# What is it - a couch or a sofa? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 15, 2002, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398 "2002-03-15T02:22:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Yo\_La\_Tengo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/41988e/32.png) [@Yo\_La\_Tengo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yo_La_Tengo)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/1 "2002-03-15T02:22:59Z")
I’m sorry, but in my world, I sit on a couch, and a couch it will remain. The words like sofa and soda hurt my ears. There’s an extra, unneeded syllable and just makes it sound goofy. I’ll stop there - You don’t want to listen to me complain, do you? All right, what do you call it then, couch or sofa? (or perhaps, something else?) Also, if possible, provide location (unless it comes up in the left column). ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/2 "2002-03-15T02:33:49Z")
The words are interchangable. Like car and automobile. ---
**Author:** ![GKW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@GKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GKW)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/3 "2002-03-15T02:34:06Z")
It’s called a chesterfield and isn’t this a poll? ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/4 "2002-03-15T02:44:36Z")
We call 'em a devan in these here parts… However, growing up in the midwest we called the regular everyday seating apparatus the **couch** and the one reserved for company only the **sofa**. It was kept in the **Room That No One Was Allowed To Go Into Except On Thanksgiving Or Funerals**. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/5 "2002-03-15T02:53:07Z")
Some people call it a davenport. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/6 "2002-03-15T03:55:00Z")
**Moderator’s Note:** On the one hand, “sofa potato” just doesn’t have the same ring to it. On the other hand, if one of our well-known SDMB posters had to change his username to “Couch King”, he’d sound like a furniture salesman (probably one with really irritating locally-produced TV ads), and not like someone making a sly double entendre. This thread, however, clearly belongs in IMHO, so off it goes. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/7 "2002-03-15T04:28:48Z")
It’s a couch. Specifically, it’s “The Comfy Couch.” Even more specifically, it’s [this](http://www.montauksofa.com/c_roll_arm.html#self) comfy couch. Down-stuffed cushions. Need I say more? ---
**Author:** ![Playdeaux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e99b99/32.png) [@Playdeaux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Playdeaux)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/8 "2002-03-15T04:57:30Z")
Sofa, the couch is simply divan. But what about sectionals? Also, isn’t chaise lounge French for chaise lounge? ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/9 "2002-03-15T05:06:25Z")
Actually, chaise lounge is some kind of bastardization of chaise longue, but it sounds a lot better. My mother always spells it “longue” but pronounces it “lounge.” I usually say “couch” but it’s interchangable with “sofa,” much like I usually say “car” but it’s interchangable with “stupid piece of mother\*\*\*\*ing \*\*_ **-** _ \*\*\*\* that always breaks down \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*.” ---
**Author:** ![ski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ski)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/10 "2002-03-15T06:32:28Z")
I use both. My Dad always called it a couch, my Mom a sofa. So I will use either one that suits me at the time. I have not been able to identify any kind of reason I would use one over the other. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/11 "2002-03-15T06:39:11Z")
Since I’m a Canuck, I was brought up on “chesterfield”, but now use “couch” a lot. Oh the corrupting influence of YankeeTV!:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/12 "2002-03-15T06:57:06Z")
I usually call it a lounge (and it’s in a room, and I’m a lizard), or sometimes a couch, and i also call it a sof… Well hey! I call it all three things!! On the other hand, a car is a car, never an automobile (see, I don’t think I can even spell the word). ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/13 "2002-03-15T08:28:01Z")
It was often a devan growing up in Oklahoma, but when I moved to Texas nobody called it that. It’s usually a couch, or a loveseat if there’s only room for two on it. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/14 "2002-03-15T09:38:36Z")
Couch or sofa, interchangably. Bed, when it’s unfolded. Never lounge, divan, chesterfield (isn’t that a cigarette?) or other cearly improper (and probably communist) terms. This is from California, btw. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowWarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7993a0/32.png) [@ShadowWarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowWarrior)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/15 "2002-03-15T10:03:14Z")
no mention sofa (sorry, terrible pun, but couldn’t resist) of the word Settee - is this a purely english term for the big, comfy chair-thing? ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/16 "2002-03-15T12:25:24Z")
I always thought of a couch as being a long sofa (or was it the otherway around?) ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/17 "2002-03-15T12:46:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\*… chesterfield (isn’t that a cigarette?) \*\* I thought a Chesterfield was a coat. Or a jacket. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/18 "2002-03-15T13:10:29Z")
Hmm. I use the word interchangably, too. In fact, I can’t even come to a private consensus on which I use most often… I’ve never heard one called a “chesterfield,” BTW. My grandmother always said “davenport.” She also called her purse a “pocketbook.” Jess ---
**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/19 "2002-03-15T13:27:17Z")
My grandmother would never be caught dead with a purse or a pocketbook. Only a handbag would do. I always said couch. (grew up in rural Southern Maryland) Mrs. Spritle always said sofa. (Northern DC Suburbs) ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398/20 "2002-03-15T14:34:55Z")
I was brought up saying “settee”. Now I say “sofa”, occasionally reverting to “settee”. To us Brits, a divan is the kind of bed that’s covered with fabric and sometimes has drawers in the bottom; as opposed to a metal or wooden bedstead. I hate divan beds because they require the use of valances, which I find ugly. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-a-couch-or-a-sofa/98398.md?page=2)