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In France many trademarks became generic names: Frigidaire and its abbreviated form frigo is the standard name for a refrigerator (nobody ever says "réfrigérat
by wazoox 3y ago
In France many trademarks became generic names:
Frigidaire and its abbreviated form frigo is the standard name for a refrigerator (nobody ever says "réfrigérateur").
Kleenex is the standard word meaning "paper handkerchief".
Sopalin is the standard word for "roll of paper towels".
Many automotive parts are called from a brand name too : "Delco" is the only name an igniter is ever called; a flexible black tube is always called a "Durit" whatever its brand.
A modular pre-made, stackable non permanent housing module is an "Algeco".
A bus stop with a roof is called an Abribus.
A supermarket trolley is almost always called a Caddie.
A credit card is universally called a "Carte Bleue" or CB, to the point that people will happily use the nonsensical "CB" acronym for a credit card when speaking English.
Cellophane is called Cellophane. I don't even know of an another word for it :)
- rzzzt 3y agoEscalator was a trademark registered by Otis, the company that made those stairs-go-up devices: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_generic_and_genericized_trademarks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_generic_and_genericize...
- tuetuopay 3y agoDon't forget - bic for a ball pen - scotch for duct tape - kalxon for a car honk - rubalise for the white-and-red tape used in streets - mobylette for that very specific old style scooter - pédalo for the floating thingy on the beaches with pedals As for cellophane I always called it "film plastique" or just "plastique", but this varies a lot from region to region and family to family. As for Durit, it's actually a bit more interesting as the brand was genericised to "durite". It's so prevalent that we have expressions using it like "péter une durite" as a way to say "going crazy".
- firebat45 3y ago>Cellophane is called Cellophane. This floor is made of floor
- Biganon 3y agoI'm Swiss (French speaking) and I call cellophane "saran", which... is another brand!
- theragra 3y agoIn Russian we also do this 1uite a lot. Xerox, google and photoshop are absolutely normal for activities. Also, thermos for vacuum flask. Dandy is a term for NES clones. doshirak or rolton for ramen noodles. Fairy for dish washing liquid. Sure, it is also klaxon, cellophane and scotch. Interesting, that champagne is the only case I know that won the fight. My friends often say sparkling wine for generic brands.