Apartment/Flat....

[BertrandRussell]

Just an odd word question. In your mind, is there a difference between an apartment and a flat? My Mil has just moved into a lovely flat- but my sil, who is otherwise non-wierd, corrects me to apartment every time I say flat. Anyone got any idea why?

Apartment = American
Flat = British

But I think apartment is often used to try and suggest a particularly nice sort of flat or the cheaply built new build high rises that will be the slums of the future

Yeah, that’s what I though - that the distinction was American /English.
Oh well, happy to say apartment if it makes her happy.

I seem to use 'apartment' for a particularly nice flat. Not sure why and English isn't my first language.

Here's an apartment.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-73057006.html

I associate apartment as the sort of executive type place, probably converted to a high spec, from a warehouse or similar. Maybe has a gym, pool and underground parking.

Flats are blocks, or house conversions.

Illogical I know.

Apartment derives from a French/Italian word doesn’t it? I thought flats on the continent are called Apartments and in the UK they are flats. However the UK now uses both words. Apartment does sound grander though.