Transcript

In French, there are brand names that have almost replaced the real names of objects.

I'm sure that's the case in your language too, if you think about it. There are brand names that have almost become common names, so much so that you have associated the brand name with the object, even if you use the same object, but from another brand, you call it by the name of that brand.

Welcome to our new video. Today, we're going to take a look at ten brands that have become common names in French. When you're a foreigner, it can be hard to understand what you're talking about. For you, they can be complicated words to understand in conversation, because you've obviously learned the right words.

The real common name that designates this object, but in everyday language, in colloquial language, the French will use these brand names to qualify these objects.

Some of these words have become so popular that they've even entered the dictionary, even though they're registered trademarks.

A Bic, for example. In fact, a bic is the first word we're going to look at together.

A Bic. A Bic is a ballpoint pen. Very often in French, we'll say un Bic instead of using the real word, which is un stylo bille.

And his little Bic of retired civil servant, I fart him!

He broke my Bic! And yeah, I broke his pen...

In reality, Bic is a brand, but we'll use this word even if we use a ballpoint pen of another brand, of any brand, the word Bic has practically replaced the real word.

Certainly also because Bic is very fast to say, while ballpoint pen and quite long.

Tipp-Ex. Tipp-Ex is a white liquid used for correction. It's a liquid eraser.

You say goodbye to the one you'll call your ex from now on, in her diary, on your name she'll pass a Tipp-Ex.

It's a liquid writing corrector. When you're taking an exam, for example, and you've made a mistake with your Bic and you want to erase, you can use Tipp-Ex, you put some white and you rewrite over it.

Again, the word Tipp-Ex is almost always used instead of liquid eraser or liquid corrector, when Tipp-Ex is actually a brand. But if you don't know that, it can be hard to understand in a conversation.

If someone in your French class, for example, asks to borrow your Tipp-Ex.

Earplugs. Oops... earplugs is the word we use almost systematically to refer to earplugs. This brand is so well known that we systematically use the term boules Quies instead of bouchons d'oreilles.

This is what you put in your ear, for example at night, so you can't hear noises. If someone asks you if you want earplugs, they're asking if you want earplugs.

Labello. Labello is the word most people use to describe a lip balm. A moisturizer for the lips. So, you see, here, it's not, it's not the Labello brand at all, but it's the word we use very often to describe this type... oula! That we use very often to talk about a lip balm.

Labello, Labello, on your lips.

Again, because the brand is so well known, it will take precedence over the real common name. For example, I can say I've used Labello three times in one day, but my lips are still dry.

Sopalin. Sopalin is a brand of paper towel that's very well-known in France. It's so well known, it's been used in so many homes that now, even if we use the store brand very often, we'll still call the paper towel Sopalin.

Can you hand me a paper towel? I spilt my glass of water. Of course, of course, I didn't specify, but you can always use the right words and it's even better.

I'm making this video so that you can understand if you're talking to a French person, and so that you can understand if someone asks you for a Sopalin, a Bic or a Labello, for example.

Always in objects that are really used on a daily basis. So, a tissue, very often in France, we'll call it a Kleenex. Here, I've got it in this form, but you also have the rectangular packs where you have a dozen tissues that you can put in your bag, for example.

Well, very often, we'll say do you have a Kleenex? I need to blow my nose instead of saying a tissue so again, this is a well-known brand. Here you see it's simply the store brand. It's not the Kleenex brand at all, but it's still often the word that's going to be used.

Scotch tape. Again, in France, we almost always use the word scotch to refer to adhesive tape.

You see it fits...

Scotch is also a brand, but it's so well known that we've ended up saying Scotch instead of using the right word.

Nutella. Nutella is a well-known brand in many countries. Perhaps you also use it at home instead of spread.

I don't have any at home, I try to avoid eating Nutella and spreads because they're really sweet. Again, it doesn't matter which brand you buy, even if sometimes you buy better quality brands than Nutella, you're still going to say can you pass me the jar of Nutella?

Mercurochrome. When we talk about mercurochrome, we're usually referring to an antiseptic solution we'll use when we've injured ourselves. What makes mercurochrome special is that it's red in color.

When you use a red disinfectant, you'll often say "I used mercurochrome", when in fact it's a brand name.

The last item we're going to look at today is a k-way. A k-way is a rain jacket. K-wai is, of course, a brand name, but as with all other words, it's now used almost as a common noun to refer to a windbreaker, a rain jacket.

That's it for today. I hope you enjoyed this video. Let me know in the comments if you'd like to see more videos like this, as I've got lots of other ideas in mind for brands that have entered the common vocabulary in France. So don't hesitate to let me know, and above all, give this video a like and subscribe. See you soon.