# Definition of cola
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [July 26, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003 "2003-07-26T01:24:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Phoebestar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phoebestar)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003/1 "2003-07-26T01:24:34Z")
My boyfriend and I are having a disagreement over the word “cola”. I say it refers to only brown soft drinks and their variants such as Coke, Pepsi, RC (and Cherry Coke, etc.) He disagrees and says it can refer to _any_ soft drink, such as Sunkist or 7-Up.
So now it’s time for you, the Teeming Millions, to weigh in. What does your concept of “cola” include?
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003/2 "2003-07-26T01:34:25Z")
Strictly speaking, cola refers only to those beverages created (at least at one time) from extracts of the [cola nut](http://www.foodreference.com/html/fcolanut.html).
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### Author:  [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003/3 "2003-07-26T05:40:46Z")
In some parts of the country, it’s common to use “coke” to mean any carbonated soft drink. Or it was, before the Coca Cola company got pissy about their trademarks (including “Coke”) and restaurants servers started saying “Is Pepsi okay” when a customer asked for a coke, if the restaurant didn’t acutally have Coke.
I have never heard “cola” used in this way–the OP is the first time I’ve even seen it suggested.
“Pop” and “soda” are generic terms for carbonated soft drinks in certain regions. But “cola”? I wonder if boyfriend is confusing it with “coke.”
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### Author:  [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003/4 "2003-07-26T09:58:41Z")
Pepsi, Coke, RC, and so on say “cola” on the label. Ask your boyfriend to find the word “cola” on a can of Sunkist or 7-up. He won’t find it there. Why? Because they’re not cola. You are right, and he is wrong; no debate necessary.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003/5 "2003-07-26T13:51:22Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by nineiron \*
> \*\*Pepsi, Coke, RC, and so on say “cola” on the label. Ask your boyfriend to find the word “cola” on a can of Sunkist or 7-up. He won’t find it there. Why? Because they’re not cola. You are right, and he is wrong; no debate necessary. \*\*
Yes, he will. Those major-brand noncola sodas will still say “Product of The Pesi Cola or Coca Cola Bottling Company” or words to that effect. Still doesn’t make them colas, but the word can be found on them, nevertheless.
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### Author:  [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003/6 "2003-07-26T14:01:25Z")
From [m-w.com](http://m-w.com):
Main Entry: 2co·la
Pronunciation: 'kO-l&
Function: noun
Etymology: from Coca-Cola, a trademark
Date: 1920
: a carbonated soft drink colored **usually** with caramel and flavored **usually** with extracts from kola nuts
I’d say not-cola extracts qualify, although that was probably not always the case.
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### Author:  [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003/7 "2003-07-26T14:02:31Z")
Actually, make that “non-cola extracts,” although I personally would not consider them such.
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003/8 "2003-07-26T14:06:51Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Gary T \*
> \*\*“Pop” and “soda” are generic terms for carbonated soft drinks in certain regions. But “cola”? I wonder if boyfriend is confusing it with “coke.” \*\*
In the UK and Ireland we don’t use this terminology, and there are several non-Pepsi® or Cokie® brown soft drinks that call themselves colas. Virgin Cola, supermarket cheapies just labelled “Cola”, and Panda Cola are ones that spring to mind. They’re all disgusting to varying degrees. Clearly the “cola” part doesn’t fall under the trademark regulations, at least in this part of the world.
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### Author:  [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003/9 "2003-07-26T14:24:59Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by jjimm \*
> \*\*In the UK and Ireland we don’t use this terminology, and there are several non-Pepsi® or Cokie® brown soft drinks that call themselves colas. Virgin Cola, supermarket cheapies just labelled “Cola”, and Panda Cola are ones that spring to mind. They’re all disgusting to varying degrees. Clearly the “cola” part doesn’t fall under the trademark regulations, at least in this part of the world. \*\*
It’s commonly used in the U.S. as well. I’m not sure where **Gary T** is from and why he hasn’t heard it. We have generic sodas named “Sam’s Choice Cola,” and “Bubba Cola,” among others. The singers in Pepsi’s annoying commercials used to sing about “the joy of cola,” until, I presume, Pepsi execs realized that people could possibly be getting joy from other colas and changed it to “the joy of Pepsi,” which just doesn’t sound right.
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### Author:  [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003/10 "2003-07-26T14:27:32Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by jjimm \*
> \*\*In the UK and Ireland we don’t use this terminology, and there are several non-Pepsi® or Cokie® brown soft drinks that call themselves colas. Virgin Cola, supermarket cheapies just labelled “Cola”, and Panda Cola are ones that spring to mind. They’re all disgusting to varying degrees. Clearly the “cola” part doesn’t fall under the trademark regulations, at least in this part of the world. \*\*
Yes, certainly “cola” would be used for any cola soft drink, regardless of brand, which I believe is what you’re referring to.
I was specifically referring to the use of “cola” even when referring to lemon-lime, orange, and other non-cola flavors, as mentioned in the OP. I’ve never heard the word cola used that way. Earl’s post indicates that it could be used that way, so I guess we can’t say the boyfriend is absolutely wrong. We’ll have to settle for saying he’s weird. 🙂
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003/11 "2003-07-26T14:31:25Z")
Things go better with Cokie®. :smack:
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### Author:  [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003/12 "2003-07-26T14:36:38Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Gary T \*
> \*\*Yes, certainly “cola” would be used for any cola soft drink, regardless of brand, which I believe is what you’re referring to.
>
> I was specifically referring to the use of “cola” even when referring to lemon-lime, orange, and other non-cola flavors, as mentioned in the OP. I’ve never heard the word cola used that way. \*\*
:smack: D’oh! Neither have I. I totally misread your post. Looking at it now, I wonder how I did. You were pretty clear.
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### Author:  [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003/13 "2003-07-26T14:57:33Z")
Well, apparently I wasn’t clear to neutron star, either. jjimm and neutron star appear to be talking about using the word cola for off-brand cola drinks, which is to be expected, and of course I am familiar with that. My comments were about using the word cola to refer to **non-cola** drinks.
When I was growing up, folks would ask “would you like a coke?” The word **coke** was understood to mean any carbonated soft drink, whether or not it was a cola. In other parts of the U.S., one might say pop or soda to refer to any old soft drink, in my area we said coke.
The OP talks about using the word **cola** this way, for ANY (carbonated, I assume) soft drink, including Sunkist [orange or grape] and 7-Up, which are clearly not colas.
Now, I would perfectly understand someone calling a 7-Up a **coke** , but until reading this thread could not imagine anyone calling a 7-Up a **cola** –especially since 7-Up advertises itself as “the uncola.” My first post suggested that the boyfriend was mixing up “cola” (meaning, to me, only a drink made from kola nuts) with “coke” (meaning, like “pop” and “soda,” any flavor carbonated soft drink).
So to sum up, saying “cola” for any cola drink, regardless of brand = good.
Saying “cola” for any non-cola drink = contributing to the decline of civilization and decency, probably should be tarred and feathered.
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### Author:  [@Phoebestar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phoebestar)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003/14 "2003-07-26T15:07:55Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Gary T \*
> \*\*
> Saying “cola” for any non-cola drink = contributing to the decline of civilization and decency, probably should be tarred and feathered. \*\*
Whoo hoo! I’ve always wanted to tar and feather! Although covering someone and honey and releasing ants has also appealed to me in the past.
Being from Kentucky, we’re both familiar with the generic term “Coke” being used for any soft drink. It’s the term “cola” that I particularly have trouble with. Sunkist just isn’t a cola.
I should make The Boyfriend weigh in here for himself. heh.
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### Author:  [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003/15 "2003-07-26T15:25:38Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Phoebestar \*
> I should make The Boyfriend weigh in here for himself. heh.
\
To be honest, I’d never really given any consideration as to the different possible referents for the word “cola”. I just didn’t understand her indignation at my using the phrase “orange cola”, and thus our debate began. Whatever. 😉
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### Author:  [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-cola/191003/16 "2003-07-26T15:33:47Z")
Hmmm. I find the phrase “orange soda” flows nicely, and I have to admit that “orange cola” (which is new to me) sounds pleasant as well. We might be witnessing an early stage in the growth/change of our language.
I would not have gotten indignant over hearing “orange cola.” I would just have mercilessly poked fun at it. Still has a nice ring to it, though.