Meaning & use
Birkenstocks
Last updated
Meaning
nounpluraltrademarkinformal
A brand of comfortable sandals with a molded footbed, or a pair of these sandals.
Grammar: Usually plural and often written with a capital B because it is a brand name; a single one is called a Birkenstock.
Patterns
- a pair of Birkenstocks
- wear Birkenstocks
She wears Birkenstocks all summer because they are so comfortable.
He bought a new pair of Birkenstocks for the walking holiday.
My old Birkenstocks finally fell apart after five years.
Word forms
| singular | Birkenstock |
|---|
Common combinations
- a pair of Birkenstocks
- I packed a pair of Birkenstocks for the beach.
- wear Birkenstocks
- He wears Birkenstocks even in winter, with thick socks.
- break in Birkenstocks
- It takes a week or two to break in new Birkenstocks.
- Birkenstock sandals
- Birkenstock sandals are famous for their cork footbed.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sandals
- The general word for open shoes; Birkenstocks is the brand name for one well-known kind.
Word family
- Birkenstock noun
- The singular form, used for one sandal or for the German family name behind the brand.
Commonly confused: Birkenstocks or flip-flops?
Birkenstocks vs flip-flops
Flip-flops are cheap rubber sandals held by a toe strap; Birkenstocks are sturdier shoes with a shaped footbed.
Practice
Which sentence uses the brand name correctly?
Choose one answer.
The plural 'Birkenstocks' names a pair or the brand's sandals in general, so 'a pair of Birkenstocks' fits. 'A Birkenstocks' is wrong because the singular form is 'a Birkenstock'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Birkenstocks”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.