Sofa vs couch

[cassiesmom]

http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/0112102_PE263492_S3.JPG

Is this a couch or a sofa? Which do you call it?

It's a couch at my house... and the room where you found it was known as the front room or the parlor instead of the living room.

(By the way, what do you think of this one? It's Ikea Ektorp, I need a new one and I like this one pretty well.)

[Karen]

Grew up in Massachusetts, and it's pretty interchangeable, usually call it the couch, but the sofa works, too!

It's hard to explain to some learning English that these words both mean the same thing, but sound nothing alike ...

[Taz_Zoee]

I never say sofa. Only couch.
And I like it!! :)

[Sirrahsim]

It is a couch and it is in my living room!

[Scooter's Mom]

Like Karen, I use the two interchangeably. However, I voted for sofa because when I think about it I usually refer to my set as "sofa and loveseat" not "couch and loveseat".

[Sonia59]

I voted pointless, because for me there was no difference (I'm French). Apparently, there is no difference either for native English speaking people :D

I did not mean the poll is pointless ;), and it is not because I learned there was no difference...so far. :)

I have one at home, the 2-seats version and bed-convertible. It does not exist anymore, and it's a pity because I wanted to buy a new slipcover as Jasmine has made a lot of damage with her claws, but it can't be bought anymore (pointless comment, I know :rolleyes:)

[Freckles]

I grew up calling it a Davenport but now I prefer Sofa. It sounds softer than a Couch.

[jennielynn1970]

I call it a couch, and it's in my living room.

[chocolatepuppy]

Couch here!;)

[luckies4me]

I grew up calling it a Davenport but now I prefer Sofa. It sounds softer than a Couch.


You are a strange Oregonian. ;)

Kidding kidding. I usually refer to a sofa as something formal, and a couch just a regular comfy thing you sit on. I think mom's have couches for many years, and once the kids move out they upgrade to a sofa. :p

[neko1]

I call it a couch, and it's in my living room.

me too

[CountryWolf07]

I call it a couch.

[Freckles]

You are a strange Oregonian. ;)
:p
Just a couple generations older. :)

[happylabs]

I have one couch in my living room. Even though Casey is gone it is still "Casey's Couch". :)

[Felicia's Mom]

I also grew up calling it a davenport.

[Marigold2]

The sofa is in the living room and the sectional is in the family room.
Davenport have not heard that one before, sounds like it is from the 19th century, kind of cute.

[wombat2u2004]

We call it a lounge here.

[zippy-kat]

Couch. It's in the living room and you'll have to move the cat (she stretches across all the cushions) if you want to sit on it. ;)

[Catlady711]

My couch is in my livingroom. Although seeing it mentioned if it's paired with a loveseat I will refer to it as a sofa in that case.

My grandma always called them Davenport. Used to be rather confusing for me as a child. But then again, according to her, we didn't wash our hands in the sink, we used the basin, we didn't turn on the water faucet it was a spigot, we didn't wear pants we wore slacks, and we didn't put on tennis shoes we wore sneakers. :p

[krazyaboutkatz]

I usually refer to it as a couch and it's in my living room with a cat proof corduroy cover on it.:) My recliner also has the same type of cover so you can't recline in it but I never use it any way.;)

[Miss Z]

I'd rarely use the word couch, and if I did, it would be to describe something a little softer looking and more worn than the Ikea one shown in the OP. I would sometimes call it a sofa, although in my house, it was called the settee, and so by force of habit I'd refer to it as that!

[moosmom]

It's called a Davenport (if you were brought up in the 20's). Couch, sofa, daybed, tomato/tomahto, WHATEVER!!! As long as my sorry @$$ is in one every night, call it what you will!!!

[sirrahbed]

That is a couch and it is in my living room :) A sofa might be in my grandmother's frontroom and nobody sits on it!

[Catherinedana]

I actually use the two words equally, but either way, it's in the living room. And there are sheets covering it to keep off bird poo!

My ex-husband was from Ireland and they called it a settee. . .:D

[Asiel]

We always call them sofas or Chesterfields.

[Pinot's Mom]

I was raised calling it a davenport. I have adapted and now call it all kinds of things - couch, sofa, whatever!

[Lilith Cherry]

I am with Zara and call it a settee and it is in my living room; must be a British thing!

[finn's mom]

I have said sofa before, but i usually say couch.

[Kirsten]

Here in Germany, we have the same words for it, Sofa or Couch. You can say both. :) When I was younger, people prefered to call it a Sofa, but meanwhile, most people say Couch, I think...

[Randi]

In Denmark, we call it a sofa, too. It's funny how some words are different in Britain and USA. There are quite a few meaning exactly the same, However, Aksiel, a Chesterfield is something different and usually a lot more expensive.

A funny thing I noticed about houses, both in Britain and USA, are that they are described as "a 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom etc. flat/house. In Denmark you would never do that. It would be a 3-room flat or a 4-room flat etc. Which of the rooms you use as a bedroom is up to you. Of course, if a house has an upstairs, that's usually where the bedroom/s would be.

Also, the names you call different rooms... living, room, dining room, drawing room, lounge, family room, front room....

I noticed that some houses don't have a corridor in Britain/USA, that I find strange. A corridor here is where you come in from the outside, hang your coat and put your shoes.

Sirrahbed, my grandmother had a room with the nice furniture that was never used, except when very "speciel guests" came to visit. LOL!