Condoms, jimmies, rubbers…you may suppose you have heard all of them. Condoms are one of many world’s most typical prophylactics. Listed here are 5 issues that you simply won’t in any other case find out about condoms and their names.

1. English Nicknames

One of the vital identified nicknames for condom is rubber. Nonetheless, if you happen to go to a comfort retailer in Australia or New Zealand and ask for a rubber, you’ll be handed an eraser. This might make for awkward moments for Kiwis or Aussies touring overseas who simply wish to erase a mistake: “Might I’ve a rubber, mate?”

Different English nicknames embrace jimmy hat, raincoat, or hazmat go well with: a go well with you don for coping with hazardous supplies. The time period “love glove” led to the well-known protected intercourse slogan “No Glove, No Love.”

2. Worldwide Nicknames

English is not the one language that had odd nicknames for condoms. In Denmark, they’re known as gummimand, which accurately means “rubberman.” In Germany, they’re known as lummeltute, or “naughty bags.” Hungarian terminology emphasizes the protecting side by calling a condom an ovsver, or a “security software.” Hong Kong equally demonstrates the protecting worth by calling a condom a pei dang vi, or a “bulletproof vest.” In Portugal they name condoms “Venus’ shirts” or camisa de Venus: keep in mind, Venus is the goddess of affection in any case, so it is sensible!

Different nations may be extra literal with their meanings: in Nigeria, a condom is an okpuamu, or a “penis hat.” In Indonesia, as a substitute of a hat, it is a “penis gourd” or a koteca.

In English a condom is typically known as a raincoat: in Greek it’s generally known as a kapota, or an overcoat. In Spain, a condom known as a globo, or balloon. Bear in mind, though you need to use a condom for a balloon, you may’t use a balloon for a condom!

3. Nationwide Tensions

Some nicknames of the condoms show worldwide tensions. In Germany, a slang time period for a condom is a “Pariser,” or a Parisian. In English, condoms are generally known as French Letters. Why is France related to condoms? This could be as a result of different nations related all that was decadent with France.

As a aspect notice, a French Letter will defend you in opposition to the French Illness; or, to place it extra plainly, a condom will assist defend you in opposition to syphilis. Syphilis was known as the French Illness due to the outbreak within the French Military within the sixteenth century; it was the Italians that coined that phrase (morbus gallicus 롱러브).

The French, nonetheless, may need gotten their linguistic come-uppance with their terminology. The French known as syphilis “la maladie anglaise,” or the English Illness. They even known as it the Italian illness or the Neapolitan illness too. Different nations had been equally derisive, with the Arabs calling syphilis the English illness and the Russians calling it the Polish illness.

Though most nationally-derogatory phrases for syphilis at the moment are prior to now, the French nonetheless name condoms “la capote anglaise,” or the English raincoat.

4. Condom, France

Sure, there’s a city in France known as Condom. So far as linguists know, it has nothing do with the etymology of the phrase condom. There’s a folktale that the English received their phrase condom from this location. English vacationers got here and noticed French farmers sewing prophylactics from sheep guts. Whether or not or not that is true, you may nonetheless get sheepskin condoms (produced from sheep intestines). They’re softer than latex or polyurethane condoms and enhance sensation. Nonetheless, sheepskin condoms don’t defend in opposition to sexually transmitted ailments, they merely work to stop being pregnant.

5. The Actual Origins of the Phrase Condom

Sadly, we do not know the true origins of the phrase “Condom.” Was it named after a Dr. Condom, or a Dr. Quondam, as some tales inform? Is it named after a British military officer, Cundum? Or is it named after the Italian court docket adviser, Gondi? (A “gondon” or “goldoni” is one other phrase for condom in Italy).

Regardless of the origins of our phrase condom, and no matter you select to name it, put on a condom. Condoms stop undesirable pregnancies and stop the unfold of sexually transmitted ailments.