Do you say "trousers" or "pants"?

December 11, 2006 1:46am CST
Which is correct English for what you wear on your legs? Trousers or Pants? Please tell me what you think?
1 person likes this
12 responses
• Philippines
22 May 08
Both are correct. The word "trousers" is widely used in the United Kingdom and other European countries. The word "pants" is commonly used in the United States and in Canada. In these countries, trousers refer, often more formally, specifically to tailored garments with a waistband and (typically) belt-loops and a fly-front. In Australia, trousers and pants are synonymous.
@liquorice (3887)
22 May 08
That's interesting, didn't know Australians also used the word pants to mean trousers. I've heard of 'daks' and 'strides' though!
@muralirv (572)
• India
24 Jun 08
I live in india.we say pants for the full and trousers for shorts or bermudas.
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
23 May 08
Here, in Malaysia, the long ones we call them trousers or long pants, whereas the short ones we called them pants or short pants. Hehe... the short, tight and sexy ones are called hot pants.
@MichaelJay (1100)
24 Jun 08
Being English, as far as I am concerned, trousers are what you wear on the outside and pants ar what you wear underneath. Formally our underwear (for men) are known as 'underpants' and omen use the term 'pants' or 'knickers' for those, as opposed to the Americanism 'panties'. I don't know why but that word makes me cringe. Something to do with the stiff upper lip, I suppose?
22 Jun 08
People here in England call them trousers, so that is the correct English!
@liquorice (3887)
22 May 08
Yes, in the UK we call them trousers. We don't use the word slacks very much. Americans prefer the word pants. I suppose the correct word for you to use depends on whether you're going to be talking to British people or American people. As Laura20 says, when British people talk about pants we're talking about our underwear, and the word generally refers to male underwear (boxers, briefs etc..) The word we use for female underwear is knickers.
@w1ssam (488)
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
14 Dec 06
I say trousers, and sometimes pants, it doesn't really matter how you say it as long as it have the same meaning .
@fl0urish (5384)
• India
11 Dec 06
trousers is right i guess
@baysmummy (1637)
• Australia
11 Dec 06
We say pants here!
@jbb316 (1779)
• United States
11 Dec 06
I say pants. I dont know anyone who says trousers.
@bowtieguy (5915)
• United States
10 Jul 07
I usualy say slcaks, since it refers a dressier pants where as pants is to veauge it could mean jeans or sweats.
@laura20 (128)
3 Oct 07
In the U.K., it is trousers for what you wear on your legs (or slacks). Pants refer to your underwear.