What Do British Call Thongs? A Guide to Flip-Flop Terminology in Ireland and the UK

You’re walking into a pub in Dublin or strolling down Grafton Street, and you see someone wearing those rubber-soled sandals with the Y-shaped strap. You might call them flip-flops, but if you say "thong" to a British person across the channel, you might get some very confused looks-or worse, awkward laughter. The question of what do British call thongs is more than just a trivia night winner; it’s a real linguistic trap for travelers moving between Ireland, the UK, and Australia.

In Ireland, we have our own unique mix of slang and standard terms, but when it comes to this specific piece of summer footwear, the lines blur depending on who you ask and where they grew up. If you’re planning a trip to London, Manchester, or even just chatting with online retailers from Great Britain, getting the terminology right saves you from buying underwear instead of beach shoes. Let’s clear up the confusion once and for all, looking at how language shifts across borders and why context matters more than dictionary definitions.

The Big Misunderstanding: Underwear vs. Footwear

Here is the core issue: in American English, a "thong" can refer to both a type of minimal underwear and a sandal. In Australian English, "thong" almost exclusively means the sandal. But in British English? It’s tricky. Most people in the UK use the word "thong" to describe women’s underwear. So, if you walk into a Boots or Superdrug in London and ask for "thongs," the assistant will likely point you toward the lingerie aisle, not the shoe section.

This isn’t just a hypothetical scenario. I’ve heard stories of tourists standing in a high street store, holding up a pair of rubber sandals, while the shopkeeper stares blankly because they think the customer wants undergarments. To avoid this, you need to know the preferred terms in different regions. While many younger Brits are starting to adopt "thong" for sandals due to global media influence, the traditional and safest term remains distinct.

How We Say It Here in Ireland

Living in Galway, I hear a lot of different words for these shoes. We don’t have one single national standard, which makes sense given our proximity to both the UK and the US via media and travel. However, there are patterns. Many Irish people simply call them slippers. Yes, that’s right. If you tell an older relative in Cork or Kerry that you’re packing your "slippers" for the beach, they won’t think you mean fuzzy bedroom shoes. They’ll picture exactly what you mean.

Why "slippers"? It’s an old-fashioned term that stuck around. It refers to the lightweight nature of the footwear. You slip them on, you slip them off. It’s practical language. But among younger generations in cities like Dublin or Limerick, influenced by American TV shows and global brands like Havaianas or Reef, the term flip-flops has become dominant. It’s clearer, less ambiguous, and universally understood in retail environments here.

Do Irish people use the word "thong" for sandals? Sometimes. Because we are culturally closer to the UK, we often mirror their caution. But because we also consume a massive amount of Australian and American pop culture, many of us understand "thong" as a sandal. Still, if you want to be safe in a shop in O’Connell Street, stick to "flip-flops." If you’re chatting with friends at a house party, calling them "thongs" probably won’t raise eyebrows, but "slippers" might get a nostalgic nod from anyone over 40.

British Retail Reality: What to Ask For

If you’re shopping online from a UK-based retailer like ASOS, Next, or Clarks, or walking into a physical store in Birmingham or Leeds, the search bar is your friend-and your enemy. Type "thong" into a UK clothing site, and you will mostly see bras and briefs. The algorithm is trained on local usage. To find the footwear, you must type flip-flops.

Some UK stores have started using hybrid terms like "beach sandals" or "Y-straps" to bridge the gap, especially in sports sections. Decathlon, for example, tends to use technical descriptions or "flip-flops" clearly labeled under swimwear. But don’t rely on this. The most reliable keyword for cross-border shopping is always "flip-flops."

There’s also a class element to this. In some parts of the UK, particularly in the north, you might hear regional dialects that differ, but "flip-flops" is the standardized retail term endorsed by major chains. Using "thong" marks you instantly as non-British-likely American or Australian. That’s not bad, but it does signal that you might need help navigating the aisles.

Australian Influence: Why the Word "Thong" Is Spreading

We can’t ignore the impact of Australia. With millions of young Australians working holiday visas in Ireland and the UK every year, and with streaming services making Aussie dramas like Neighbours or Home and Away household names, the word "thong" for a sandal is creeping into everyday speech. Younger people in London or Manchester might casually say, "Grab your thongs for the festival," without thinking about the double meaning.

However, this shift is slow. Language change takes decades. For now, the dual meaning persists. If you’re in a mixed group-say, at a music festival in Kilkenny or Reading-you’ll hear all three terms: slippers, flip-flops, and thongs. Context is everything. If someone points to their feet, you know what they mean. If they hold up a packet of fabric, you hope they clarify quickly.

It’s worth noting that in Australia, the word "thong" is so neutralized for footwear that using it for underwear actually sounds odd to many Aussies. They might say "G-string" or just "underwear." This cultural insulation helps keep their definition pure, whereas in the UK and Ireland, the collision of cultures creates the ambiguity.

Practical Tips for Travelers and Shoppers

So, how do you navigate this without embarrassment? Here’s a quick cheat sheet based on where you are:

• In Ireland: Use "flip-flops" for clarity in shops. Use "slippers" with family or older friends. Avoid "thong" if you want to be 100% precise, though it’s generally understood.
• In the UK: Always say "flip-flops." Never say "thong" unless you are joking or sure of your audience. Expect to find them in the beachwear or casual footwear section, not near socks.
• In Australia: Say "thongs." You’ll fit right in. Saying "flip-flops" will make you sound foreign, but they’ll still understand you.
• Online Shopping: Check the URL. If it ends in .co.uk, search for "flip-flops." If it ends in .com.au, search for "thongs." If it ends in .ie, either works, but "flip-flops" yields cleaner results.

Another tip: look at the product images. Visual cues never lie. If the website uses the word "thong" but shows a pair of sandals, trust the image over the text. Global e-commerce sites sometimes auto-translate poorly or use US-centric data feeds that confuse UK customers.

Beyond the Name: Cultural Nuances in Footwear

This linguistic puzzle is just one small part of a larger pattern in fashion terminology. Think about trainers versus sneakers. In Ireland and the UK, we wear trainers. In America, they’re sneakers. Or consider "jumper" versus "sweater." These differences aren’t just about vocabulary; they reflect historical ties, trade routes, and media consumption.

For footwear specifically, the distinction between "slippers," "flip-flops," and "thongs" highlights how informal items retain local flavor longer than formal ones. Nobody calls a suit jacket a "blazer" incorrectly across borders because the item is standardized globally. But cheap rubber sandals? They stay local. They’re bought impulsively, worn casually, and named colloquially.

If you’re interested in expanding your wardrobe vocabulary beyond footwear, next time you’re in a department store, pay attention to other terms. In Ireland, we might buy a "cardigan," while in the US, it could be labeled a "wrap." Knowing these subtle shifts helps you shop smarter and communicate better, whether you’re ordering from a Shopify store in Berlin or chatting with a colleague from New York.