[phtrivier]

Please find a word that means "an ordinary piece of fabric that you can build yourself and wear if you're not sick".

At least in France, "Wear a mask" would be understood as "wear an FFP2, surgical-level" mask. The kind of masks:

* that we are in very short supply of at the moment (for various and sad reasons)

* that we have to save for doctors

* that everybody would try to buy on black markets if you asked them to use

* that we unfortunately told people not to try and buy (precisely because we need to save them for doctors because they are in short supply, etc...)

So if a campaign started today saying "wear a mask", with the intention of saying "cover your mouth with a piece of fabric that you made yourself if you're not sick", I suspect it would be counter-productive.

We need another word.

[edanm]

Very interesting linguistically.

My Argentinian wife tells me it's similar in Spanish - a mask would mean an N95 mask or similar. And a surgical mask would not be included if I understand correctly (they are not as good as N95 masks, they're mostly just a piece of fabric).

[gullyfur]

"Make a mask" instead of "Wear a mask". Build, don't buy?

[scarlac]

Try translating using things like face-cover / mouth-cover / facial protection / facial protection equipment?

[travisporter]

Homemade mask or bandana? Although the latter would probably not fit well over nose and mouth.