Serviettes? Napkins?

Actually, we called them serviette rings, as my parents insisted on the word serviettes.

I gave up linen napkins ages ago. If I have guests I use good quality, thick paper ones; substantial as linen but no laundering! When alone usually paper towel, or any odd paper napkin that's hanging around the kitchen drawer.

The small flimsy single sheet thingy's that come in dispensers I call serviettes as they're small.

I seem to remember seeing a painting of a fat chap enjoying his meal with the corner of the tablecloth tucked under his chin. I shall have to research further!

Anything which causes extra washing or ironing is out of the question for me.

Used to go to tea wth a school friend whose family all had individual napkin rings. I thought that was unbelievably posh!
Possibly as homage to this childhood memory, I always used fabric napkins when we had people for dinner. However, having had one completely wrecked by guest soaking his in a tomato based sauce, I now consider the menu and use paper serviettes (see what I did there??) if there is a danger of this recurring.

Sorry, Marmight!

Marmite - my school was in Sussex too, near Crawley. Wonder if it was the same one? Worth Park.

My Granny, who I consider was dead posh (!!) called them serviettes and they were rolled up and put into monogrammed serviette rings for reuse - but not often - maybe breakfast, lunch and dinner.

DH and I always use cloth napkins and use them for a couple of days before they are washed. We have different rings. We do this on the basis of not using too much paper.

Strangely, when we have supper/dinner guests or people staying, I use paper napkins unless we are going all out to impress.

Napkin for me. My mother used to sneer at the use of the word 'serviette' - non-U or something. Does it even matter though?

.....and I ain't posh btw

Each to his own! My school was in Sussex Nfk....
On the whole I dislike using material 'cloths' to wipe my face/fingers - I have friends abroad who do and they use them until they are stiff and could walk away from the table on their own. Yuk. ?. Disposable paper is preferable

Same as you Nfk . Just what we were brought up saying. My grandfather disliked the use of napkin rings, as the napkins should be washed each time. I don’t know if they were in his house, but they weren’t in ours!

I didn’t go to boarding school lemon - sec mod for me and we used our sleeves! My DGP’s used linen napkins, paternal GM was once a lady’s maid for a Lady Someone Posh and maternal GM had aspirations. We had the wooden napkin rings but mainly they stayed in the drawer. DM adopted paper serviettes with glee when they came into the shops but still referred to linen napkins. Hence the question.

I must be non U, since I don't even know what U means.

I inherited some silver napkin rings, they are very pretty but not in everyday use.
Pudding is the correct appellation grandtante, to say dessert is considered non u. Of course in France it is dessert.

I thought it was serviettes that were twee Nfk
Perhaps your posh boarding school wasn’t posh enough? Haha.
Anyone here went to Eton or had a brother that did ( the epitome of poshness, surely) that can tell us ?
Should we write to the Queen for advice ?

We had our own serviette rings at boardin g school too. Nowadays I tend to call them all napkins.
Recently on holiday I met an American woman and she referred to a napkin at th dinner table 5hen was covered in confusion and embarrassment. 'Oh no', she said, ' I meant to say serviette. I forgot you Brits call diapers napkins and call napkins serviettes'!!!!

I wish Mr Betjeman was still alive. He’d know.

Marmight has upset the posh/not posh theory. Where was your boarding school Marmight? Perhaps it’s a north/south thing - Norfolk sort of being both and out on a limb so I was brought up using both.

giulia Paper is a material too. I think you mean that napkins are fabric. Yes, of course they are – usually linen – but if someone wants to call them serviettes, that's fine with me.

Napkins are material; serviettes paper - but people now call them paper napkins. Nothing to do with class.

I call them napkins, but I really don't care if someone else calls them serviettes – or tom, dick and harry. Why would I?

Serviette where I come from, kept in a serviette ring and that's what they were called too at my posh boarding school. I can't even say the word 'napkin'. Too twee. Not sure when I last put a serviette into use as living on my own I tend to grab the nearest available thing be it tea towel, tissue, kitchen roll or trouser leg . I do come up to scratch & issue guests with paper serviettes when required! (big/cheap packs from Ikea)

It’s all The fault of the Mitford Girls, u or non u.
Things one simply mustn’t say, darling!
Serviette ( napkin)
Settee. (Sofa)
Toilet ( lavatory)
Well, I always say napkin, so phew, am u after all.

Which is why serviettes are paper. Cheaper.