Sanitary pads, as a daily necessity, are widely used for women's sanitary protection during menstruation. However, the English names of sanitary pads vary in different countries or regions, which is closely related to local language habits, cultural background, marketing and other factors. This article will explore some common English names for sanitary pads around the world and analyze the cultural and linguistic differences behind them.
Sanitary pad is the most common English expression, which can be heard in almost all English-speaking countries. The word "sanitary" means "hygienic" or "clean", while "pad" means "pad" or "pad". Therefore, "sanitary pad" literally means "sanitary pad", which directly refers to the absorbent pad used during menstruation. This term is widely used in English-speaking countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, and has become one of the most standard terms.
Menstrual pad is also a common name, which literally means "menstrual pad". This term emphasizes the main purpose of sanitary pads - that is, it is used for female physiological protection during menstruation. In some countries, especially in academic or medical settings, this term may be more common. It describes the function of the product more directly and avoids the overly hygienic connotation that the word "sanitary" may carry.
Panty liner is usually used to refer to a thin, daily sanitary napkin that is usually not designed specifically for menstruation, but is used to protect light secretions or underwear hygiene. This product is thin and relatively low in absorbency, and is usually suitable for non-menstrual use. In the United States, Canada and other places, especially in marketing, manufacturers tend to call this product "panty liner" rather than "sanitary pad".
4. Period Pad
In some areas, especially among young people and in informal language environments, the term period pad is also more common. The "period" in this word means "menstruation", and "pad" means "pad". Compared with "sanitary pad" or "menstrual pad", "period pad" sounds more relaxed and colloquial, and has the characteristics of directly indicating the purpose. It is usually used for protection during menstruation.
5. Napkin
In some regions, such as the United Kingdom and India, sanitary napkins are sometimes referred to as napkins, which is the same word as the commonly understood "napkin". Although this word is more often used to describe paper or cloth towels used at the table, in some regions, the word "napkin" is also used for Feminine Hygiene Products, especially in old-fashioned terms. For example, "sanitary napkin" is another way of saying "sanitary napkin". Regions such as India may still see this term, especially on old-fashioned advertisements and product packaging. 6. Towel
In some countries or regions, sanitary napkins are also called towels, which usually means "towel" in English. For example, in Arab countries, some brands of sanitary napkins use the word "towel", which has a similar meaning to "sanitary towel". Although the word "towel" usually refers to a cloth or paper item used to dry the body, in some regions, it has become a term to refer to sanitary napkins for women.
7. Kotex (Brand Name)
In some regions, such as the United States, Kotex has become a brand name, and many people habitually use "Kotex" to refer to any type of sanitary napkin. Although Kotex was originally a brand name, it has become a generic name in some cultural contexts, similar to the use of the term "Xerox" in the copying industry. This phenomenon reflects the impact of marketing on language and also reflects consumers' brand loyalty.
8. Other Regional Terms
Different countries and regions' dialects or special habits will also affect the name of sanitary napkins. For example, in some regions, pads or towels may be used as generic terms. In the Philippines, "sanitary napkin" is a common expression, and in South Korea, although "sanitary pad" is the official name, many people will simply call it "pad". In Japan, it is usually called "physiological napkin" (seiriyou napkin) or "monthly napkin" (gekkeiyou napkin), which directly translates to "menstrual pad".
