US versus UK Language Problem !!

[Former_Member]

Hi guys,

I need a translator please !! From UK english to USA english ! And yes, I do already know most of the differences I think.

The word I'm having an 'Etsy' problem with is Sweater.

Is a sweater and jumper ? Or a cardigan ? Or something other than those 2 ? Or all of these things ?

In Uk a sweater is a jumper (doesn't undo all down the front) - but I suspect it different in the USA.

I also think what I'm calling a jacket or cardigan, is or can be called a sweater in the USA ???

All help gratefully received please - will clarify my listing title, and tags etc !

Many thanks,
Amanda Jane

[LexiandGem]

Hi Amanda,

I believe that a sweater is the same as a jumper in the UK. Sweater is a pull over top, without buttons a cardigan is a sweater with buttons or zipper front. As far as tagging goes, I'd tag a cardigan as a sweater as well but not vice versa. I often refer to a cardigan as a sweater but I would not call a but I would not call a pull-over sweater a cardigan. Hope that makes sense.

[HausofAriella]

A sweater is a jumper. Like the pp said, it's only a cardigan if it has a closure on the front.

[Former_Member]

I think you're going to run into regional differences even in the U.S. alone. For example, where I live a sweater is anything that buttons all the way down, a cardigan is a more dressed up version of a sweater, a hoodie has a hood and no buttons, a pull-over or sweatshirt has no buttons or hood, and a jacket has a zipper all the way down.

I know this probably doesn't help you, but when I search for outerwear, I do broad searches using several key words, as some people have differing opinions on the actual names of each type of clothing.

So I wouldn't necessarily stress out about it if it is confusing you. Just do the best you can. :)

[Former_Member]

ha ha ha I thought it woujld be as confusing as this !!!

I'm used to UK English - and list girls little cardigans, some jumpers (babies and little girls etc) and then baby matinee jackets (all UK words).

I was thinking Id get more views from USA if I called the little matinee jackets sweaters also ? As well as adding sweater to all cardigan listings....

Damn, I think I just add all 3 words to ALL listings :)

Sorted !!

Thanks guys ! xx

[HausofAriella]

Really Tiffany? I grew up in NC and I've never heard of a sweater as something with a zipper. A cardigan was knit with a closure. A hoodie wasn't knit, but could either be a pull-over or have a zipper. And a sweatshirt was basically a sweater that wasn't knit. Amazing what a difference a state can make.

[Former_Member]

Amanda Jane, use all of those you have come up with as that should cover most of the world!

[Former_Member]

Yeah, use them all! Where I live, NY, I usually refer to anything knitted, crocheted, made from yarn, wool, fleece (thick, warm fabrics) etc, a sweater. Whether it buttons, zips, pulls over, doesn't matter. It's more the material that makes it a sweater for me. A cardigan has to button/zip up the front. A pull over can button/zip at the top, down a bit but not all the way.

Jumper- NOT a sweater in the states. It's actually a completely different piece of clothing- one piece dress or short/pant, like a romper. Think catsuit.

This is fun :)

So what should I be tagging these with for UK customers?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/87050686/kimono-jacket-coat-for-boys-girls-baby

https://www.etsy.com/listing/85473634/toddler-sweatshirt-kimono-with-pixie

[Former_Member]

Jacket for the first one - a coat is generally something that goes well below the backside. Though I'd really suggest both as you already have in your title.

Hooded top and jacket for the same reason. Having said that cover all your bases and include all of them because it won't do you any harm.

So I am no help at all!!

[Former_Member]

HA! You ARE, Claire :) Thank you!

[SesenDesign]

I wouldn't 'sweat' it. I use both US and Aus/UK names and spelling in my tags and descriptions to attract international customers.

[Former_Member]

I 100% agree with Tiffany. Even down to the zippers on sweaters thing.

[MythOfTheWild]

Searching for purses on Etsy is a nightmare too. In the UK a purse is what you keep your money in, with a compartment for cards, cash, and change. We don't call them wallets, that's a man's equivelent, and without a compartment for change - because men are less organised, I suppose.
But in the US a purse is a bag. What also doesn't help is Etsy's categories. I wander into purses, it's full of bags, I wander into wallets - it's full of wallets! I struggle to find the inbetween. I wanted to buy a purse for my friend for her birthday and after a -week- of searching I ended up giving up on Etsy and just going to a shop in my local shopping centre. I found a really nice one (funny thing about it, it was a strange pinky beige colour, I wasn't certain if she'd like it - the day I gave it to her she was wearing mostly that colour. I think I got it right.).

It's really difficult sometimes. When I think sweater, I think jumper, no buttons or anything, just...well, a jumper. Cardigans have buttons but in the US I think cardigans aren't always buttoned. It's confusing, but the latter may be down to current fashion.

The differences between diaries and journals gets me too.

[Former_Member]

here in the northern US, your cardigan set would be called a newborn sweater set or infant sweater set

[Former_Member]

Thank you Kim - and everyone else - and yes this is fun and in fact, very important...

OK now I'm going to go and add words and relabel etc as advised and will report back in say... a week, and let you all know if anything changed !

[Former_Member]

Purely for my own entertainment and childishness but my favourite is the use of the word pants which is of course trousers in the US and underwear in the UK. Also thong(s) which are flip flops in Australia and underwear in the UK. The best one though is fanny pack in the US and bum bag in the UK both of which bring out the childishness in a lot of Brits! We just can't help ourselves!