Beauty, Fashion & Style

Should havaiana replace the word thong?

Beauty, Fashion & Style

Posted by: Em

31st Oct 2012 11:40am

I recently heard Havaianas are trying to get the word into the dictionary as being a generic term for thongs... What do you think about this?

Comments 20

Ol
  • 11th Jun 2014 02:27pm

No, that's probably the most stupid revelation I've heard in a while!

s
  • 2nd Mar 2014 04:29pm

Havaianas are a brand of thongs!!!

In the 1970's we had thongs in Australia that had cane inner soles and velveteen strap around the toes and also around the edge of the thongs.
Does anyone remember if they were called slaps or something else?

Anonymous
  • 31st Jan 2014 09:30pm

always be thongs to me

MandMm
  • 8th Oct 2013 12:20am

That would be like replacing the word soft drink with Coke. It's not going to happen, or underpants with Calvin Klein, or mobile phone with I Phone.

frilly
  • 8th Oct 2013 07:08pm
That would be like replacing the word soft drink with Coke. It's not going to happen, or underpants with Calvin Klein, or mobile phone with I Phone.

I agree you can always tell when a women is wearing a g-string or a thong. Unless they have very trim hips the "crack' of their bum seems to stand out more. Really what is wrong with a line from panties.

You can always wear French Knickers, They are really very sexy. Look at the ladies in the 20s & 30s who wore them, when they undressed it was so sexy nThink outside the box, certainly no pantie lines, look how close fitting their clothes were?

frilly
  • 8th Oct 2013 07:08pm
That would be like replacing the word soft drink with Coke. It's not going to happen, or underpants with Calvin Klein, or mobile phone with I Phone.

I agree you can always tell when a women is wearing a g-string or a thong. Unless they have very trim hips the "crack' of their bum seems to stand out more. Really what is wrong with a line from panties.

You can always wear French Knickers, They are really very sexy. Look at the ladies in the 20s & 30s who wore them, when they undressed it was so sexy nThink outside the box, certainly no pantie lines, look how close fitting their clothes were?

wadnsarnsum
  • 15th Aug 2013 12:10pm

To me it is a brand not a generic term for 'Thong'. It would be like putting Big Mac in the dictionary as a generic term for Burger - again its a brand not a generic term.

Patros
  • 14th Aug 2013 07:41pm

Um....Havaianas are not the only brand of thongs, so why should their brand name be used to cover the whole genre? I will always refer to this type of footwear as thongs.

Minaki
  • 4th Jul 2013 10:50pm

I still call them "thongs"...no matter what the brand.

mimi123
  • 22nd Jun 2013 11:13am

Probably going too far, is Kleenex in the dictionary too?

Anonymous
  • 18th Jun 2013 09:18am

Not likely, will always be thongs or pluggers to me (and everyone I know). Don't even buy havaianas - too expensive!

Anonymous
  • 18th Jun 2013 09:18am

Not likely, will always be thongs or pluggers to me. Don't even buy havaianas - too expensive!

Anonymous
  • 26th May 2013 03:30pm

Hey ive been wearing havaianas now for 10 years and i call them havaianas not thongs, the word thong has become more slang to us here in Australia Goldcoast.

Anonymous
  • 3rd May 2013 07:53am

no

Clint Marchant
  • 8th Jan 2013 10:21pm

Do you know how a G-String got it's name? well the first time you put one on you go "O GEE" hence G String as for the word thong thats just obvious but to the people that wear them origionally they were designed so you didn't see a "panty line" well I've got some news for you you may not have a panty line but there are some downsides they tend to spread your bum cheaks giving you a fat ass plus you develop "hungry bum syndrome where your clothing creaps up your backside not a good look

Captured
  • 16th Dec 2012 08:31pm

I don't think it'll take hold, the only way it would work would be if Havianas bought out every business that made thongs/flip flops and then they'd have control over the world's thing manufacturing and sales... but i can't see that ever happening.

gobbytart
  • 5th Dec 2012 09:59am

No. Thongs or flip flops are known throughout the world. havaianas is American and then only in a few states. I guess it is a brand name. it would be like calling trainers - Nikes

bubblesox
  • 3rd Nov 2012 04:53pm

It won't mean a thing unless that's what people refer to their thongs as!

They are also called flip flops in the UK, which I prefer. Thongs in the UK are g'string undies!

jaguar
  • 2nd Nov 2012 07:59pm

In Webster's dictionary maybe but certainly NOT in Oxford English or Australian dictionaries, that term may be common in parts of US (although typically they are called flip flops in California, Florida, Hawaii and Seattle when I visited friends there). Seems to me a 'brand' is trying to get copyright to a name for these articles in an underhand manner, certainly not a generic term in most parts of the world. Remember US firm trying it on with Ugg Boots, then losing the case in court!!

Multismudge
  • 30th Nov 2012 05:14pm
In Webster's dictionary maybe but certainly NOT in Oxford English or Australian dictionaries, that term may be common in parts of US (although typically they are called flip flops in California,...

I had never heard of havainas until couple of days ago. buy 5 for $ deal. had no clue what they were talking about and didn't read anymore.
Was really wonderful about "UGG" boots .. go Aussie!
So is there a fight on now about thongs, are they a particular sort or just basically generic rubber/plastic - designer?
Considering womans sandals, dressy thongs etc.

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