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At least in Argentina (not sure about other Spanish-speaking countries) "handy" is used for walkie-talkies, but not cell phones. I wonder if it comes from the G
by pilaf 10y ago
At least in Argentina (not sure about other Spanish-speaking countries) "handy" is used for walkie-talkies, but not cell phones. I wonder if it comes from the German use of that word, or if both languages borrowed it from somewhere else.
Checking the Wikipedia article for walkie-talkie just now, it seems the formal name for it is "handheld transceiver", so it makes sense that "handy" would derive from that.
Edit: I was too lazy, scrolling down a bit on the same article mentions and explains the term "hand[y|ie]".
- eternauta3k 10y agoThere's also "pendrive", which native speakers call "USB drive".
- funkyy 10y agoPendrive is common across whole English and the non-English speaking world.
- bshimmin 10y agoThere are a hell of a lot of names for them, and I think native speakers of English use a variety: http://dispenser.homenet.org/~dispenser/cgi-bin/rdcheck.py?page=USB_flash_drive http://dispenser.homenet.org/~dispenser/cgi-bin/rdcheck.py?p... I think most native speakers who aren't technical would pick something from that list which probably doesn't have "USB" in it and then wrap it with "little" and "thing" - eg. "little thumb drive thing".
- TazeTSchnitzel 10y ago“a USB” is common
- Armisael16 10y agoAs a resident of the English speaking world I'm going to have to disagree with you.
- funkyy 10y agoUK and Ireland are pendrive friendly. It is not the most popular word but used here and there - thus I said common. When talking to some of the US customers they use it as well. It is not as popular as USB stick or Flash drive, but still quite common.
- brownbat 10y agoThis may be a regional thing. I have not heard the phrase pen drive in ages. Everyone I know says flash drive or USB stick or thumb drive, roughly in that order of popularity.
- allengeorge 10y agoWhere? No one in my acquaintance (GTA/SV/NYC) has ever used the term "pen drive".
- funkyy 10y agoUK, Ireland, many customers from US/Australia. Many European customers. Maybe you are talking about tech people. I am talking about mix.