Why does the south and parts of the west coast call "sneakers" tennis shoes when tennis is actually played ink

Answer 1

This goes way back when the first shoes like this came out and they were actually for tennis. You'll also hear some people call them "deck shoes" because of their use on boats. Needless to say, these are upper income uses, so as they filtered down to the ordinary population, they gradually became sneakers. But tennis shoes was the original name.

Answer 2

I don't know, but that is what my family and everyone I know calls them. I've actually always thought the term "sneakers" was weird--what does it mean, you're going to sneak up on somebody?

I can't think of anyone around here (Texas) that calls them sneakers. The younger generation may refer to them by their brand name, or at least by the right sport.

"I bought some Nikes." Or, "check out my new basketball shoes."

I read the wikipedia article (link below), and saw a couple more names I have heard them called: gym shoes and tennies.

I also saw that the Spanish word for these shoes is tenis (like tennis), but I don't know if that usage traveled up from Latin America to North America, or we coined it first and then it traveled down.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneaker_(footwear)

Answer 3

same reason people in england call sweaters jumpers

Answer 4

Don't really understand the question