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sachet / packet

English translation: sachet

11:38 Feb 26, 2006
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Marketing - Nutrition / Types of Packaging
English term or phrase: sachet / packet
I am trying to find out the differences in use - maybe regionally, U.S. vs. British? - of the terms sachet vs. packet.

Please look at this image:
http://www.usn.co.za/products/sachets/diet_fuel.htm

Would you out there in the English speaking countries call it a sachet or rather a packet? Any other names?

Thank you very much for your help, especially on a weekend,
MMUlr
MMUlr
Germany
Local time: 00:39
Selected answer:sachet
Explanation:
In the UK, this would certainly be referred to as a a 'sachet'

I would disagree with those answerers who suggest that 'packet' is mainly a cardboard box, since the term is very often used for 'bagged' goods too.

I think if it is fairly flat, and probably fairly small, it suggests sachet to me; also, if it contains a powder or somewhat liquid product. A sachet may well be constructed of some kind of tougher material, like foil-backed plastic or paper (quite hard to tear...)

So you get a sachet of medicinal powders, a sachet of dried yeast, a sachet of gelatine, a sachet of gourmet cat food...

Where the pack is slightly larger, perhaps more 'puffed up' with air, and maybe containing individual items (rather than a powder, sludge or liquid), I would think of it forst and foremost as a packet:

a packet of crisps / boiled sweets / rice

A packet may also suggest an outer pack containing inner sub-packs(which might be sachets, or something else)

I am not familiar with any very frequent UK usage of 'packet' to mean a cardboard box or carton, though it does of course exist, in things like 'a ¼lb packet of loose tea', or of course, in the sense of a parcel: sending a small packet via the post.

Generally, 'packet' in this sense suggest to me simply something that is 'wrapped up'

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Note added at 3 days6 hrs (2006-03-01 18:01:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry, but no! In UK English at least, 'pouch' suggests something quite specific, not sealed, with a flap, the sort of thing loose pipe tobacco or documents might come in. Not at all appropriate for your kind of products.

It can also have a most unfortunate and inappropriate medical connotation....

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days6 hrs (2006-03-01 18:03:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

If you really want to bridge the gap, just call it a packet; this will be understood OK without ambiguity in the UK, even though it probably wouldn't be the first term that would spring into most people's minds.
Selected response from:

Tony M
France
Local time: 00:39
Grading comment
Thank you very much for your help!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +5Sachet
Anna Maria Augustine (X)
4 +3sachet
Jack Doughty
4 +3packet
Giovanella (X)
4 +1sachet
Tony M
4pack
sarahl (X)


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +5
Sachet


Explanation:
*

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 mins (2006-02-26 11:41:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

A packet is usually made of cardboard.

Anna Maria Augustine (X)
France
Local time: 00:39
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jacqueline van der Spek
4 mins
  -> Thank you Jacqueline
agree  Isodynamia
11 mins
agree  Rachel Fell
16 mins
agree  sergey (X)
49 mins
agree  Alfa Trans (X)
1 day 4 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
sachet


Explanation:
In the UK, we would call that a sachet. A packet is usually something more rigid, e.g. made of card rather than soft plastic foil like the sachets in the picture.


Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:39
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Rachel Fell: a sachet is usually flexible and a packet is generally larger than a sachet, I think\\Yes, that's what I also had in mind, several of these sachets in one packet or pack
14 mins
  -> Thank you. I agree as regards flexibility, but packets can be quite small too. Sachets, of course, are usually marketed in the form of several sachets in a packet.
agree  sartaress
2 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Alexander Taguiltsev: :) It is definitly a sachet, I belive.
10 hrs
  -> Thank you.
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19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
pack


Explanation:
imo

sarahl (X)
Local time: 15:39
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

57 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
packet


Explanation:
In US English a sachet is generally a small packet of perfumed powder.


    Reference: http://www.dictionary.com
Giovanella (X)
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Trudy Peters: Definitely packet for the US. Sachet makes me think of a sachet of lavender to put in your linen closet.
4 hrs
  -> Thank you!
agree  Brie Vernier
4 hrs
  -> Thank you!
agree  Rebecca Barath
10 hrs
  -> Thank you!!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

53 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
sachet


Explanation:
In the UK, this would certainly be referred to as a a 'sachet'

I would disagree with those answerers who suggest that 'packet' is mainly a cardboard box, since the term is very often used for 'bagged' goods too.

I think if it is fairly flat, and probably fairly small, it suggests sachet to me; also, if it contains a powder or somewhat liquid product. A sachet may well be constructed of some kind of tougher material, like foil-backed plastic or paper (quite hard to tear...)

So you get a sachet of medicinal powders, a sachet of dried yeast, a sachet of gelatine, a sachet of gourmet cat food...

Where the pack is slightly larger, perhaps more 'puffed up' with air, and maybe containing individual items (rather than a powder, sludge or liquid), I would think of it forst and foremost as a packet:

a packet of crisps / boiled sweets / rice

A packet may also suggest an outer pack containing inner sub-packs(which might be sachets, or something else)

I am not familiar with any very frequent UK usage of 'packet' to mean a cardboard box or carton, though it does of course exist, in things like 'a ¼lb packet of loose tea', or of course, in the sense of a parcel: sending a small packet via the post.

Generally, 'packet' in this sense suggest to me simply something that is 'wrapped up'

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days6 hrs (2006-03-01 18:01:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry, but no! In UK English at least, 'pouch' suggests something quite specific, not sealed, with a flap, the sort of thing loose pipe tobacco or documents might come in. Not at all appropriate for your kind of products.

It can also have a most unfortunate and inappropriate medical connotation....

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days6 hrs (2006-03-01 18:03:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

If you really want to bridge the gap, just call it a packet; this will be understood OK without ambiguity in the UK, even though it probably wouldn't be the first term that would spring into most people's minds.


Tony M
France
Local time: 00:39
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you very much for your help!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Balasubramaniam L.
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Bala! :-)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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