Does anyone really say "tummies"?

Patronising.

As in "they are grannies. They use grandchildren language"

Some people object to the word 'panties' because it's twee.

I prefer knickers or undercrackers.

I wish my GDs would say 'tummies'. Their father says 'bellies' and they've latched onto that - I hate it!

Agree about 'panties' though. I've never used that word in my life!

'bellies' is the grownup word Ana.

I might use "tummy" when talking to a very young child. Or if a child was poorly. Like, "does your tummy hurt?"

"undercrackers"!

I much prefer "tummies" to "bellies". I don't think it is "grown up", just rather coarse and vulgar. If you want to be grown up then say "stomach".

Oh dear, I still say 'tummy'.

Maybe it's because I still have a child at home (for the next week anyway, until he leaves to go to Uni). But I had never thought about it. Now I have thought about it, yes, most people I know do say tummy. Maybe it's a southern thing? If talking to someone I don't know then I often say stomach.

Undercrackers is a cool, streetwise word for panties j08

I agree, phoenix - I don't think 'bellies' is the grown up equivalent of 'tummies'. I don't use it myself, I say 'stomach'. Anyway, my GDs are only 7 and "I've got a belly-ache" sounds awful to me when they say it!

So, petallus, you breeze into an unfamiliar M&S store and ask the nearest assistant (in a loud voice, of course) "Where are your undercrackers?"

Or, if looking for thongs "please direct me to the butt floss department, my good woman!"

What's wrong with abdomens?

Ana totally agree re "I've got a belly ache" just sounds.... yuk.

Bellies is a horrid word - nothing to do with age. I have a stomach and I could do with it being about half the size it is.

Personally the only time I use the word belly is in relation to meat. I think I might sound daft in the butchers asking for tummy of pork

Tummy or abdomen, if further up them stomach. The word belly is banned , I don't like it.

Why is belly banned?

Friend of my parents, who already had eight childre, said she no wasn't going to have any more as she'd already had a bellyful.

Why is belly horrid?

It aint very refined!

It's from an Old English word meaning bag. I like words for bags.

The OE bit will be why it's disliked. Most of the words people disapprove of are straighforward Old English or Old Norse words. So it comes down to snootiness about diction as usual.

Being a northerner, I don't accept any of that crap.

I don't do refained. Sorry, dahling.