Updated: Nov. 24, 2023
This is how Kit Kat bars got their iconic name.
Kit Kat, with its crispy wafer layers, smooth chocolate coating and unmistakable crunch, is a classic candy bar—top tier in most Halloween candy collections. You don’t need a holiday to snack on a Kit Kat, though; in the UK alone, people eat more than 1 billion Kit Kats each year. That’s a lot of chocolate bars!
This confection is enjoyed around the world, no doubt about it. The brand is always coming up with fresh takes on the original Kit Kat, too, like Pumpkin Pie and Mocha flavors. Because we enjoy this candy bar so much, we can’t help but wonder—what does Kit Kat stand for?
What People Think “Kit Kat” Stands For
Truth be told, there are many theories behind the Kit Kat bar’s name.
Some claim the treat is named after a club in England, called the Kit-Cat, where Sir Godfrey Kneller’s paintings of club members hung in the late 1600s and early 1700s. This club had low ceilings, so it could only accommodate paintings of a specific size, historically referred to as “kit-cat size.”
The term “kit-cat” or “kit-kat” was used elsewhere in the 17th and 18th century. It was also the name of a magazine in Pennsylvania, published by Keighton Bros. The print was “a weekly magazine for the home” and sold subscriptions for 50 cents.
Other Kit Kat fans speculate that the name is an acronym for “Keep In Touch, Kappa Alpha Theta.” The wife of Kit Kat inventor Joseph Rowntree was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, according to Mental Floss.
All kids of myths and legends about the Kit Kat name exist. But the question remains—what’s does Kit Kat stand for?
What Does It Really Mean?
According to Nestle, the company that produces our beloved Kit Kat bars, a confectioner named Joseph Rowntree officially coined the name and started selling the treat in 1935.
However, Nestle also says that the “name first appeared on a boxed assortment of chocolates that Rowntree’s made during the 1920s.” That name officially came from an 18th century Whig literary club titled after a man named Christopher Catling—or Kit Cat. It sounds like that might be the real origin of the Kit Kat name!
FAQs
Other Kit Kat fans speculate that the name is an acronym for “Keep In Touch, Kappa Alpha Theta.” The wife of Kit Kat inventor Joseph Rowntree was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, according to Mental Floss.
What does Kit Kat mean in slang? ›
[rhy. sl.; kit-kat = prat n. 1 (5)] a fool, a general term of abuse.
What does giving Kit Kat mean? ›
In Japanese, kitto mean 'surely' or 'certainly' and katsu means 'to win'. For this reason, Kit-Kats are given to students not just as treats, but as good luck charms before important exams. In fact, one in three students in Japan will buy a Kit-Kat in anticipation of entrance examinations!
What does the Kit Kat slogan mean? ›
"Have a Break, Have a Kit Kat" is a famous tagline that has been used by KitKat since 1957. The slogan is based on the idea that taking a break is important for mental and physical well being.
What was Kit Kat originally called? ›
The KIT KAT® candy bar dates back to 1935 when the wafer crisp chocolate bar was launched in England. Originally, it was known as “Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp,” but in 1937 the candy bar was renamed as "KIT KAT® Chocolate Crisp".
What does Kit Kat mean in love? ›
KITKAT: Kiss in Time, Kiss at Time.
What does cool kat mean? ›
, Slang. a fashionable or hip person: Being the cool cat that I was in high school, I would often stop in at the vegan store for coffee on the way home. a person who is easygoing, casual, and calm: He was the most laid-back cool cat I ever met—he took everything in stride.
Who invented the name Kit Kat? ›
The story of how it got its name started in the 1911. Joseph Rowntree, a head confectioner of the manufacturer Nestle, registered the names Kit Kat and Kit Cat. There are multiple stories that revolve around how Rowntree came up with this name. Some believe that the treat owes its name to an English club named Kit Cat.
What is a Kit Kat party? ›
The KitKatClub is known for its sexually uninhibited parties. Guests are allowed to engage in sexual intercourse openly at the venue. The motto of the club is "Do what you want but stay in communication". Patrons are diverse, including heterosexuals and members of the LGBT+ community.
Are you meant to snap a Kit Kat? ›
How do you eat a KitKat®? Take a moment to tear, break, snap and enjoy!
After speculation as to why KitKat Canada would ask Canadians to take a break from KitKat instead of taking a break with KitKat, the brand revealed that the pause from its own bars was in order to usher in the launch of its newest product: KitKat Pops.
Are Kit Kats good luck? ›
Marketing for Kit Kats in Japan is believed to have benefited from the coincidental false cognate with "Kitto Katsu", a phrase meaning "You will surely win" in Japanese. Some market research has shown that the brand is strongly correlated to good luck charms, particularly among students ahead of exams.
Does Hershey own Kit Kat? ›
In the US, Kit Kat is sold by Hershey. In the rest of the world, Nestlé's in charge. That means different flavors across the globe, and different recipes — even two versions of a dark chocolate Kit Kat, Hershey's and Nestlé's, don't taste the same.
What does Kit Kat mean in Japanese? ›
Kit Kat might not have a particular Japanese meaning, but its Japanese pronunciation kitto katto sounds a lot like “kitto katsu,” a phrase that means “you're definitely going to win” in English. Because of that, Japanese Kit Kats are often gifted to students during exam season as a token of good luck.
What does Kit Kat mean in Japanese katakana? ›
The campaign encouraged associations of the product's name with the coincidental cognate Kitto Katsu (きっと勝つ), translated as "You will surely win", and could be mailed as a good luck charm for students ahead of university exams.
What is the Japanese word for Kit Kat? ›
The brand name “Kit Kat” was transliterated into “Kitto katto” (キットカット) in Japanese, which phonetically mirrors the phrase “kitto katsu” (きっと勝つ).
