mayo

Word family

• mayonnaise
  nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Mayo and mayonnaise name the same basic sauce, but mayo sounds more casual. You are more likely to hear mayo in a cafe, at home, or when someone is ordering food, while mayonnaise is the fuller word on a label or in more careful writing. Aioli is often close in use, but it usually suggests a garlic-flavoured sauce rather than plain mayo. Dressing is much broader: mayo can be one kind of dressing, but dressing may also be light, oily, or sweet. If a friend says, "Pass the mayo," the meaning is everyday and relaxed; a recipe title is more likely to say mayonnaise.

Common collocations

Etymology

Mayo is a shortened everyday form of mayonnaise. English speakers clipped the longer word to make a quicker casual label, especially in conversation, menus, and recipes. The full word mayonnaise came into English through French, and the short form kept only the opening part. Today both words are common, but mayo usually sounds more relaxed.