| In France many trademarks became generic names: Frigidaire and its abbreviated form frigo is the standard name for a refrigerator (nobody ever says "réfrigérateur"). Kleenex is the standard word meaning "paper handkerchief". Sopalin is the standard word for "roll of paper towels". Many automotive parts are called from a brand name too : "Delco" is the only name an igniter is ever called; a flexible black tube is always called a "Durit" whatever its brand. A modular pre-made, stackable non permanent housing module is an "Algeco". A bus stop with a roof is called an Abribus. A supermarket trolley is almost always called a Caddie. A credit card is universally called a "Carte Bleue" or CB, to the point that people will happily use the nonsensical "CB" acronym for a credit card when speaking English. Cellophane is called Cellophane. I don't even know of an another word for it :) |