Pardon?

[MothersGrim]

AIBU to not bother with the word "Pardon" for my young children? It seems like a generational thing to me but my parents and in laws correct my young children when they ask "What?"

I was just curious what the expectation is nowadays, should I be teaching them 'pardon'? Is it bad manners not to

The correct term would be to announce "I'm off to do a number two" in a posh accent.

" What's the non common term? Bathroom, loo, restroom?"

shitter, shithouse, pisser or jakes.

IlostitintheEarlyNineties.....no that would be really naff.

Up here in Yorkshire, if you misheard someone and asked 'What?' instead of 'Pardon?' you would be thought of as very rude indeed! So I think it definitely is a regional thing too.

Jakes?

Historically it's a class thing but as the upper classes become more and more obselete it's also a generational thing. It's also something people trying to claw their way into the middle classes or reassert their middle classness like to focus on. But their misguided because it's not neauvax middle class at all

I think 'what' is quite rude. I'd be very taken aback if I said something to the queen and she said "What?"

ohflippinheck jakes might be a Dublin thing...

I like lounge and duvet as well, they sound so cosy.

My mums posh as fuck and always taught us to say pardon!!

Lounge is a much nicer sounding word. I was brought up with lounge, I expect my mum learnt English from some middle class text books or something

Well, I never.

I had no idea I was so damn common!

Does anyone else know the "come again?" joke? :)

I usually say "Sorry?" Or "I'm sorry", occasionally "what" but I don't like it a lot. I was told to say "pardon" by my common relatives ;) but I never said it myself. Pardon makes me think of someone pearl clutchingly going "PAAARDON!?!!!" in shock.

Personally I think everyone should say "you wot mate?"

I was taught that 'what?' was supremely rude (Australia). Must've been all that common convict blood.

I was brought up to say pardon, and so was my DH (different ends of England) and if anybody said 'what?' I'd think them quite rude.

Sorry? on its own can sound rude/condescending or sarcastic, depending on the person saying it and the tone in their voice.

I also thought settee/sofa/couch were all completely interchangeable and I didn't realise toilet was common either.

Eh!?
'What' is very rude and common! 'Pardon' is the polite response!
Have I entered an alternative universe

Ive just realised that my username was made for this thread. This is my time to shine.

Pardon is horribly naff.

After belching or farting the best response is "It is a foolish man who puts good manners before good health", as if you are quoting Shakespeare. People will be too busy wondering where the quote is from to remember your faux pas.

I was brought up to say 'pardon' and told that 'what' is very rude!

Haven't read full thread.

However, I think my dad would come to get me from his grave if I ever said 'pardon'.

If AlpacaFamily haven't quite heard what someone said, they've been taught to say 'Sorry - didn't quite catch that - what did you say?'

It's not rocket science.

We were taught to say pardon after belching but we always followed it with "for being so rude, it was not me, it was my food. It just popped up to say hello, and now its gone back down below"

And then got sent to our rooms for being cheeky.

I was brought up with "Pardon" as the polite way and "What" as rude, however I really only use "Pardon" in mock indignation at something the children have said. "What" in the right tone isn't rude at all.

I don't understand "Sorry" though. It is meaningless and overused, and should be reserved for genuine apologies only.

As for farting or burping, least said soonest mended.

Natsku did you counter with "pardon Mrs Arden there are pigs in my garden"?

It's definitely "pardon" round here. "What" is rough. My dc are corrected to say pardon.