In Australia a Thong Is a Flip-Flop
A thong is a narrow strip of leather. The word means very different garments in different countries.
A thong is a narrow strip of leather used as a fastening or lash. The word is a minefield across English-speaking countries: in Australia and New Zealand *thongs* are rubber sandals, what Britain calls flip-flops, while elsewhere the word means a minimal undergarment. Australians asking to borrow thongs are talking about footwear. Old English *thwang* meant a leather strap, and the word survives in the older sense in saddlery and shoemaking.
- A leather strip. *A leather thong.*
- A sandal (Australia). *A pair of thongs.*
- Flip-flop — the British word. *Flip-flops.*
- An undergarment. *A thong.*
- Old English — *thwang*, a strap. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | thong | A thong. |
| Plural | thongs | Thongs. |
| British | flip-flop | Flip-flops. |
| Old English | thwang | A strap. |
| Related | twinge | A twinge. |
- The parcel was tied with a leather thong.Original.
- He wore thongs to the beach.Australian.
- Britain says flip-flops.Usage.
Footwear names by country
- Thongs — Australia and New Zealand
- Flip-flops — Britain and America, from the sound they make
- Jandals — New Zealand, from Japanese sandals
- Slops — South Africa
- Chinelos — Brazil, where the style is a national institution
Old English *thwang*, a narrow strip of leather, of Germanic origin.
What are thongs in Australia?
Rubber sandals, called flip-flops in Britain and America. The word causes regular confusion between countries.
Why are they called flip-flops elsewhere?
From the sound the loose sole makes slapping against the heel as you walk.