gandpsmommy Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 you wear when playing sports or being active? Do you call them athletic shoes, tennis shoes, sneakers, something else? I'm just curious. Also, where are you from? I wonder if there are typical names for them in different geographical regions. I grew up in Ohio, and my family always called them tennis shoes. But when I got older I started thinking about the fact that none of us played tennis and maybe athletic shoes would be a better name! Old habits die hard, though. I still call them tennis shoes. Actually in the region where I grew up, it was pronounced more like "tenna" shoes than tennis shoes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
readwithem Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 We call them tennis shoes as well. In Australia they are called "runners" - neither fits what we do when wearing them :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 They're tennis shoes to me. I grew up in Missouri. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca in GA Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Sneaks. As in "sneakers." But for a really weird reason. A former pro baseball player moved into our town when he retired years ago and became friends with a friend of ours. Our friend told us a hilarious story of how his sweaty workout shoes made their way under his wife's car seat, where they were the source of a mysterious and apparently awful smell for awhile (think Georgia in the summertime). When they were finally discovered, she gave him the what-for about his stinky "sneaks" and our friend's mimicking of her had us rolling. It tickled DH and me so much that we kept joking around about our "sneaks," and the name just stuck. Before that, I called them tennis shoes. I grew up in Georgia and my folks are from this area as well, and that's what we called them growing up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkwynn Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Tennis shoes...from Alabama. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Sneakers. In California growing up we called them tennis shoes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorna in the boonies Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 I have always called them tennis shoes. (Texas roots and Texas now, but a military upbringing.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krista in LA Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 In Iowa and Ohio, we called them tennies. Not tennis shoes, just tennies. When we moved to PA, they called them sneakers and that's what I still call them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraceyS/FL Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Tennis shoes - another CA girl here.... still call them that after moving to FL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose in BC Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 We call them tennis shoes as well. In Australia they are called "runners" - neither fits what we do when wearing them :) And we're not Australian, rather Canadian. (And they're runners regardless of whether running is the actual activity taking place or not.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanguine Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 I'm in western Canada. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lorna Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 We call them 'trainers' in Scotland; 'gym shoes' or 'pumps' if the school makes you wear them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwen in TX Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 I usually call them tennis shoes or sneakers or tennies. (VA to OH to RI to PA to TX to GA to TX). I wish I could remember where I heard the term "trainers" - might have been a travel book (where someone was saying, wear your trainers for walking on vacation there). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marie in Oh Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 I grew up in Arizona. I had never heard sneakers til I met a girl from PA. Sneakers makes me laugh! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Closeacademy Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Tennis shoes (IN and WI). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in Appalachia Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 I never knew there was another name for them till we moved south. I think they call them gym shoes here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 I've lived all over. In SC we called them sneakers, in IL we called them tennis shoes or tennies, now we are in PA...I believe they say sneakers here, but my kids are already used to calling them tennis shoes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet in Toronto Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Running shoes or runners here too...Grew up in Ottawa, Canada. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Gym shoes. Born and raised in western-'burbs of the Chicago area. Tennis shoes were worn by North Shore people or transferees :). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca in TN Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 My family calls them tennis shoes....in GA and TN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Actually in the region where I grew up, it was pronounced more like "tenna" shoes than tennis shoes. We called them something similar - "tenny" shoes. My dh is from a totally different background and also calls them that. Of course, that's what my dc call them as well. My guess is it is from people being lazy about pronouncing the "s" sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 As a kid I called them sneakers, but as an adult I've come to call them tennis shoes. Could be a regional thing, I was in the North as a kid and in the South from age 13 till present. :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st_claire Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 We call generic shoes like this "sneakers", but we also have specific ones for specific sports, like dh has "running shoes" for the treadmill. They are built for, and only used for, running. We are from Ontario. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 When I was a kid, we called them tennis shoes. Running hadn't come into vogue yet, and most people I knew called them Keds, sneakers, or tennis shoes. When I was a runner, I called them running shoes. Now I call them sneakers, no matter what they are used for. Mostly I call them missing because the darned dog keeps taking them outside whenever I leave them under my desk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnEaglesWings Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Those are tennis shoes regardless of the sport! I'm from Chicago. ~Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yslek Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 "Tennis shoes" and "sneakers." (WA) Dh calls the ones he runs in "running shoes." Kelsy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey in TX Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 sneakers (tennis shoes in IL), but each my children refer to them by specific name "indoor shoes", "Shox", "blue Italy shoes", etc... no matter what you teach, the quirkiness creeps out :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pajama Mama Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 *I* call them sneakers but here in Pittsburgh they call them tenners(tennis shoes). I feel like I'm in another world here:tenners(sneakers),gumbands(rubberbands),pop(soda),buggy(shopping cart)... The list is endless:tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmegan Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Sneakers. I call tennis shoes something very specific: those white canvas Keds things that were popular in the 80's. They got dirty so quickly and then looked awful! Nike, Reebok, New Balance, etc type shoes are sneakers to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pamjk Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Grew up in Mass. and only called them sneakers. Now I'm in NC and it seems everyone here says tennis shoes. Weird, cuz I haven't met anyone here who actually plays tennis! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elisabeth in IL Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Tennis shoes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plaid Dad Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Sneakers. I grew up on Long Island (NY Metro area). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 I think athletic shoe is the best description. It wasn't until my dd started playing tennis that I discovered regular "tennis" shoes aren't what's needed for tennis. They don't provide enough protection or support. We have to buy "court" shoes for her tennis playing, and "trainers" for her running. Nowadays I think of "tennis shoes" as just white cloth shoes with no support or protection that don't mark up gyms or courts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robyn Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Sneakers in Mass. I've never heard them called anything else here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Tennis shoes here, but pronounced more like Tenna shoes. Growing up, Tennie shoes occasionally. 100% Texan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 if they are plain and simple shoes to wear for casual walking/loafing. For example, Reebok Princess shoes are "sneakers." We call the shoes we use for serious walking our "walking shoes." These have to be sturdier and specifically designed for walking/supporting the foot through repeated shock. These are reserved only for long periods of walking, hiking, lawn mowing (which I am NOT going to do this summer, no I am NOT). :glare: If we ran, we would probably call the shoes "running shoes." But, alas, if I ran, in the shape I am in, I would probably hurt something. Hubby is from California, I am from (and in) New Jersey. I don't think I've ever called sneakers "tennis shoes," but my mother does. Actually, she uses these terms interchangeably, so far as I can discern. She grew up in New Jersey, but 70-odd years ago, and in the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 2, 2008 Share Posted May 2, 2008 Tennis shoes or tennie sneaks. I grew up in New Mexico but have lived in TX since 1992. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragons in the flower bed Posted May 2, 2008 Share Posted May 2, 2008 Also, where are you from? I grew up on Long Island, and I have always known these as sneakers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted May 2, 2008 Share Posted May 2, 2008 Lightweight ones are called plimsolls, or in my part of the country, daps. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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