4 ms·

Coke is a trademark owned by Coca-Cola - the generic word is cola. Their brand is so strong that even though you were thinking about the topic of branding they

Coke is a trademark owned by Coca-Cola - the generic word is cola. Their brand is so strong that even though you were thinking about the topic of branding they still got you!

jimmydddd 2y ago
"Yes, in many parts of Europe, people commonly use the word "coke" as a generic term for soda, similar to how it is used in the American South, essentially referring to any type of cola beverage rather than just the Coca-Cola brand; this is because Coca-Cola is so widely recognized across the continent." --Google's ai thing
- eythian 2y ago
  Interesting, where I lived (NZ), "coke" was the typical term for Coca-Cola (not generic soda, but you may be asked if Pepsi is OK), however in NL where I live now it's pretty universally "cola", and I think that's also not generic. Can't speak to other European countries though, I've never noticed.
  - macintux 2y ago
    In the U.S., it tends to be a regional thing. Coke, soda, pop are all in common use as the general term for soft drinks.
  - arp242 2y ago
    I'd use "cola" in Dutch to refer to the generic type of drink, which is pretty much universal in Dutch AFAIK. But I would use "coke" in English. I'm not sure where I picked that up: I've lived in a combination of England/Ireland/NZ over many years, and to be honest I'm not actually sure how it's used there. Maybe just from US films? Although what I really wanted was a Pepsi, but she wouldn't give it to me. All I wanted was a Pepsi! AND SHE WOULDN'T GIVE IT TO ME!
- dadoum 2y ago
  I don't know for other European countries, but at least I can say that it is not true in France. "Coke" is reserved for cocaine, and cola is the generic word for Coca-Cola-like beverages.
  - dustincoates 2y ago
    I don't drink enough to say for certain, but I'll say that I've heard "coca" a lot, but I never hear "cola."
    - kiyundai 2y ago
      In France coca is a bit generic term for coca cola and pepsi But if you have a brand that sell coke we use cola Like breizh cola or a <supermarket brand> cola
  - thwarted 2y ago
    I've heard that the French are strict about language, but what does "reserved" mean here? What do the French call coke¹? ¹ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke_(fuel) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke_(fuel) ?
    - wholinator2 2y ago
      I'd suspect the vast majority of France never has to worry about that type of coke, or maybe even knows it exists.
    - Am4TIfIsER0ppos 2y ago
      One upon a time wikipedia used to have links to the other language wikis on the same entry. Now I have to edit the URL to jump to the disambiguation page https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke which tells me it is also "coke" https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke_(charbon) https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke_(charbon)
      - klausa 2y ago
pests 2y ago
In the US south if you ask for a coke they will ask which kind - Pepsi, sprite, or a Coke coke? Etc

Coke is a trademark owned by Coca-Cola - the generic word is cola. Their brand is so strong that even though you were thinking about the topic of branding they still got you!

jimmydddd 2y ago

"Yes, in many parts of Europe, people commonly use the word "coke" as a generic term for soda, similar to how it is used in the American South, essentially referring to any type of cola beverage rather than just the Coca-Cola brand; this is because Coca-Cola is so widely recognized across the continent." --Google's ai thing

eythian 2y ago
Interesting, where I lived (NZ), "coke" was the typical term for Coca-Cola (not generic soda, but you may be asked if Pepsi is OK), however in NL where I live now it's pretty universally "cola", and I think that's also not generic. Can't speak to other European countries though, I've never noticed.
- macintux 2y ago
  In the U.S., it tends to be a regional thing. Coke, soda, pop are all in common use as the general term for soft drinks.
- arp242 2y ago
  I'd use "cola" in Dutch to refer to the generic type of drink, which is pretty much universal in Dutch AFAIK. But I would use "coke" in English. I'm not sure where I picked that up: I've lived in a combination of England/Ireland/NZ over many years, and to be honest I'm not actually sure how it's used there. Maybe just from US films? Although what I really wanted was a Pepsi, but she wouldn't give it to me. All I wanted was a Pepsi! AND SHE WOULDN'T GIVE IT TO ME!
dadoum 2y ago
I don't know for other European countries, but at least I can say that it is not true in France. "Coke" is reserved for cocaine, and cola is the generic word for Coca-Cola-like beverages.
- dustincoates 2y ago
  I don't drink enough to say for certain, but I'll say that I've heard "coca" a lot, but I never hear "cola."
  - kiyundai 2y ago
    In France coca is a bit generic term for coca cola and pepsi But if you have a brand that sell coke we use cola Like breizh cola or a <supermarket brand> cola
- thwarted 2y ago
  I've heard that the French are strict about language, but what does "reserved" mean here? What do the French call coke¹? ¹ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke_(fuel) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke_(fuel) ?
  - wholinator2 2y ago
    I'd suspect the vast majority of France never has to worry about that type of coke, or maybe even knows it exists.
  - Am4TIfIsER0ppos 2y ago
    One upon a time wikipedia used to have links to the other language wikis on the same entry. Now I have to edit the URL to jump to the disambiguation page https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke which tells me it is also "coke" https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke_(charbon) https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke_(charbon)
    - klausa 2y ago

pests 2y ago

In the US south if you ask for a coke they will ask which kind - Pepsi, sprite, or a Coke coke? Etc