What do you call "sneakers" where you live?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (226276)
Walnut Creek, California
September 29, 2023 4:23pm CST
When I was a kid, I wore P.F. Flyers, rather than Keds. I think it's because they "make you run faster and jump higher," according to the TV ads.
They were my "sneakers."
This morning I read (on one of "those" websites) that people in other countries use other terms for sneakers. Canadians say "runners." Brits call them "trainers." Or so the article said.
I'm not sure what they call them in Australia or New Zealand, or other countries where English is spoken.
What do you call what might be generically called "athletic footwear"?
I think of "tennis shoes" and "running shoes" as slightly different from "sneakers," but I don't know why.
22 people like this
21 responses
@AmbiePam (97951)
• United States
29 Sep 23
My mom referenced P.F. Flyer’s and their slogan a lot when I was growing up. So much so, despite having never seen a pair, my sister refers to every pair of sneakers as her “run faster, jump higher” shoes. We always called them tennis shoes when I was a child. As an adult, I only refer to them as sneakers.
6 people like this
@crossbones27 (50546)
• Mojave, California
29 Sep 23
@AmbiePam Some drill instructors used to call them that in the Marines when I was in. GRAB YOUR PF Flyer's AND PUT THEM ON. 5, 4 , 3 , 2, 1, YOU ARE DONE RECRUIT, FLY OUT OF MY FACE! 
Sorry for yelling but that is what they do.
Sorry for yelling but that is what they do.6 people like this
@RasmaSandra (84712)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 Sep 23
Up until I finished grade school I wore Keds. In high school, it depended on what I was wearing and mostly wore regular shoes but sneakers when in the gym,
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (226276)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Sep 23
@RasmaSandra They worked for me. But I'm sure Keds would have as well.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (163399)
• United States
30 Sep 23
@TheHorse Nah, only if you had Converse brand (Cons).
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (163399)
• United States
30 Sep 23
I just call them shoes, or work shoes. Those athletic style shoes are what allow me to keep up with my job without my feet dying.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (49573)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
30 Sep 23
Yeah, "sneakers" were the cheap canvas shoes we wore as kids, not the high tech costly things they have now.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124240)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Sep 23
@TheHorse My daughter has multiple pairs of Converses! They're still called Chuck Taylors!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (189104)
• United States
30 Sep 23
Usually sneaks or sneakers. My mother used to refer to them as gym shoes however.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (189104)
• United States
30 Sep 23
@TheHorse It is probably something my grandmother called them. She also called a couch a Davenport..which I think was something her mother said. Apparently it was an old manufacturer. Like calling a refrigerator a Frigidaire.
@1creekgirl (43502)
• United States
30 Sep 23
I'm old school. We call them tennis shoes.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124240)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Sep 23
I called them sneakers when I was a kid, but I think I say tennis shoes more now than anything else.
@kaylachan (77487)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 Sep 23
If it closed, was close toed, and either velcrowed or tied, I called them tennis shoes.
@DWDavis (25809)
• United States
30 Sep 23
When I was growing up in southeastern NC, we called them tennis shoes. K grew up in CT and calls them sneakers despite having lived in NC for almost 30 years now.
Since sneakers/tennis shoes are all I wear these days when I'm not wearing flip-flops, I just call them shoes.
@aninditasen (17032)
• Raurkela, India
30 Sep 23
Sneakers came from English speaking countries and so we Indians call them sneakers.
@LindaOHio (188220)
• United States
30 Sep 23
I've always called them tennis shoes. Have a great weekend.
