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Ask for help > Handbags and Purses - UK and US differences - some questions
Handbags and Purses - UK and US differences - some questions
Jayho
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Handbags and Purses - UK and US differences - some questions
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Hi all
For women
For holding personal items: In British English a handbag = in American English a purse
However
For holding coins and sometimes notes/plastic cards: In British English a purse = in American English ???
For men
Holding notes: In British English, a wallet = in American English ???
And, the little bags that men sometimes carry, what are they called in British and American English?
I sometimes hear a manbag but I tend to think this is being facetious as it is not at all common.
Cheers
Jayho |
17 Nov 2015
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cunliffe
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Hi Jayho. It is �manbag �in England. Not that many fellers carry them. Well, in my neck of the woods (up North) anyway. They are regarded as a bit effeminate, for some reason.
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17 Nov 2015
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ninon100
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For men, BrE - wallet, AmE - billfold :) |
17 Nov 2015
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kwsp
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Hi Jayho! WOMEN: In America there are several names for a handbag depending on the style, but for the most common usage nowdays people just call them �bags�. Purse is somewhat old fashioned although they do still call them that in advertising. There are handbags, totes, clutches, over the shoulder bags, crossbody bags - all can fall under the category of purse or bag. If the item is just used for holding coins it is a coin purse. If it is used for coins, bills, and cards it is a wallet or billfold. MEN: For bills and cards men use a billfold or a wallet. The �manbag � is usually a messenger or courier bag but there are feminine forms of these too. Here are a couple of links for you to look at: Best Regards, kwsp
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17 Nov 2015
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douglas
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purse (or handbag)
wallet ( I �ve rarely heard billfold in the USA except from advertisers)
coin purse
man bag, man purse, satchel (or bag for men)
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18 Nov 2015
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Jayho
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Hi all
Thanks for your posts. As a result of this and my research, I�m going to settle on Jayho�s international definitions for my students:
Ladies have a handbag/bag for their things and a purse for their money and cards.
Men, if they have one like we ladies, have a bag for their things and a wallet for their money.
Mmm ... manbag, and murse, not really a common occurrence in my neck of the woods. But, I did stumble on an interesting read on man-bags here.
Cheers
Jayho |
18 Nov 2015
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