# Why is underwear called "a pair" when it's just one item?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [October 22, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451 "2011-10-22T16:12:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/21 "2011-10-24T21:51:52Z")
> [@Mamavalveeta03](#):
>
> The other day, my husband asked me if he had a pair of underwear that was clean. I said, “Yes,” and handed him 2 undergarments. He looked very puzzled and inquired, “Why did you give me 2?”
>
> “You asked for a pair. That’s 2. That’s what I gave you.”
>
> We’ve now had a running argument for the past several days over whether or not underwear (aka: panties, undies, boxers, etc.) should be called “a pair.” I say no, and he obviously says yes.
I say this marriage is doomed.
If you insist on altering classic usage, what happens to the phrase “Don’t get your undies in a bunch”? Is it then “Don’t get your undy in a bunch”? That’s pathetic.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/22 "2011-10-24T22:01:05Z")
I require a pair of boxers for my pair of testicles. 😛😃
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### Author:  [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/23 "2011-10-24T22:50:45Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#):
>
> I am standing here in my underwear…
>
> I am standing here in my pair of underwear…
>
> You decide.
How many underwears are you wearing?
One underwear? Just an underwear isn’t enough! You need a pair of underwear.
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### Author:  [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2011, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/24 "2011-10-24T23:17:50Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#):
>
> I am standing here in my underwear…
>
> I am standing here in my pair of underwear…
>
> You decide.
But if someone asked for a pair of underwear, I would immediately assume one article of clothing.
How many underwear do I have?
How many pairs of underwear do I have?
I know which sounds right to my ear.
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### Author:  [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/25 "2011-10-25T05:05:22Z")
> [@Rebo](#):
>
> The “pair” rule doesn’t apply to upper garments for some reason. I have two sleeves in my shirt, but I don’t have a pair of shirts. Bra is singular, camisole is singular, blouse is singular.
Interesting observation.
> [@](#):
>
> But you have a pair of earrings.
>
> This English - she is weird.
Weird how? The earrings, unlike your previous examples, are TWO (count 'em, two!) SEPARATE items. On what planet would it be weird to call them a pair?
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### Author:  [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/26 "2011-10-25T06:20:46Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> I require a pair of boxers for my pair of testicles. 😛😃
…and your pair of cheeks.😃
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### Author:  [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/27 "2011-10-25T06:33:19Z")
> [@gazpacho](#):
>
> There is a column about this question:
>
> [Why do we say a “pair of pants” when there’s only one of them? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/502/why-do-we-say-a-pair-of-pants-when-theres-only-one-of-them)
>
> Basically because we call pants a pair of pants and that stuck with underwear.
Thanks for posting this. Interesting read. English is my second language and I love to learn about the origins of words…whether they are rational or not, it’s most often entertaining.
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### Author:  [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/28 "2011-10-25T07:57:10Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#):
>
> A pair of underwear is the only way I refer to it. Otherwise what? An underwear?
I can’t speak for **indian,** but for me the odd word in the sentence isn’t “pair”, but “underwear”.
“Pair of pants” would be fine, or “underpants”, “panties”, “shorts”, “briefs” – anything of that sort.
“Underwear” is, for me, too broad and non-specific a category to go with the word “pair”, since it encompasses undershirts, bras, slips, petticoats, garter belts etc, none of which are generally thought of as a pair.
If I were in the position of **Mamavalveeta03’s** husband, I would have asked if I had “a clean pair of (under)pants” or “any clean underwear” (or “some clean underwear”).
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### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/29 "2011-10-25T09:09:23Z")
> [@brittekland](#):
>
> For many non-English speaking people around the world, the whole plural concept such as “ **a pair of** ” pant **s** , scissor **s** or even shoe **s** let alone things like underwear **s** is very peculiar thing. I may be wrong but in most of non-english languages it’s just a pant (you don’t count legs; it’s just one connected, one piece of clothing).
In Spanish it can be single, or a pair, or plural. _Este pantalón_ refers to these trousers, \*este par de pantalones \*refers to the same trousers, _estos pantalones_ can refer to those same trousers again or to several pairs. You usually can figure out which either from context or because there is more information provided. Pantyhose is paired or plural, panties can be singular or plural but not paired, bras are singular, men’s shorts-briefs-etc are plural or paired.
Same in Catalan, not surprisingly (the majority of Catalan speakers are bilingual with Spanish; not only is there a common origin but a lot of cross-pollination between the two languages).
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### Author:  [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/30 "2011-10-25T12:04:22Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#):
>
> Interesting observation.
> Weird how? The earrings, unlike your previous examples, are TWO (count 'em, two!) SEPARATE items. On what planet would it be weird to call them a pair?
Not weird that earrings are counted as a pair, weird that some things are pairs and some things aren’t.
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### Author:  [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/31 "2011-10-25T13:33:54Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#):
>
> But aha! Ads… say like in GQ magazine… where models are standing dockside … modeling … the caption might say, “Pant by Ralph Loraine.”
>
> How do you explain that non-plural use? 😕
Pretentiousness. Or one-legged models.
And who the heck is ‘Ralph Loraine’? You mean that Lifshitz guy from the Bronx?
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### Author:  [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/32 "2011-10-25T16:18:30Z")
> [@postcards](#):
>
> Pretentiousness. Or one-legged models.
Bah! It’s cleaner, more consistent usage minimizing qualifiers that don’t actually say anything about the product. Seeing as how one-legged pants aren’t marketed, it’s superfluous to refer to a pant as a pair. You should expect a two-legged pant.
And what about underpants? No pair present.
Do you refer to your legs as a pair? No. They come in pairs. No need to point that out in language.
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### Author:  [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/33 "2011-10-25T20:30:10Z")
OP: Have you never heard it called a pair of underwear or a pair of pants? Really? I assumed that was the most common usage.
To me, it sounds like you’re nitpicking. If you’ve really never heard that usage before, you’re the first person I’ve ever encountered who (presumably) has English as a first language and has never heard the term “pair of underwear.”
Oh, and on preview: your husband is right. One item is a pair of underwear. No, it doesn’t necessarily make sense, but neither do a lot of things in the English language.
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### Author:  [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/34 "2011-10-25T21:28:44Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#):
>
> How many underwear do I have?
> How many pairs of underwear do I have?
>
> I know which sounds right to my ear.
Well, the first option would be rephrased as “How **much** underwear do I have?” I could see myself asking that question.
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### Author:  [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2011, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/35 "2011-10-26T02:15:32Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> I require a pair of boxers for my pair of testicles. 😛😃
> [@scootergirl](#):
>
> …and your pair of cheeks.😃
In this case, why has no one in this thread commented on the oddity that brassiere is singular…
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### Author:  [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2011, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/36 "2011-10-26T02:43:17Z")
> [@jasg](#):
>
> In this case, why has no one in this thread commented on the oddity that brassiere is singular…
Posts [#17](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14390695&postcount=17), [#28](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14392227&postcount=28), and [#29](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14392281&postcount=29).
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### Author:  [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/37 "2011-10-26T22:46:05Z")
This is usage retained from several centuries past when men’s nether garments did come in pairs. The Robin Hood-style “men in tights” were wearing what were essentially a pair of hip-length stockings laced to the bottom of their shirts or to a belt. People kept on referring to them as a “pair” even after the separate legs were merged into a single garment.
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### Author:  [@Falcao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falcao)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2016, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/38 "2016-02-09T09:19:06Z")
An easy way to sort out this issue is to grab his pair of balls, place them inside his pair of pants, check your pair of ti\* and then say sorry for your misunderstanding 🙂
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### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2016, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/39 "2016-02-09T09:30:11Z")
nm
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### Author:  [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-underwear-called-a-pair-when-its-just-one-item/600451/40 "2016-02-09T15:56:12Z")
Arise, Oh Zombie Gitch!
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