English [ edit ] Alternative forms [ edit ] Etymology [ edit ] Uses the American English and British English pronunciations of the word tomato George Gershwin 's song "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off ": "You like tomato (/təˈmeɪtoʊ/ ) and I like tomato (/təˈmɑːtoʊ/ )".
Pronunciation [ edit ] IPA (key ) : /təˈmeɪtoʊ təˈmɑːtəʊ/ tomayto, tomahto
( idiomatic ) Used to dismiss a correction to one's adherence to an alternative standard ( idiomatic ) Used to dismissively suggest that something is a distinction without a difference ( idiomatic ) Used to express two similar things being exactly the same, when they are slightly different 2009 Disney High School Musical: #1: Stories from East High Bind Up #1 , Disney Press, →ISBN page 78 :"Tomayto, tomahto ," she said, and Taylor laughed. So they ended on a good note.
2014 Shaman Rises , Harlequin, →ISBN page 282 :“I withheld truth, but I did not lie.” “Tomayto, tomahto .”
2017 From the Start: An American Valor Novel , HarperCollins, →ISBN page 15 :“Okay, then, how about Michael?” “Tomayto, tomahto .” Kacie sighed in disappointment.
Translations [ edit ] to dismiss an alternative standard
to suggest a distinction without a difference
French: bonnet blanc, blanc bonnet (fr) , blanc bonnet, bonnet blanc
German: gehüpft wie gesprungen
Greek: όχι Γιάννης, Γιαννάκης ( óchi Giánnis, Giannákis )
Hungarian: egyik kutya, másik eb (hu) , egyik tizenkilenc, másik egy híján húsz (hu) , egyre megy
Polish: jak zwał, tak zwał
Portuguese: tanto faz como tanto fez
Russian: что́ в ло́б, что́ по́ лбу (ru) ( štó v lób, štó pó lbu )
Scottish Gaelic: bò mhaol odhar agus bò odhar mhaol
Serbo-Croatian:
Cyrillic: није шија него врат
Roman: nije šija nego vrat
Tunisian Arabic: الحاج موسى، موسى الحاج
Vietnamese: củ mì củ sắn