Condoms, jimmies, rubber bands… you may think you’ve heard them all. Condoms are one of the most common condoms in the world. Here are 5 things you may not know about condoms and their names.
1. Nicknames in English
One of the best known nicknames for the condom is rubber. However, if you go to a convenience store in Australia or New Zealand and ask for a gum, they will give you one. This could lead to awkward moments for New Zealanders or Australians traveling abroad who just want to erase a mistake: “Can I have a rubber, mate?”
Other nicknames in English include jimmy hat, raincoat, or hazmat suit: a suit worn to handle hazardous materials. The term “love glove” led to the famous safe-sex slogan “No glove, no love.”
2. International nicknames
English isn’t the only language that has weird nicknames for condoms. In Denmark, they are called gummimand, which literally means “rubber man”. In Germany, they are called lummeltute, or “naughty bags.” Hungarian terminology emphasizes the protective aspect by calling the condom ovsver, or “safety tool.” Hong Kong similarly demonstrates protective value by calling a condom pei dang vi, or “bulletproof vest.” In Portugal they call condoms “camisas de Venus” or Venus shirt: remember, after all, Venus is the goddess of love, so it makes sense!
Other countries may be more literal with their meanings: In Nigeria, a condom is an okpuamu, or “penis hat.” In Indonesia, instead of a hat, it is a “penis gourd” or a koteca.
In English, a condom is sometimes called a raincoat: in Greek, it’s sometimes called a kapota, or coat. In Spain, a condom is called a balloon or balloon. Remember, while you can use a condom as a balloon, you can’t use a balloon as a condom!
3. National tensions
Some nicknames for condoms demonstrate international tensions. In Germany, a slang term for a condom is “Pariser” or Parisian. In English, condoms are sometimes called French letters. Why is France associated with condoms? This may be because other countries associated everything decadent with France.
As a side note, a French card will protect you against French disease; Or, to put it more bluntly, a condom will help protect you against syphilis. Syphilis was named the French disease due to the outbreak in the French army in the 16th century; It was the Italians who coined that phrase (morbus gallicus).
The French, however, might have gotten their linguistic comeuppance with their terminology. The French called syphilis “la Maladie Anglaise,” or the English disease. They even called it the Italian disease or the Neapolitan disease as well. Other countries scoffed as well, the Arabs calling syphilis the English disease and the Russians calling it the Polish disease.
Although most nationally derogatory terms for syphilis are a thing of the past, the French still call condoms “la bombee anglaise,” or English raincoat.
4. Condom, France
Yes, there is a town in France called Condom. As far as linguists know, it has nothing to do with the etymology of the word condom. There is a popular tale that the English got their word condom from this place. English travelers arrived to see French farmers sewing prophylactics out of sheep guts. Whether this is true or not, you can still get sheepskin condoms (made from sheep intestines). They are softer than latex or polyurethane condoms and increase sensation. However, sheepskin condoms do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, they simply work to prevent pregnancy.
5. The true origins of the word condom
Unfortunately, we don’t know the actual origins of the word “condom.” Was he named after a Dr. Condom, or a Dr. Quondam, as some tales say? Do you have the name of a British Army officer, Cundum? Or is it named after the advisor to the Italian court, Gondi? (A “gondon” or “goldoni” is another word for condom in Italy.)
Whatever our word condom comes from, and whatever you want to call it, use a condom. Condoms prevent unwanted pregnancies and prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
