Pancake Chain IHOP Soon to Become IHOB! Nothing New for Arab Speakers, Find Out Why

Pancake chain International House of Pancakes or IHOP as we all know it, revealed in a tweet on Monday suggesting changing the brand’s name from ‘IHOP’ to ‘IHOB’ starting June 11. The company has not disclosed the meaning of the new acronym. The Twitterati has gone berserk as they cannot help but wonder what would ‘b’ stand for? But for the Arab’s on Twitter it made perfect sense, hysterically. Find out why the name change will not make any significant difference for the Arab’s.

Once IHOP revealed on Twitter about the name change and ‘p’ is soon going to be replaced with ‘b’, speculations started doing rounds. Many suggested that ‘b’ could stand for ‘breakfast’ (makes sense) but a pole conducted by the pancake joint revealed that 41% of consumers think that it could be ‘b’ for ‘bacon’. Bacon pancakes?

IHOP’s Tweet Revealing Name Change to ‘IHOB’

For 60 pancakin’ years, we’ve been IHOP. Now, we’re flippin’ our name to IHOb. Find out what it could b on 6.11.18. #IHOb pic.twitter.com/evSxKV3QmT

— IHOP (@IHOP) June 4, 2018

One user Chris Tadros pointed out in a tweet that it has always been ‘IHOB’ for Arab parents.

What do y'all mean name change this is what Arab parents called IHOP for years https://t.co/0oSySFr8Q2

— Chris Tadros (@ctadrosssss) June 6, 2018

And another user said those with Arabic-speaking parents, it has been like that from start.

For those of us with Arabic-speaking parents, its been "IHOB" from the very start. Bizza Hut & Bopeyes are also family favorites. https://t.co/kREZl55s7y

— Ala'a Ibrahim (@alaaomarabi) June 6, 2018

Confused? Don’t be. That’s because in the Arabic alphabet, no letter exists with a hard ‘p’ sound, making it tough for Arabic speakers to pronounce the letter ‘p’. Hence, Arabs found a solution by choosing the closest alternative – the Arabic equivalent of the letter ‘b’. Across the Middle East, Pepsi is known as ‘Bebsi’ and Pizza is ‘Bizza’. So, that means that for many Arabs, IHOP has always been known as IHOB. Coincidence or not but for many Arabs their day was made, and they couldn’t stop joking about the name change.

Here Are Some Hilarious Twitter Reactions from Arab-Speaking Community

did an arab purchase ihop https://t.co/QYyb1NwJzr

— hiba (@iatemuggles) June 5, 2018

An Arab parent hacked IHOP’s account. https://t.co/je8Xk0CKFh

— Muhammed Abbas (@valcorxx) June 7, 2018

Someone Arab has bought significant share of IHOP and now they're the International House of Bancakes https://t.co/n4zmxobbpK

— İyad el-Baghdadi | إياد البغدادي (@iyad_elbaghdadi) June 6, 2018

Am I supposed to pronounce IHOP with an Arabic accent now that it’s changing it’s name to IHOB #IHOb

— Mohammad Kazim (@KazimMomo) June 6, 2018

My beoble the Arabs have taken over Ihob so much, they changed the name to something we can bronounce! #Fictory!!#Bancakes https://t.co/gmxJXPxYsl

— Mohamed El Dahshan (@eldahshan) June 5, 2018

Found in suburban Los Angeles in 1958, the International House of Pancakes shortened its name to IHOP in 1973, according to the company’s website. And now 45 years later, IHOP appears to be heading for another tweak. The change could be prompted after Dine Brands Global, the parent company of IHOP, announced in late February that it would close 30 to 40 IHOP restaurants to acquire and grow small chains that offer healthy food. Well, this could just be a publicity (or should we say bublicity) stunt, but till then we all have to wait for June 11.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 07, 2018 09:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).