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Serviettes? Napkins?

(66 Posts)
grumppa Sat 11-Aug-18 21:48:52

Anybody else remember the revue sketch about two dozen double damask dinner napkins?

SueDonim Sat 11-Aug-18 21:08:45

Napkin here, whatever material they're made of.

Although my Dh calls them chin-wipers. grin

M0nica Sat 11-Aug-18 21:08:36

The word 'serviette' is French, so Looked it up
serviette
serviette de table napkin, serviette (Grande-Bretagne)
serviette de toilette - towel
rond de serviette - napkin ring
serviette de bain - bath towel
serviette de table - table napkin, serviette (Grande-Bretagne)
serviette de toilette - towel
serviette en papier - paper napkin, serviette
serviette éponge - terry towel
serviette hygiénique - sanitary towel

I think I will stick to napkin.

cornergran Sat 11-Aug-18 21:06:27

I use a napkin, Mr C a serviette. Same item, different name. We agree to disagree.

Bathsheba Sat 11-Aug-18 21:03:33

Not best Irish linen, I'm afraid Nfk, but I do have some rather nice 100% cotton, white damask table napkins from Dunelm Mills wink. Always prefer white because they can be boil washed to get all those curry and ketchup stains out! (See? I told you I wasn't posh grin)

Greenfinch Sat 11-Aug-18 20:58:03

A napkin is something a baby wears on its bottom.We generally shorten it to nappy but it is really a napkin,

MissAdventure Sat 11-Aug-18 20:56:17

I thought nappy was short for napkin..
Damn! Now everyone knows I'm not posh!

Juggernaut Sat 11-Aug-18 20:56:06

Traditionally, napkins are used when sitting down to eat, serviettes are for snacks or buffet foods eaten whilst standinggrin
However, we've just had this evening's meal on lap trays, so no napkins or serviettes, but 2 sheets of kitchen roll each!

Beau Sat 11-Aug-18 20:54:48

I never knew but my daughter who moves in much posher circles than I ever have says they are all napkins - what I call serviettes are paper napkins ?

NfkDumpling Sat 11-Aug-18 20:54:31

Thanks stella.

NfkDumpling Sat 11-Aug-18 20:53:42

Best Irish linen Bathsheba?

stella1949 Sat 11-Aug-18 20:51:33

I'm with you - a napkin is cloth, a serviette is paper.

MissAdventure Sat 11-Aug-18 20:48:07

Serviettes around here.

BlueBelle Sat 11-Aug-18 20:46:57

I always thought they were called paper napkins but what do I know I don’t use anything only kitchen rollif needed ???

Bathsheba Sat 11-Aug-18 20:45:57

Well I always call them napkins. And I'm definitely not posh!

NfkDumpling Sat 11-Aug-18 20:44:06

DGD1 and I were discussing etiquette and manners yesterday (after my telling her sister off for eating with her fingers). We were talking about using paper serviettes. She said “we call them napkins”. Now, I was taught that napkins were material as in linen napkins, and serviettes were paper. My friend says its a class thing. Posh people use napkins. Middle class people use serviettes and poor people their sleeves. Any posh people out there who can confirm this?