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The Difference Between Denim and Jeans

【デニムの豆知識】デニムとジーンズの違い(アイキャッチ)・英語
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The Difference Between Denim and Jeans

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What is denim?
What is denim?
【デニムの豆知識】デニムとジーンズの違い(ジーンズと革靴)

There are the words “denim” and “jeans.”

People often ask what the difference is between denim and jeans, but here’s the difference between denim and jeans.

【デニムの豆知識】デニムとジーンズの違い(デニムとジーンズの違い)・英語
Figure 1: The Difference Between Denim and Jeans

Denim is a fabric woven from yarn dyed with indigo. Jeans are pants made from denim (fabric).

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Simply put, denim is the fabric, and jeans are the pants made from that fabric.

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In reality, there is no clear distinction, and some people refer to jeans—which are pants—as denim.

Table 1: The Difference Between Denim and Jeans
Features
DenimFabric woven from indigo-dyed yarn
JeansPants made from denim fabric

The Origin of the Words “Denim” and “Jeans”

【デニムの豆知識】デニムとジーンズの違い(デニム生地とジーンズ)

Denim is a fabric woven from yarn dyed with indigo, while jeans are pants made from denim fabric. This time, I’ll write about the origins of the words “denim” and “jeans.”

The Origin of the Word “Denim”

【デニムの豆知識】デニムとジーンズの違い(地図)

Denim is said to derive from the French term “Serge de Nîmes,” referring to the serge fabric from the Nîmes region.

The origin, ‘Serge de Nimes,’ crossed over to the English-speaking world (America), where the pronunciation of ‘de Nimes’ changed.

The pronunciation of “de Nimes” changes to “Denim.”

The Origin of the Word “Denim”
Serge de Nimes

The term originates from the French Serge de Nîmes, a serge fabric from the Nîmes region.

de Nime

Products manufactured in the Nîmes region were exported to English-speaking countries (the United States), where the pronunciation of ‘de Nîmes’ changed.

Denim

The pronunciation of “de Nime” has changed to “Denim.”

The Making of Denim’s Language

Serge de Nimes → de Nime → Denim

The Origin of the Word “Jeans”

【デニムの豆知識】デニムとジーンズの違い(地図)

The word “jeans” is said to derive from the Italian city name “Genova.”

The pronunciation of “Genes” (meaning “from Genoa”) and ‘Genoese’ (meaning “people from Genoa”) changes.

“Genes” becomes “Jeans.”

The Origin of the Word “Jeans”
Genoa (Genova)

The word originates from the Italian city of ‘Genova’.

 Genes

The pronunciation of ‘Genes’ (referring to products from Genoa) and ‘Genoese’ (referring to people from Genoa) has changed.

Jeans

“Genes” becomes “Jeans”

The Making of the Word “Jeans”

Genoa (Genova)→ Genes → Jeans

What’s “G pan”?

What’s “G pan”?

【デニムの豆知識】デニムとジーンズの違い(ジーンズと小物)

There’s not only the terms “denim” and “jeans,” but also the term “G-pan.”

“G-pan” is another name for jeans made from denim fabric.

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“G pan” is a Japanese-made English term, so it’s a name that only works in Japan.

Japanese-made English

Wasei-eigo (Japanese-made English) is a type of Japanese-made loanword used within the Japanese language. It refers to English words or words resembling English (excluding proper nouns and product names) that were created in Japan by Japanese people. In English-speaking countries, they may not be understood because they express something different, or they may be interpreted entirely differently.

Wikipedia

The Origin of the Word “G pan”

【デニムの豆知識】デニムとジーンズの違い(兵士)

“G pan” is said to originate from the term “GI,” referring to American soldiers stationed in Japan after the end of World War II.

The jeans worn by American soldiers, known as ‘GIs,’ are called ‘GI’s pants.’

It’s said that “GI’s pants” was shortened to “G-pan.”

The origin of the term “G pan”
GI

The term originates from the American soldiers stationed in Japan after the end of World War II, known as ‘GI’ (short for ‘GI’).

 GI’s pants

The jeans worn by American soldiers known as ‘GI’ were called ‘GI’s pants’.

G pan

GI pants are abbreviated as “G-pan.”

The Making of the Word “G pan”

GI pants → G-pants → G pan

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It is said that “G pan” became popular in Japan because it was sold on the black market as surplus military goods.

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A black market is an illegally established market.

Black market

Black market A market operating under its own market economy principles, established illegally outside of price controls when goods are scarce under a price-controlled system. Also sometimes written as “闇市.”

Wikipedia

Summary

【デニムの豆知識】デニムとジーンズの違い(バイクに乗っている男性)

Denim is a fabric woven from yarn dyed with indigo. Jeans are pants made from denim fabric. “G pan” is a Japanese-made English term used only in Japan as an alternative name for jeans.

【デニムの豆知識】デニムとジーンズの違い(デニムとジーンズ、ジーパンの違い)・英語
Figure 2: Differences Between Denim, Jeans, and “G-pan”
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In practice, jeans are often referred to as denim, so I don’t think a strict distinction can be made.

Table 2: Differences Between Denim, Jeans, and “G-pan”
Features
DenimFabric woven from indigo-dyed yarn
JeansPants made from denim fabric
“G-pan”Alternative names for jeans (Japanese-made English)
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