What spelling for hummus do major British supermarkets use?

Major British supermarkets use “houmous” for the chickpea-and-tahini dip.

English spelling varies because the Arabic word is transliterated in several ways. “Hummus” is the most internationally familiar form, while British dictionaries and retailers commonly use “houmous”; “hommos” and “hoummos” also appear. “Humus” is especially easy to confuse with the word for dark organic matter in soil.

The spelling became particularly visible in British food retail during the late 20th century. Waitrose is often credited with being the first British supermarket to stock the dip, helping establish the supermarket vocabulary that later spread across national chains. Current British listings from retailers such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s still use “houmous.”

The name does not indicate a different recipe. Traditional hummus is generally made from cooked chickpeas blended with tahini, lemon juice and garlic, often finished with olive oil and spices. Thus, “hummus” and “houmous” are spelling variants for the same Levantine food.