Definition
A handbag is a small bag, usually carried by women, used to hold money, keys, and personal items.
Etymology
Formed from the words “hand” and “bag,” it literally means a bag carried in the hand. The term became common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as people began carrying more personal items in public.
Kelly Says
Handbags didn’t become everyday fashion until people started traveling and moving around cities more, needing to carry things securely. In earlier times, both men and women carried small pouches, so the idea of a ‘handbag’ wasn’t always gendered.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ንብረት ቦታ
n-bre-t bo-ta
ARالعربية
حقيبة يد
haqi-bat yad
BNবাংলা
হাতের ব্যাগ
haater bag
CACatalà
cartera
car-te-ra
CSČeština
kabelka
ka-bel-ka
DEDeutsch
Handtasche
hand-tasche
ELΕλληνικά
σάκκου
sak-koo
ESEspañol
bolso de mano
bol-so deh mah-noh
FAفارسی
کیف دستی
keef-e-dast-i
FISuomi
käsilaukku
käsi-lauk-ku
FRFrançais
sac à main
sak a mɛn
GUGU
હાથની બાગ
haath-nee baag
HAHA
kwan-ka-sace
kwan-ka-sa-ce
HIहिन्दी
हाथ की थैली
haath kee thaili
HUMagyar
kezes táska
ke-zes task-a
IDBahasa Indonesia
tas tangan
tas tangan
IGIG
akụkụ ọnọ
a-ku-ku-ku on-o
ITItaliano
borsetta
bor-zet-ta
JA日本語
ハンドバッグ
hān-do-baggu
KKKK
қол үстел
kol-y-stel
KMKM
ប្រព័ន្ធ ទាំង ពួក
pra-pov-an th-ang p-wuk
MRMR
हातातील बॅग
haata-teel baag
MSBahasa Melayu
beg tangan
beg tangan
MYမြန်မာ
လက်ကိုင် ကုတ်
let-koing kut
NLNederlands
handtas
hand-tas
PAPA
ਹਾਥ ਦੀ ਟੱਸ
haath dee taas
PLPolski
torebka
to-reb-ka
PTPortuguês
bolsa de mão
bol-sa deh mwohn
RORomână
geantă de mână
ge-anta deh ma-na
RUРусский
сумочка
su-mochka
SVSvenska
handväska
hand-vas-ka
SWKiswahili
begi ya mkono
be-gi ya m-ko-no
TEతెలుగు
చేతి బ్యాగు
chethi baagu
THไทย
กระเป๋าถือ
kra-pao-thue
TLTL
baul na kamay
baul na ka-may
TRTürkçe
el çantası
el chan-ta
UKУкраїнська
сумка
sum-ka
URاردو
ہاتھ کا کمر
haath ka kamar
VITiếng Việt
túi xách tay
tui sach tay
YOYO
ọpọ̀ ìṣẹ̀
o-po i-she
ZUZU
isigamu esandla
i-si-ga-mu e-san-dla
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
‘Handbag’ has been strongly associated with women’s fashion and domestic roles, reflecting norms that women carry household and caregiving items. This association has sometimes been used to trivialize women’s possessions or spending as frivolous.
Inclusive Usage
Recognize that handbags can be used by people of any gender; avoid using ‘handbag’ as shorthand for stereotypically feminine or trivial concerns.
Inclusive Alternatives
["bag","shoulder bag","satchel"]
Empowerment Note
Design and production of handbags have involved many women designers, artisans, and factory workers whose labor underpins a major global industry.