Couch is predominantly used in North America, Australia, South Africa, and Ireland, whereas the terms sofa and settee (U and non-U) are most commonly used in the United Kingdom and India. The word couch originated in Middle English from the Old French noun couche, which derived from the verb meaning "to lie down".
Couch is predominantly used in North America , South Africa , Australia and Ireland , whereas the terms sofa and settee (U and non-U ) are most commonly used in the. United Kingdom and India . Couch - Wikipedia. I would most likely use the term sofa, then settee, then couch. But all three are readily understood and ...
In modern day terms, sofa is the most popular word used to describe that big, comfy piece of furniture in your living room, but the words couch and settee do mean the same thing, and are certainly interchangeable today.
The variation tends to be on where they are used, with couches being used predominantly in North America, Australia, and South Africa, while the sofa is more popular in the UK and India. However, whether you use a sofa or couch, you will be understood!
It's more commonly used in Britain than the U.S., and has an old-fashioned sound to it, but you can use this word to describe your loveseat or couch if you like: "Come sit on the settee with me!" Etymologists' best guess about the word's origin is that settee is related to settle, "sit comfortably."
The word settee is thought to come from the old English word setl. A setl, or settle, was a long wooden bench made from oak and often featuring an elaborately carved back. Over the years, settee foam was added to make a soft seat and settee backs were also stuffed and upholstered.
In America, most people consider the words "couch" and "sofa" interchangeable. After all, they're both long, upholstered pieces of furniture intended for sitting and lounging.
Sofa is most predominant in the South where it is used by 79% of speakers, whereas in the North we find a much more even distribution between the three variants. Couch in particular shows a high concentration in the North West, where it is used by 32% of our respondents, as well as in Scotland (42%).
The divan in the sense of a sofa or couch entered the English language in 1702 and has been commonly known in Europe since about the middle of the 18th century.
He wanted a striking leather sofa with a low seat and high back to allow his gentlemen to sit comfortably without creasing their suits, thus, the iconic Chesterfield design was created. Lord Philip Stanhope was the fourth Earl of Chesterfield, which explains where the name 'Chesterfield sofa' comes from.
The London Sofa is the epitome of luxury and style. Upholstered in a stunning black fabric with glitz and glam details, this sofa is sure to turn heads. The silvertone feet and button tufting details add an extra touch of sophistication, while the pewter-tone nailhead trim completes the look.
The good news here is that American and British English use the same words to describe most of the rooms in a house: bathroom, bedroom, dining room and kitchen.
In Western architecture, a living room, also called a lounge room (Australian English), lounge (British English), sitting room (British English), or drawing room, is a room for relaxing and socializing in a residential house or apartment.
A single sofa is known as an armchair. The armchair is a great idea when it comes to decoration and quality. The armchair delivers a different look to your living room. An armchair creates more space in your house that can be used for more furniture, like lounge chairs.
Western Canada adopted American spelling and word preferences more rapidly than Ontario and the Maritimes, but I think chesterfield, to the extent it was even used outside Ontario, has now been supplanted by sofa. As for couch, I used to hear it. In the 60's in Ontario, it was chesterfield or couch … sofa was American.
Toilet. This was on the original 1950s list and, to be honest, I'd rather chew glass than use the word toilet in polite conversation. It's a harsh word that was adapted from the French toilette which means your appearance, hence toiletries bag. Lavatory or loo is much more acceptable.
Latrine. The word Latrine has its roots in both Latin and French. It comes from the Latin word for wash, 'lavare'. Over time, this Latin word evolved into 'lavatrina' which was then shortened to 'latrina' before eventually becoming 'latrine' courtesy of the French people in the mid-1600s.
In Australia, the term "couch" is commonly used to refer to a long, upholstered seat designed for two or more people to sit on. However, some Australians may also use the term "sofa" or "lounge" interchangeably with "couch".
Or a lounge? A: Ah, well, the main two players worldwide are “couch” and “sofa”. Sofa is more common in Britain, while couch is preferred in North America, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
It's not a matter of “poshness.” It has more to do with where the room is located. A living room is in one's home, one's residence. A lounge is usually thought of as being in a public place: a VIP lounge at the airport, a separate gathering room in a restaurant, a comfortably furnished drinking establishment.
