The language of queuing: correct etymology, definition, and uses

Despite being innocuous, queues are everywhere. When you visit the supermarket, you'll likely see a queue. When you use your car, you are regularly stuck in traffic. And when you visit a restaurant, a doctor, or a barber shop, you’ll need to wait in line! But despite being central to our lives and businesses, queues aren't properly understood.

What is a queue? Is it spelled queue or que? What is the difference between the two? These are all common questions that are regularly asked on the internet, and this article will help answer all of them!

The meaning of the word 'queue'

A queue is a broad term that refers to a line of people, vehicles, or items that are waiting for a specific purpose. The precise meaning of the word changes depending on the context, but the common point between all the definitions of a queue is that items or people are organized into a line.

People are waiting in a queue to visit a popular confectionery store downtown. The bottles are lined up in a queue during production. The cars are organized in a queue before the checkpoint. These are common real-world examples of how the word is used.

The etymology and origins of 'queue'

Queue is a Latin word of origin that entered English through the old French word 'cue' from the Latin cauda, which means "tail". It has been in use in the English language since the early 1700s, but it became widely used after World War 2, as the economy started booming in the United States, increasing demand on businesses, which started organizing customers into queues.

Interestingly, despite originating from the French word 'cue,' the word bears no relation to the English word 'cue,' which means to indicate or signal. In all likelihood, 'cue' originated from the Middle English word 'cu.'

Understanding queue management terminology: Common words

If you want to learn more about queues and how to manage lines in your own business, there is a glossary of terms you'll often hear in association with the subject. Knowing these words and understanding what they mean will help you understand queues, what they do, why they are important, and how to manage them in your business and social life.

Line

A line generally, though not always, refers to a file of customers waiting in a queue for access to a specific product or service. Queues can be comprised of a single or multiple lines that are serviced in sequence or in parallel. Fast food chains are a common example of a queue that's made from multiple lines that are all served at the same time.

Wait time

Wait time refers to the time a customer has to wait in line to receive a product/service. It is one of the key performance indicators (KPIs) businesses use to gauge their productivity and the quality of their service. Longer wait times are not only undesirable, but they can also frustrate customers, lead to confusion, and lower sales.

Peak hours

"Peak hours" is a common term used to refer to the busiest hours of a day, where demand for a business's products or services is the highest. Businesses usually prepare for peak hours by diverting more manpower to handle the flow of customers.

Queue management

Queue management refers to all the actions, procedures, and processes businesses use to manage the flow of customers in their business. From the placement of the stands to the number of employees dedicated to the queue, these all fall under 'queue management.'

Virtual queues

Though queues have traditionally been physical lines where customers wait in person, this has changed in recent years. Thanks to digital tools like Waitwhile, customers can be organized and managed online, digitally, without any need for a physical line. These are called 'virtual queues' and they are an excellent way for businesses to handle customers!

Ticket

A ticket refers to an item that has information regarding a customer's place in a queue, their needs, and any other auxiliary information that might be useful for a business.

Though traditionally most tickets were pieces of paper, nowadays, businesses issue digital tickets or have eliminated the need for tickets. At Waitwhile, for example, our software can manage customers completely digitally and keep them and your staff updated in real-time without any need for physical paperwork!

Head and tail

Head and tail are common words used to refer to the beginning and end of a queue. The very beginning of the queue is called the head of the queue, and the very end of it is called the tail of the queue. This terminology likely became popular because physical queues often resemble a snake.

Is it spelled queue or que? Why are they often mixed up?

If you look up the word 'queue' and any sentence related to it, one of the most common questions you'll see is, "Is it spelled queue or que?" So why do these words get mixed up so often? Are they the same word? If not, does que mean anything in English, or is it just a Spanish word? This section will answer all your questions about what 'que' means, how it relates to 'queue,' and why the two words are so often confused.

The meaning of the word 'que'

Though its meaning and pronunciation change slightly depending on the language, que is a Latin, Portuguese, and Spanish word for "what" or "that." It is often put in front of sentences to form questions in each of these respective languages.

'Que,' however, has no meaning in the English language. Depending on context, it can be used as an abbreviation for the Quebec region in Canada or the letter Q, but these are not common uses of the word. If you see the word 'que' in English, chances are it is either a mistake or the text quotes a foreign language.

Why do 'queue' and 'que' get mixed up so often?

Queue and que are homophones, words that are different and spelled differently but are pronounced the same way. Because they sound the same, people often think they are the same word. It is the same problem with "your" and "you're," which are commonly mixed up, even by native speakers. This is the primary reason why people often mix up the word 'que' with the words 'queue' and 'cue.'

Another reason is that 'que' is a very common word in Romance languages, meaning "what." So, when French, Spanish, or Portuguese speakers learn English, they often revert to their mother language instinctively when writing, leading to this common error.

Lastly, due to shifts in the English language across the Atlantic, there are a number of common words that end in 'ue' in British English but have dropped it in American English. Common examples include catalog(ue), dialog(ue), and analog(ue). Some people might mistakenly think 'queue' and 'que' are another instance of this phenomenon, but this isn't true. Both American and British English use 'queue' to refer to a line of people waiting for a product/service.

Conclusion

Queues feature regularly in our lives and businesses, but despite that, they are poorly understood from both a functional and linguistic standpoint. This article hopes to dispel common myths surrounding queues and answer some of your long-standing questions about the origins and importance of queues!