An aubergine is what British people call the vegetable Americans know as an eggplant. It's a deep purple, oval-shaped vegetable with glossy skin and spongy white flesh inside. The French word “aubergine” sounds fancier than “eggplant,” but they're exactly the same thing.

Aubergines grow on plants in warm climates and need to be cooked before eating. They soak up flavors beautifully, which makes them perfect for dishes like Italian eggplant parmesan, Greek moussaka, or Middle Eastern baba ganoush. When you slice and cook an aubergine, its firm texture becomes soft and almost creamy.

The word aubergine also describes a rich, dark purple color, like the vegetable's skin. You might see aubergine used as a color name for clothing, paint, or fabric. If someone says their jacket is aubergine, they mean it's that distinctive deep purple shade.

Whether you call it an aubergine or an eggplant depends on where you live or who you're talking to. Both words are correct; they're just used in different parts of the world.