What does "Marmite" mean?

A divisive British yeast extract spread; something you love or hate British spread made from yeast extract. Famous for polarizing opinions—'You either love it or hate it.'

How do you use "Marmite" in a sentence?

Marmite on toast. It's a bit Marmite. Love Marmite or hate it? Marmite moment.

Marmite

Slang Term BritishAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Casual

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Meaning: A divisive British yeast extract spread; something you love or hate

马麦酱（一种让人爱恨分明的英国酵母提取物酱）

Marmite (un extracto de levadura británico que divide opiniones)

マーマイト（好き嫌いが分かれるイギリスの酵母エキスペースト）

마마이트 (호불호가 극명하게 갈리는 영국의 효모 추출물 스프레드)

British spread made from yeast extract. Famous for polarizing opinions—'You either love it or hate it.'

英国的酵母提取物酱。以引发两极分化的意见而闻名——'要么爱，要么恨'。

Pasta británica hecha de extracto de levadura. Famosa por polarizar opiniones—'O lo amas o lo odias'.

酵母エキスから作られるイギリスの塗り物。意見が分かれることで有名。「好きか嫌いか、どちらか」。

효모 추출물로 만든 영국의 스프레드. '좋아하거나 싫어하거나' 둘 중 하나라는 극단적인 호불호로 유명하다.

Examples

Marmite on toast.
吐司涂马麦酱
Marmite en tostada
トーストにマーマイト
토스트에 마마이트.
It's a bit Marmite.
这有点让人爱恨分明
es un poco Marmite
賛否両論だね
호불호가 갈리는 것이네.
Love Marmite or hate it?
你爱马麦酱还是恨它？
¿amas u odias el Marmite?
マーマイト好き？嫌い？
마마이트 좋아해? 싫어해?
Marmite moment.
马麦酱时刻
momento Marmite
マーマイトな瞬間
마마이트 같은 순간.

Pronunciation

/ˈmɑːmaɪt/

Usage Guide

Context: food, opinions, polarizing

Tone: can be literal or metaphorical

✓ Do Say

Marmite.
马麦酱。
Marmite.
マーマイト。
마마이트
It's Marmite.
这个很有争议。
Es como el Marmite.
好き嫌いが分かれるね。
호불호가 갈리네
A bit Marmite.
有点两极分化。
Un poco Marmite.
ちょっと賛否が分かれる。
좀 호불호가 갈리는

✗ Don't Say

Metaphor now widely used
Metaphor now widely used（现在广泛用作比喻）
La metáfora ahora se usa mucho
Metaphor now widely used（今では比喩として広く使われる）
비유적 표현으로도 널리 쓰임
Brand name becomes adjective
Brand name becomes adjective（品牌名变成形容词）
La marca se convierte en adjetivo
Brand name becomes adjective（ブランド名が形容詞化）
상표명이 형용사로 사용됨

Common Mistakes

'It's Marmite' = polarizing/divisive
Can be literal food or metaphor

Origin & History

Brand name from 1902. Now synonymous with polarizing things.

Etymology: From French marmite (cooking pot)

First recorded: British product from 1902

Cultural Context

Era: 1902 onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: 'You either love it or hate it' slogan; British cultural icon

Regional notes: British icon. Australian equivalent is Vegemite.

Variations

MarmiteMarmite momentA bit Marmite