What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
potato
Example
I love eating baked potatoes with sour cream and chives. [potatoes: noun]
Example
She mashed the potatoes with butter and milk to make creamy mashed potatoes. [potatoes: plural noun]
tater
Example
Can you pass me some of those taters? [taters: plural noun]
Example
I'm craving some crispy tater tots with ketchup. [tater tots: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Potato is a much more common term than tater in everyday language and formal writing. Potato is recognized worldwide as a staple food and an important crop, while tater is a regional slang term that is mostly used in Southern American dialects.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between potato and tater?
Potato is a more formal term that is used in academic or professional contexts, while tater is a colloquial and informal term that is more appropriate for casual conversations or regional dialects.
