Boston local language
What does “frappe” mean?
A milkshake, traditionally made with ice cream. Learn its pronunciation, local context, realistic examples, and when a more neutral phrase is safer.
Meaning and local context
frappe means A milkshake, traditionally made with ice cream. in Boston local language. In New England, frappe distinguishes an ice-cream drink from plain flavoured milk.
How it is used
Restaurant terminology still varies, especially across chains. One example is “I ordered a chocolate frappe.”, which corresponds to “I ordered a chocolate milkshake.” in plain English.
Example interpretation
A second example is “That shop makes thick frappes.”, where the same local sense is expressed as “That shop makes thick ice-cream drinks.”. Reading both examples together helps distinguish this regional meaning from other possible readings of the word or phrase.
Tone and register
Do not assume the same meaning in every region or café. This caution is part of understanding “frappe”: the definition tells you what it means, while the surrounding situation and tone help you judge whether using it yourself is appropriate.
- Pronunciation
- FRAP
- Register
- Informal regional speech
- Place
- Boston
Examples in conversation
I ordered a chocolate frappe.
I ordered a chocolate milkshake.
That shop makes thick frappes.
That shop makes thick ice-cream drinks.