Serviettes. Did I ask for something strange?

[ALongHardWinter]

There were no serviettes on the stand for sauces,straws etc so I asked the server for some. He gave me a funny look and said 'Some what?' I repeated my request but he still looked blank. So I said 'Tissues?'. He said 'Oh right. I've never heard them called serviettes'. Really? That's what I've always called them. Anyone else encountered a blank look when asking for a supposedly common place item?

Maybe it's an age thing (I'm 54).

Serviettes is pretty 70s, in my mind.

I always think serviette is a paper napkin. Linen or damask is just a napkin in a gaff hat has tables for sauces I'd have thought serviette was the norm.

We have a carvery within walking spit. Am sure serviettes would be understood. We stood behind a divine family where the men dipped their fingers in every pot and licked them before chosing.

Frankly I don't care what anyone calls the wipers and dabbers and catchers providing the people who visit aren't minging. What a horrible word. We only went once.

My family has always called them serviettes. When I moved in with DH he had no idea what I was on about - he calls them paper towels.

To me,a tissue is something that you blow your nose on.

It was thought to be more upper class to refer to them as napkins, the word serviette seen as being a lower class term. This all came about from a joke essay by the writer Nancy Mitford (U and non-U). Even though the essay was written as tongue in cheek, some of the prejudices stuck. I rarely hear about serviettes these days.

Serviettes and napkins are the same thing but the word napkin is the posh one

Serviettes, I don't think they've been made since the 70s

Serviettes here too. Napkins are the linen jobs.

Napkins here as well

But i would know what you meant by serviette

Just checked with (a now very confused) 14 year old and he doesn't know what a serviette is

But then he has never heard dh or i use the word so maybe thats not a surprise

Napkins is the upperclass/ upper middle class term and serviettes is the working class/ lower middle class term.

He was prob from a v sheltered upper middle class background.

It’s one of the big class giveaways along with pardon (mc) or what ( wc/uc) as well as pleased to meet you (mc) or how do you do (uc).

I was very much wc/lower mc so was brought up saying serviette, pardon and pleased to meet you by the way.

I use both serviette and napkin.

is serviette a brand then? i always call them that too

Serviettes every time.

I'm with @HeadingForSunshine

Serviettes is common.

Even lower mc would not say serviettes or pardon

It was in McDonald's,if that makes any difference. I thought napkins sounded too posh!

A tissue is definitely for your nose.

I know both terms but only because I grew up in a bilingual household where serviette was the word for napkin in the other language. I've never heard someone else say serviette in English though.

I always say ‘napkins’ because it is more posh. ‘Serviettes’ have a touch of Hyacinth Bucket about them.

The paper ones are definitely called serviettes round my way (London/Kent border). Not sure if it’s an age thing or not... I’m 36?!

I know what a serviette is but I am thankful to say I have never seen one.

When I get confused which is the posh one I just think “You can get napkin rings but not serviette rings...”