHeather and @ShankYouDesigns

Lola and I opened a store so we can sell our funniest blog sayings on cool stuff. Check it out at Shank You Very Much

43 replies on “Dear Lola – The great ShrimPrawn debate…”

  1. Dear Heather, eh, Lola, eh, yes, well, shrimp and prawns while they may look alike, are distantly related but, in fact, separate species: In that – Shrimp and prawns have different anatomies. Prawns have branching gills, claws on three pairs of their legs and second pincers that are larger than their front ones. … Shrimp, on the other hand, have lamellar (or plate-like) gills, and claws on two pairs of their legs. Their front pincers are typically their largest.

    Eh, I hear you say, as clear as mud, right?

    Like

    Reply

  3. I don’t know about the animals themselves but in my dining world, shrimp seem to be what we call ‘schoolies’ and are usually fried little tiny prawns (that you get as bar food to snack on) and prawns are bigger and then King Prawns are bigger still….#globalblogger

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I was surprised when Lola and I did research and we realized all of these words are just randomly used with no rhyme or reason. It’s just what we call things to change the buyer impression.

      Like

      Reply

  6. I have always assumed that shrimps were the small baby pink looking things that you get in a ‘prawn cocktail’ and that prawns were the big fat veiny fishy ones. HAHA, either way, I am a vegetarian so what do I know. Thanks for educating us as always Lola xx

    Shevy
    http://moonsomnia.com
    #GlobalBlogging

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Honestly, I think they just randomly use the words. Here in America a prawn is viewed as a fancier dish so upscale restaurants say prawn even if it’s the same size shrimp as the restaurant next door. It’s truly random.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  7. I don’t think I have ever actually used the term “prawns”. I just call everything that looks like a shrimp “shrimp”. I am now very hungry for scampi! #GlobalBlogging

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I don’t think it’s very common to see the word prawn in certain geographical regions. The only time I see it used in places around my area are at fancier restaurants that are trying to look more upscale. Like they know you can get shrimp anywhere but you can get prawns at their establishment. It does make me wonder how many people fall for the trick and pay twice as much money for the same shrimp cocktail they could’ve got at the restaurant next door.

      Like

      Reply

    1. Our whole area uses shrimp with the exception of a few upscale restaurants that are trying to convince us what we’re eating is a delicacy known as prawns and that’s why it’s so much more expensive. When in reality their shrimp supplier is the same as the guy next door and we’re just getting charged more

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  9. As an absolute seafood hater (please don’t judge me !!) I agree they are one and the same …filed under ‘things that will never enter my mouth’ I think you’re right though Lola us humans do make it harder for ourselves #globalblogging

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. That’s so funny! Whenever someone says they are serving you a prawn here, you know you’re paying more for the exact same thing you can get at the restaurant next door.

      Like

      Reply

    1. And what’s funny is, prawns come in all of the same sizes as shrimp, and you can buy shrimp that are just as big as prawns but when you see them in the store the prawns will be priced higher. Quite a devious marketing strategy.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. They taste the same because they are part of the same species. It’s like tasting the difference in hamburgers based on the breed of cow – unless it’s a truly special cow breed, it will taste the same. Shrimp and prawns are used completely interchangeably because both shrimp and prawns come in all of the sizes as the other. It is actually a marketing strategy that was developed because prawns are viewed as high-end so they can charge more for them. But if you get a jumbo shrimp the same size as a jumbo prawn you will pay less and get the exact same thing. You can even see this when you go to restaurants because lower end restaurants will serve you shrimp cocktail, they might even call it a jumbo shrimp cocktail. But when you go to a fancy restaurant they will call it a prawn cocktail. Funnily enough, it’s just about perception of price and quality. My brother is a chef and he said there are so many tricks just like this to get people to spend more because they perceive the value differently based on the words used.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  20. I had no idea the word prawn even existed, let alone that they are another word for shrimp. I agree Lola. We humans need to get our act together and fix our language. Shrimp is shrimp and something I don’t eat. Ew #GlobalBlogging

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. They are so yummy! I have a recipe on my blog called Honey Island shrimp, it is absolutely one of my favorite shrimp dishes to make at home. Very simple and you can do it on the stove or on the barbecue.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Tell me what you think...

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.