This very unoriginal thought just occurred to me today: people use brand names as the name of the product.
Here is the list of words I’d use on a regular basis:
- Kleenex = Facial Tissue Papers
- Band-Aid = Adhesive Bandages
- Chapstick = Lip Balm
- Clorox = Bleach
- Crazy Glue = Instant glue
- Crock-Pot = Slow Cooker
- iPod = MP3 Player
- Glad Wrap = Plastic Wrap
- Google = To search for something
- Jacuzzi = Hot Tub or Whirlpool Bath
- Jell-O = Gelatin dessert
- Post-Its = Sticky Notes
- PowerPoint = Electronic Presentation
- Q-Tips = Cotton Swabs
- Styrofoam = Polystyrene Foam (which I hate the sound of)
- Tupperware = Food Storage Containers
- Vaseline = Petroleum Jelly
- Xerox = To Photocopy
- Ziplock Bags = Reusable Zipper type storage bags
I know in other languages, they also use the brand name as the name for the product itself.
I of course, cannot think of any right now but I do remember hearing a lot of that in France when I was there, and asking what [brand name] was.
Totally unrelated random thought to words:
When I worked in fast food, I would ask if people wanted any cutlery with their takeout. 75% of the time, I’d get a blank stare until I waved the plastic fork and spoon in their face.
I finally learned to say: do you want a plastic knife, fork or spoon with that?
Why we didn’t just leave them out for people to take was beyond me, until I realized that people actually STEAL cutlery to use at home, even if they didn’t eat at the fastfood joint.
In my country, we refer to Colgate for toothpaste.