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In dutch "google" is a verb. It means "to search something online with a search engine".
So if Im looking something up with duckduckgo its called "googling".

Im fine with changing the meaning of words overtime, im fine with adding new words to a language. But using a company name as a new word?

Comments
  • 6
    to duckduckgoing something. 🤔
    In german we say googling something, too. haha ^^
  • 3
    @Johnni can it also be found in a dictionary?
  • 14
    I guess you have never XEROXed something...
  • 2
  • 4
    @Codex404 yes it can haha. 😂
  • 1
  • 1
    @HomeAlone wow, thats a bit worse because there already is another word for it.
  • 5
    I've heard that bing was originally called bang but the verb "banging something" didn't sound very good. Probably not true but still funny!
  • 5
    I always say either 'duckduckgo' something or 'just search engine it! '
  • 1
    Similarly, in the spanish dictionary we have the verb "tuitear" = sending something through Twitter
  • 3
    I used to say "google it" as anyone seems to do in Brasil, but I recently changed to simple "search it"
  • 7
    A lot of people say "Kleenex" when they mean "facial tissue" or "Band-Aid" when they mean "adhesive bandage." "Gatorade" for "sports drink" or "Coke" for any soda brand. It's really, really common, so the fact that "Google" now means "search online" is really a non-issue
  • 1
    @RiderExMachina but those words are not found in a dictionary and never used in The Netherlands (never heard of it myself)
  • 3
    This reminded me of my time in Peru. Things were like this:

    Me: Can I have a deodorant please?
    P: What?
    Me: Yeah, deodorant, for my armpits *makes sign*
    P: Oh! Old Spice! Yeah

    ---

    Me: Can I have a razor? For shaving
    P: Oh! Gillette! Yeah

    --
    Me: Can I have some dental paste?
    P: Oh! Colgate? Yeah

    --

    I was like, seriously? Don't you know the name of the thing but only identify it by their brand name?
  • 1
    Pretty standard in German. Paper towels are "Zewa" because they are a popular brand. Googling is also common here. "Tempos" are tissues. "Walkman" used to be the thing to listen to music on.
  • 6
    "I'm mad as fuck"
    "Yeah dude, you should devRant it"
    "Fuck yeah"
  • 2
    Words meanings get patched as a word starts getting used for something else, even if that new use is just plain wrong.

    Latin american Spanish changes a lot due to the lack of education, words are mis used and some time after that the misuse os now official. It does suck.
  • 1
    I usually tell people to "just look it up."
  • 4
    @Johnni @linuxxx 'ducking' something sounds way better imo
  • 3
    @succcubbus Ducking's for Python, I'd say "Quack it" 🤣
  • 2
    Fuck you Google.
  • 14
    @RiderExMachina That's how it is in Georgia as well. Most people use Google as the search engine and everyone says „Google it“. When talking about tissues, you will most likely hear the word „Nova“ somewhere(Even if it has gotten rare over the years), which was one of the first brands that were imported here.

    It's a nitpick. Not an issue for me, but it gets annoying sometimes.

    While on the topic of language, Georgian is most likely the language the word „wine“ originates from. Just a fun fact (^-^)
  • 1
    @BlueNutterfly
    Cool little tidbit!

    Also, we're all glad to know you're still alive.
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