You're standing on a blistering beach in Queensland, or maybe a gas station in rural Georgia. You look down at those two pieces of foam held to your feet by a thin Y-shaped strap. What do you call them? Most people just say "flip flops," but honestly, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Depending on where you’re standing, saying "flip flops" might get you a blank stare—or a laugh.
The language of footwear is surprisingly tribal. It’s one of those things, like calling a fizzy drink "soda," "pop," or "coke," that immediately flags where you grew up. If you're in Australia, they are thongs. If you're in Hawaii, they are slippers. In South Africa, they are slops. It's a linguistic minefield for the casual traveler.
The Great Australian Thong Debate
Let's start with the most famous one. In Australia, other names for flip flops aren't really a thing because there is only one name: the thong. To an American or a Brit, "thong" almost exclusively refers to a piece of skimpy underwear. If you tell a Californian you're wearing thongs to dinner, things might get awkward.
But in the Land Down Under, it's a point of national pride. The term likely comes from the "thong" or strap that holds the sole to the foot. It’s not just footwear there; it’s a cultural icon. Brands like Archies have even turned the basic rubber slab into an orthopedic tool, but they still call them thongs. Interestingly, if you head across the ditch to New Zealand, the name changes instantly. Kiwis call them "jandals."
Why jandals? It’s a portmanteau of "Japanese sandals." In the late 1950s, a businessman named Morris Yock trademarked the name in New Zealand after being inspired by the traditional Japanese zori. It’s a classic example of how a brand name becomes the generic term for the product, much like Kleenex or Xerox. If you call them jandals in Sydney, they’ll know you’re a Kiwi before you even finish the sentence.
Why Hawaii won't stop calling them slippers
If you fly from Auckland to Honolulu, you have to change your vocabulary again. In Hawaii, nobody calls them flip flops. They are "slippers," or more commonly, "rubbah slippahs."
This matters. In many local households in Hawaii, it’s a strict rule to leave your shoes at the door. You’ll see a literal mountain of slippers piled up on porches. If you refer to them as flip flops, you’re outing yourself as a "haole" or a tourist. The term "slipper" in this context reflects the influence of Japanese immigrants who brought zori to the islands over a century ago. The Japanese word for indoor footwear often translates loosely toward the English "slipper," and the name just stuck to the outdoor rubber version too.
It’s about simplicity. One word. Two syllables.
The "Slops" of South Africa and the "Zories" of the East Coast
South Africa has some of the best slang on the planet, and their contribution to other names for flip flops is "slops." It’s incredibly descriptive. Think about the sound a loose rubber sole makes when it hits the pavement. Slop, slop, slop. It’s onomatopoeic, just like the term flip flop itself.
In parts of the United States, specifically in older generations or within specific East Coast pockets, you might still hear the word "zories." This is a direct linguistic hand-me-down from the Japanese zori. After World War II, soldiers returning from the Pacific brought these simple sandals home. For a while, "zories" was the dominant term in middle America before the more rhythmic "flip flop" took over in the 1960s.
Then there are "flimmies." This is a weird, niche bit of slang you might find in parts of the UK or certain Commonwealth territories. It’s a diminutive, a way to make the shoe sound more casual, though it hasn't survived the test of time as well as the others.
The Global List: From Chinelas to Sayonaras
Language evolves based on what the shoe is made of or the sound it makes. Here is a look at how the rest of the world identifies this basic piece of gear:
- Brazil: Havaianas. Okay, it’s a brand, but in Brazil, it’s the name. They are the world's largest producer of these sandals, turning the rubber flip flop into a fashion statement.
- Philippines: Tsinelas. This comes from the Spanish word chinela, meaning slipper. It’s a huge part of Filipino culture, famously used by mothers as a "disciplinary tool" (the legendary tsinelas slap).
- Japan: Zori or Geta. While modern rubber ones are called "beach sandals" (bīchi sandaru), the roots are firmly in these traditional wooden or straw designs.
- India: Chappals. While a chappal can be any sandal, the most common rubber flip flop is the "Hawai Chappal." It’s the footwear of the masses.
- Vietnam: Dép tông. The word tông is actually derived from the French word tong, which—you guessed it—comes from "thong."
Is there a technical difference?
Usually, when we talk about other names for flip flops, we are talking about the same basic anatomy: a flat sole and a Y-strap. But a "sandal" is a broader category. A flip flop is a sandal, but a sandal isn't necessarily a flip flop. Sandals usually have a back strap. Flip flops are defined by their lack of one.
In the technical world of footwear design, they are often referred to as "thong sandals." This is the term you’ll see in boring corporate catalogs or import/export manifests. It’s precise. It avoids the "underwear" confusion of the Australian term while keeping the structural description.
The "V" Factor and Foot Health
The design is thousands of years old. We’ve found Egyptian murals from 4,000 B.C. showing people in thong-style sandals. Why has it lasted? Because it's the simplest way to protect the bottom of the foot without trapping heat.
✨ Don't miss: Day Bed with Pop Up Trundle: Why Most People Choose the Wrong One
However, experts like Dr. Miguel Cunha, a podiatrist based in Manhattan, often warn against the very thing that makes them popular: the lack of support. Because there is no back strap, your toes have to "grip" the front of the shoe to keep it on. This can lead to hammertoes or tendonitis. This is why some of the other names for flip flops in the medical world are "disasters for your arches."
If you're going to wear them, look for versions with a molded footbed. The flat-as-a-pancake $2 versions from the drugstore are the ones that cause the most trouble.
Making sense of the slang
If you're traveling, knowing the local name is a sign of respect—or at least a way to avoid a confusing conversation at a shoe store.
- In the UK and USA: Stick with flip flops. It’s safe. It’s universal.
- In Australia: Say thongs. If you say flip flops, they’ll think you’re a posh tourist.
- In New Zealand: It’s jandals. No exceptions.
- In Hawaii: Slippers. Even if they are clearly for the beach.
- In South Africa: Slops.
The next time you’re packing for a trip, remember that your footwear has a secret identity. Whether you’re sliding into your tsinelas in Manila or your chappals in Mumbai, you’re participating in a global tradition of simple, breezy comfort. Just make sure that if you're in an American department store, you don't ask the clerk where the "thongs" are unless you're prepared to be led to the lingerie section.
To keep your feet happy regardless of what you call them, try to limit your "thong" or "flip flop" time to the beach or the pool. For long walks, your arches will thank you for choosing something with a strap around the heel. Now, go find your favorite pair—whatever they’re called in your neck of the woods—and get outside.