Does anyone really say "tummies"?

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.

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

What's wrong with abdomens?

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

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?"

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!

Undercrackers is a cool, streetwise word for panties j08

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.

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".

"undercrackers"!

'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?"

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

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

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

I prefer knickers or undercrackers.

Patronising.

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