The correct and standard spelling is barbecue. It is spelled B-A-R-B-E-C-U-E, with a c before the final u-e. Major dictionaries such as Oxford and Cambridge use barbecue as the main spelling for both the noun and verb. 

Barbecue can refer to the cooking equipment, the food prepared this way, an outdoor meal or party, or the action of cooking food over a barbecue. Its common abbreviation is BBQ. 

Quick answer:

Barbecue = B-A-R-B-E-C-U-E

For standard English writing, barbecue is the spelling to use. So, let’s learn , How Do You Spell Barbecue?

Is Barbeque or Barbecue Correct?

Both forms can be encountered in English, but they do not have exactly the same status in dictionaries and everyday usage. Barbecue is the primary, standard spelling used by major dictionaries, while barbeque is recognized as a variant in some dictionaries. Merriam-Webster’s Scrabble dictionary, for example, recognizes barbeque as a playable variant referring to barbecue. 

This is why you may see barbeque on signs, business names, menus, websites, or informal writing even though barbecue is generally the safer choice for edited English. YourDictionary also describes barbeque as a variant spelling. 

When writing an article, school assignment, professional document, recipe, or formal message, barbecue avoids unnecessary spelling uncertainty.

Examples

• Correct standard spelling: We are having a barbecue tonight.
• Correct standard spelling: She bought a new barbecue grill.
• Correct standard spelling: I made barbecue chicken.
• Correct standard spelling: Do you have any barbecue sauce?
• Variant: Some businesses use barbeque in their names.
• Abbreviation: We are having a BBQ this weekend.

How Do You Spell the Word Barbecue?

The word barbecue contains nine letters:

B – A – R – B – E – C – U – E

A useful way to remember it is to focus on the middle and ending:

BAR + BECUE = BARBECUE

The spelling can feel unusual because the pronunciation does not make every letter obvious. Cambridge gives the pronunciation as approximately /ˈbɑː.bɪ.kjuː/ in UK English and /ˈbɑːr.bə.kjuː/ in US English. 

The word came into English through Spanish barbacoa, with Oxford tracing the origin further to an Arawak term. 

Easy spelling reminder

• Start with BAR.
• Add BE.
• Add CUE.
• Put them together: BAR + BE + CUE.
• The result is BARBECUE.
• Do not write barbeque when you want the standard spelling.
• Do not write barbeceue.
• Do not write barbacue.
• Do not write bar-becue in normal modern English.
• Remember that BBQ is the common abbreviation.

How Do You Spell Barbecue Sauce?

The standard spelling is barbecue sauce.

Oxford lists barbecue sauce as a compound noun referring to a spicy sauce served with food cooked on a barbecue. 

The important point is that barbecue keeps the same spelling when it modifies another noun. Therefore, write barbecue sauce, not barbeque sauce, when using the standard form.

Examples include:

• Homemade barbecue sauce
• Sweet barbecue sauce
• Spicy barbecue sauce
• Smoky barbecue sauce
• Barbecue sauce for chicken
• Barbecue sauce for ribs
• Barbecue sauce for burgers
• Barbecue chicken with sauce
• Barbecue-flavored chips
• Barbecue seasoning

If a restaurant, brand, or product officially uses barbeque, you may need to preserve that spelling when referring to its exact name.

How Do You Spell Barbecue Chicken?

The standard spelling is barbecue chicken.

Here, barbecue works as a noun modifier describing the chicken and the cooking style or flavor associated with barbecue. Oxford’s dictionary entry for barbecue specifically includes chicken among nouns commonly used with the verb barbecue. 

Examples:

• We ordered barbecue chicken for dinner.
• She prepared barbecue chicken for the party.
• The restaurant serves smoked barbecue chicken.
• I added barbecue sauce to the chicken.
• We are going to barbecue chicken this weekend.

When describing food that has already been cooked, barbecued chicken is also correct. Cambridge gives barbecued as the past form of the verb barbecue. 

How Do You Spell Barbecue Grill?

The standard phrase is barbecue grill.

A barbecue can itself refer to equipment used for cooking outdoors, while grill can refer to the metal surface or cooking appliance. Oxford defines a barbecue as a metal frame for cooking food outdoors over an open fire. 

Examples:

• We bought a new barbecue grill.
• Clean the barbecue grill after cooking.
• The barbecue grill needs more charcoal.
• Place the vegetables on the grill.
• The barbecue grill is ready for the chicken.

The exact terminology can vary by region. In some contexts, grill, barbecue, and related terms describe different equipment or cooking methods, so context matters.

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How Do You Spell Barbecue in Australia?

In Australia, barbecue is the preferred spelling in major dictionary usage, although barbeque is also seen in Australian writing, signs, businesses, and informal contexts. An Australian spelling reference notes that both forms appear, while barbecue is the primary spelling in Oxford and Macquarie dictionary treatment. 

Australians also commonly use the informal word barbie for barbecue. Oxford identifies barbie as an informal British and Australian English form. 

So if someone asks:

How do you spell barbecue in Australia?

A practical answer is:

Barbecue is the standard spelling, while barbeque is also encountered as a variant, and barbie is an informal Australian term.

Examples:

• We are having a barbecue this weekend.
• We are having a barbie this weekend. (informal)
• The business name may use barbeque if that is its official spelling.

How Do You Spell Barbecue in English?

In standard English, the spelling is barbecue.

Cambridge and Oxford both use barbecue as the dictionary headword and give it both noun and verb uses. 

As a noun, it can describe the cooking equipment, the food, or an outdoor meal or party. As a verb, it means to cook food on a barbecue. 

Here are some common forms:

Form	Example
barbecue	We are having a barbecue.
barbecues	The restaurant serves barbecues during summer.
barbecued	We ate barbecued chicken.
barbecuing	They are barbecuing outside.
barbecue sauce	Pass the barbecue sauce.
barbecue chicken	We ordered barbecue chicken.
barbecue grill	Clean the barbecue grill.
BBQ	We’re having a BBQ.

Oxford lists barbecuing as the -ing form of the verb. 

Is Barbecue Spelled With a C or Q?

The standard spelling is barbecue, which contains a c:

B-A-R-B-E-C-U-E

The alternative barbeque contains q instead of c. It is a recognized variant in some dictionary sources, but barbecue is the primary spelling in major learner dictionaries such as Oxford and Cambridge. 

This difference explains why people sometimes wonder whether they have made a spelling mistake when they see both forms.

For general writing, use:

✅ barbecue

Rather than:

barbeque

However, if Barbeque appears as part of an official business, product, event, or organization name, preserve the name’s actual spelling.

How Do You Spell Barbecue Chips?

The standard spelling is barbecue chips.

Here, barbecue describes the flavor of the chips. You may also see BBQ chips on packaging and menus because BBQ is a recognized abbreviation for barbecue. 

Examples include:

• barbecue chips
• BBQ chips
• barbecue-flavored chips
• barbecue potato chips
• smoky barbecue chips
• spicy barbecue chips
• sweet barbecue chips
• barbecue-seasoned chips
• barbecue-flavored snacks
• barbecue corn chips

The spelling barbecue remains the standard full form even when it is used as part of a food name.

What Is the Difference Between Barbecue, Barbeque, and BBQ?

These three forms are related, but they are used differently.

Barbecue is the standard full spelling. Barbeque is a variant spelling that appears in dictionaries and real-world usage, while BBQ is a common abbreviation. Oxford explicitly lists BBQ as an abbreviation for barbecue. 

Spelling	Use
Barbecue	Standard full spelling
Barbeque	Variant spelling
BBQ	Common abbreviation
Barbie	Informal British/Australian term

For formal or edited writing, barbecue is generally the clearest choice.

For a sign, menu, social media post, or casual message, BBQ is also widely understood.

Common Misspellings of Barbecue

Because the pronunciation does not clearly reveal every letter, barbecue is sometimes misspelled. The most common confusion is switching the c for q.

Keep these distinctions in mind:

• barbecue standard spelling
• barbeque recognized variant
• BBQ abbreviation
• barbacoa a related Spanish word, not the standard English spelling
• barbecued correct past form
• barbecuing correct -ing form
• barbecue sauce correct compound
• barbecue chicken correct compound
• barbecue grill correct phrase
• barbecue chips correct phrase

The key spelling to remember is BARBECUE.

Conclusion

If you are wondering How do you spell barbecue?, the standard answer is barbecue B-A-R-B-E-C-U-E. It is the main spelling used by major English dictionaries and works as both a noun and a verb. 

You may also encounter barbeque, particularly in informal usage, business names, and some regional contexts. BBQ is the familiar abbreviation, while barbie is an informal term used especially in Australian and British English. For general standard writing, barbecue is the spelling to remember.