Duffel Vs Duffle, Which Spelling Should We Use When Writing?

Have you ever wondered if the correct way to refer to the bag that the campers and the military uses is “duffle” or “duffel”? Perhaps, you have found both spellings and got confused at the time of writing it yourself. If you want to get out of any doubt, we have the answer for you:

Between “duffle” and “duffel,” both spellings are correct. Everything will depend on where you are. In British and Australian English, the usual way of writing it is “duffle,” but the common spell in American English is “duffel.” You can use both forms of writing, depending on which one you prefer.

In the development of this article, we will be looking at both terms, giving examples of each one, and explaining why there are two correct spellings for the word, among others.

What Does Duffel Mean?

By definition, “duffel” means a thick, heavy woolen material with thick fluff or a bag of the same material to carry personal belongings.

Examples:

• Can you pass me my duffel bag, please? I have to go out to camp now.
• Yesterday I bought a duffel coat, and it is very cozy and warm; I love it for the cold of winter.
• Do you know if they make duffel sheets? I would love to buy one for my mother.

What Does Duffle Mean?

Duffle also refers to a heavy material made of wool with thick threads. Also, it is used to refer to the large rectangular-shaped bags generally used by the military.

Examples:

• My dad gave me a duffle bag from when he belonged to the military, and I love it!
• Many people prefer to travel with suitcases or backpacks. Still, I like to use a duffle bag because it is larger and easier to transport.
• In my elementary school, we had lockers to store our duffle coats. It was weird that there weren’t any in high school.

“Duffel” in a Sentence?

Here are examples of the use of the word “duffel”:

• The boxer came to the ring and threw his duffel bag on the floor. And, without any explanation, ran to the locker room.
• I like coats made of duffel; they are perfect for surviving the cold Canadian climate.
• I personalized my duffel bag with my initials and added a leopard print. I am super fashionable!

“Duffle” in a Sentence?

Now we will see some examples of how you can use the word “duffle”:

• He took his duffle bag and filled it with underwear, a change of clothes, and a pair of shoes, and without more to say, he ran away from home.
• I combine my yellow duffle coat with my red rain boots; thus, I feel protected from the snow.
• My sister-in-law wants me to give her a designer duffle bag; says it could be Dior, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, or Prada. I don’t have money to give that away!

As you can see, you can use the two words to refer to the same thing.

Where Does The Word Come From, And Why Does It Have Two Ways To Be Written?

The origin of the word is from the 17th century, according to The Oxford English Dictionary. Its name is “duffel” because the fabric primarily comes from a city in Belgium called Duffel.

Portugal and Spain imported the fabric later on. Due to its excellent resistance, the navigators used it to cover personal objects on ships. Likewise, Spanish and Portuguese sailors used the cloth with a piece of rope to simulate a bag and to be able to carry their belongings easily.

By the early twentieth century, the material was already moving through Britain and America. In America, they used the duffel bag to refer to men who did sports as well.

During the Second World War, the military began to use the bag to move their belongings quickly. From there, it was considered as a type of essential luggage for the military.

After the war, the writing of the term was changing from “duffle” to “duffel.” Both forms are correct when writing the word, but if we consider the origin of the term, the most suitable way of writing would be “duffel” due to the Belgian city.

Synonyms of “Duffel”

Although the word “duffel” is a noun, other terms can substitute it because they have similar meanings:

Backpack

The backpack is a bag for transporting supplies on excursions, tours, or other types of trips, made of resistant and often waterproof fabric. The difference with the duffel bag is that the backpack holds on the back through two straps.

Examples:

• My daughter has a backpack with a flower print, and she uses it to go to school.
• I have been preparing for three months to climb a mountain, the only thing I need to buy is a backpack and the appropriate footwear.
• I lost my favorite backpack at the airport; I think I should consider using a tag to identify it next time.

Briefcase

Leather bag, smaller than a duffel bag, with two small handles to carry it around. Lawyers and business people usually use it to transport valuable papers without fear of damaging them, such as documents or money.

Examples:

• My lawyer always carries a briefcase; He says it gives him elegance and credibility.
• I always carried my final college assignments in my backpack, but they got wrinkled before I could turn them in. For this reason, I bought a briefcase so that my papers always have an impeccable presentation.
• In the company’s meetings, the board of directors carries out the same routine: the members enter, greet each other, sit down, open their briefcases, and hand over the documents. Then, they proceed to the necessary presentations and explanations.

Handbag

A handbag is a hollow object made of leather, plastic, or cloth. People can carry small documents, money, personal items, keys, among other things in it. The difference with the duffel bag is the size: the handbag is small and can even be the size of a hand, while the duffel bag is much larger.

Examples:

• Fenti launched a new handbag so small it wouldn’t even fit my cell phone. I do not get why people waste their money like that.
• Women’s pants usually do not have pockets. I think it is a trick of the fashion industry so that we have to buy handbags even if we do not like them.
• Dresses with pockets are my favorites: I can walk freely, and it doesn’t get hot on summer days!

Suitcase

The suitcase is a square space made of leather, fabric, or plastic, which can be carried by hand and store necessary objects on a trip. The difference between the suitcase and the duffel bag is that the first one has wheels, and you can drag it by a handle.

Examples:

• Tomorrow I’m going on a trip to Hawaii, and I have to pack my suitcase; I can’t forget the swimsuit!
• I want to buy a neon pink suitcase to differentiate it quickly at the airport.
• I’m not particularly eager to travel with suitcases, once it was stolen, I lost all my belongings.

If you refer to the fabric, you cannot interchange the word since “duffel” is the name we use to refer to the cloth.

Conclusion

Both “duffle” and “duffel” are acceptable. Some auto-correctors will mark the term “duffle” as misspelled, but it isn’t.

If you plan to use another word to refer to the bag, check that you are not talking specifically about the duffel bag. Depending on the context, you can change the word, but you could be changing the meaning as well.