How do you use "Trainers" in a sentence?

Nice trainers! Wear trainers to the gym. I need new trainers. Don't wear trainers to the interview.

Trainers

Q: What does "Trainers" mean?

Athletic shoes, sneakers Trainers in Britain are what Americans call sneakers—athletic shoes for sport, exercise, or casual wear. The British term emphasizes function (training), while the American 'sneakers' emphasizes their quiet rubber soles (good for sneaking). This vocabulary difference catches many travelers: asking for 'trainers' in America might get you a personal fitness coach. British trainer culture is huge, with collectors ('sneakerheads' in both countries) and queues for limited releases.

Slang Term BritishAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Athletic shoes, sneakers

运动鞋

Zapatillas deportivas

スニーカー、トレーニングシューズ

운동화, 스니커즈

Trainers in Britain are what Americans call sneakers—athletic shoes for sport, exercise, or casual wear. The British term emphasizes function (training), while the American 'sneakers' emphasizes their quiet rubber soles (good for sneaking). This vocabulary difference catches many travelers: asking for 'trainers' in America might get you a personal fitness coach. British trainer culture is huge, with collectors ('sneakerheads' in both countries) and queues for limited releases.

英国的trainers就是美国人说的sneakers——用于运动、锻炼或休闲穿着的运动鞋。英国术语强调功能（训练），而美国的'sneakers'强调安静的橡胶鞋底（适合偷偷行走）。

Trainers en Gran Bretaña es lo que los americanos llaman sneakers—zapatos deportivos para deporte, ejercicio o uso casual. El término británico enfatiza la función (entrenamiento), mientras que el americano 'sneakers' enfatiza sus suelas silenciosas de goma.

イギリスのtrainersはアメリカ人がsneakersと呼ぶもの——スポーツ、運動、カジュアルウェア用の運動靴。イギリスの用語は機能（トレーニング）を強調し、アメリカの'sneakers'は静かなゴム底を強調する。

영국에서 트레이너(trainers)는 미국인이 스니커즈(sneakers)라고 부르는 것으로, 운동이나 캐주얼하게 신는 운동화다. 영국식 명칭은 기능(훈련)을, 미국식 'sneakers'는 조용한 고무 밑창(몰래 다니기 좋은)을 강조한다. 이 어휘 차이는 많은 여행객을 당황하게 한다: 미국에서 'trainers'를 찾으면 개인 트레이너를 소개받을 수도 있다.

Examples

Nice trainers!
运动鞋真好看！
¡Bonitas zapatillas!
いいスニーカーだね！
멋진 운동화야!
Wear trainers to the gym.
去健身房穿运动鞋。
Ponte zapatillas para el gimnasio.
ジムにはスニーカーを履いて。
헬스장에는 운동화를 신어.
I need new trainers.
我需要新运动鞋。
Necesito zapatillas nuevas.
新しいスニーカーが必要。
새 운동화가 필요해.
Don't wear trainers to the interview.
面试别穿运动鞋。
No lleves zapatillas a la entrevista.
面接にスニーカーはダメ。
면접에 운동화를 신지 마.

Pronunciation

/ˈtreɪnəz/

Usage Guide

Context: clothing, sports, casual

Tone: neutral, everyday

✓ Do Say

Trainers.
运动鞋
Zapatillas
スニーカー
운동화.
My trainers.
我的运动鞋
Mis zapatillas
私のスニーカー
내 운동화.
New trainers.
新运动鞋
Zapatillas nuevas
新しいスニーカー
새 운동화.

✗ Don't Say

American: sneakers
美式：sneakers
Americano: sneakers
アメリカ式：sneakers
미국식: sneakers
Context usually clear
通常语境很清楚
El contexto suele ser claro
通常文脈で明確
문맥상 보통 알 수 있음

Common Mistakes

British = trainers, American = sneakers
Same item, different names

Origin & History

The British term comes from 'training shoes'—footwear designed for athletic training—which became 'trainers' through typical British shortening. The American 'sneakers' dates to the 1870s, referring to the rubber soles that let wearers move quietly (sneak). Both terms emerged as mass-produced athletic footwear developed in the late 19th/early 20th century. Today the cultural divide persists: British people consistently say trainers, Americans consistently say sneakers, and both find the other term slightly odd.

Etymology: From 'training shoes' (for athletic training)

First recorded: British usage from mid-20th century

Cultural Context

Era: Mid-20th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: British sneaker culture; Clothing and fashion

Regional notes: British term. Americans say 'sneakers.'

Variations

TrainersMy trainersTraining shoes