What Do British Call Thongs? British Slippers Explained

Buy slippers in the UK and ask for ‘thongs’ and you’ll probably get some funny looks. Brits use the word ‘thong’ for something much more personal than footwear—it’s underwear. If you’re used to calling simple rubber sandals ‘thongs’ like Aussies do, that word’s not going to help you find flip-flops in London.
This might sound silly, but it matters if you don’t want to end up red-faced at a shoe shop. The last thing you want is to ask a shop assistant for thongs and have them show you lingerie instead of comfy beach footwear. So if you’re new to the UK or ordering shoes online, knowing the right words makes life way easier.
- Why the Name Mix-Up?
- What Brits Really Call Thongs
- Quirky Regional Names and Stories
- Slipper Shopping Tips in the UK
Why the Name Mix-Up?
The word “thong” is a classic case of how English can get confusing depending on where you are. In Australia, “thongs” are the go-to word for simple rubber flip-flops—the ones you slide your feet into at the beach. In the United States, “thong” almost always means that stringy underwear. But when you cross over to the UK, “thong” definitely doesn’t mean something you wear on your feet.
Language just evolves differently in each place. Brits have never really used “thong” to mean a type of shoe. They call those easy summer sandals “flip-flops.” This isn’t just a random choice. The name basically comes from the sound they make as you walk—the classic slap-slap of a rubber sole. That’s why if you Google ‘British thongs,’ you won’t end up with pictures of slippers but with… well, undergarments.
English is messy like that. One name can mean two totally different things based on geography. So if you’re used to Aussie or American lingo, it’s easy to see where the confusion starts. It’s not really a mistake, just a difference in how people grew up talking about the same thing.
Just remember: in the UK, if you want those simple sandals for the pool or beach, always say “flip-flops”—otherwise, you’re asking for something completely different!
What Brits Really Call Thongs
In the UK, nobody calls footwear ‘thongs.’ If you walk into a British shop and want those flat sandals with a strap between the toes, what you need is to ask for flip-flops. The word ‘flip-flops’ is universal across Britain and absolutely clear—nobody’s confused about what you mean. That noisy slap-slap sound they make? It’s right there in the name.
For home shoes, you’ll hear just ‘slippers.’ In Britain, ‘slippers’ means comfy, soft shoes you wear indoors, often with warm linings for chilly evenings. Anything else will probably get you an odd look or, at the very least, a raised eyebrow from a sales assistant.
- Flip-flops: Waterproof sandals, for the pool, showers, or the beach.
- Slippers: Warm, padded, usually fuzzy shoes for inside the house.
- Sandals: An open shoe style with more straps or a buckle—never confused with slippers in the UK.
And just to clear it up, a British ‘thong’ is strictly underwear—think the skimpy kind. There’s not one British shop that sells footwear under the name ‘thong.’ If you’re in Australia, it’s a totally different story, but in the UK, don’t mix these up!
Here’s a quick snapshot of what these words mean on both sides of the globe:
Country | Term Used for Flip-Flops | Term Used for Underwear |
---|---|---|
UK | Flip-flops | Thong |
Australia | Thong | G-string/Thong |
USA | Flip-flops | Thong |
The safe bet: if you’re on British soil, stick to ‘flip-flops’ for your summertime sandals and ‘slippers’ for anything soft and warm indoors.

Quirky Regional Names and Stories
If you ask people across the UK about those flat rubber sandals, most just call them “flip-flops.” But get chatting with someone from northern England or Scotland, and you might hear weird and wonderful alternatives. In Newcastle, you could hear “sliders” instead of flip-flops. Head down to Liverpool, and you’ll occasionally bump into “flippers,” but that’s rare and usually among younger folks copying US slang from TV. Meanwhile, in London and much of southern England, “flip-flops” is the word that rules.
Some Welsh families—mine included, since my grandmother grew up near Cardiff—sometimes still say “sandals” for anything with an open toe, just to keep it simple. None of these ever mean “thong”—trust me, no British mum will say “put your thongs by the door” and mean shoes. For folks living by the seaside, “beach shoes” is a phrase you’ll also hear, especially among parents talking to little kids.
Australians call flip-flops “thongs,” which leads to some fantastic mix-ups. According to a survey by YouGov in 2023:
Country | Preferred Footwear Term |
---|---|
United Kingdom | Flip-flops |
Australia | Thongs |
United States | Flip-flops/Sandals |
Irish friends of mine say “flip-flops” too, but occasionally use “jandals”—that’s actually a New Zealand thing. The word comes from “Japanese sandals,” shortened down. You’ll never hear a Brit say “jandals” in daily life, but knowing the term stops confusion if you travel or watch rugby.
If you spot “thongs” while shopping online, check where the website is based. If it’s coming from Down Under, they mean flip-flops. In the UK, anything listed as a thong is definitely not British thongs in the sense of shoes—expect underwear. Very different experience if you click buy without double checking!
Slipper Shopping Tips in the UK
First thing: when you need comfy footwear indoors, just ask for “slippers.” That’s the term used everywhere in Britain, whether you’re shopping in London or Manchester. If you want beach sandals or what Aussies call ‘thongs,’ you’ll need to say “flip-flops.” Mixing these up isn’t just a little gaffe—shop assistants literally won’t know what you mean. Trust me, I’ve watched Lucas try to buy flip-flops and get handed slippers with pom-poms more than once.
The UK high street has a ton of choices, from M&S to Primark, and local shops will always understand ‘slippers’ for cozy, backless shoes you wear around the house. For flip-flops, look in the summer shoe aisle or search “flip-flops” online, not “thongs.”
- If you’re shopping online, stick with UK-based retailers like Next, John Lewis, or even ASOS. Their categories are clear and every product photo helps you double-check you’re getting what you want.
- Sizes can trip you up—British shoe sizing is different than US or European sizes. Always check the sizing guide on each website before ordering. A UK 5 is not the same as a US 5.
- If you like a specific brand, type the brand and “slippers” or “flip-flops” right into the retailer’s search bar. For example, “Havaianas flip-flops” instantly pulls up what you’d call ‘thongs’ in Australia, not furry bedroom shoes.
- Look out for the word “house shoes” in some regions—this is just another name for slippers and means exactly the same thing as the main term in the British thongs debate.
As a bonus tip, British homes practically expect you to take off your outside shoes indoors, so having a pair of actual slippers by the door is just normal. It’s not weird to show up for Christmas dinner and get given your own set.