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?

I’d say napkin for linen, serviette for tissue/paper

Serviettes.
Don't know that it is an age thing as my dc would call them (the paper ones, as per McDs) serviettes too.

Even had someone said napkins though, we'd all know what they meant. Serviette is definitely not an odd or obsolete word.

I've always called them serviettes. I don't think I've ever heard anyone use the word napkin!

Ooh, 3 three clear “markers” there. You wouldn’t get past the Dowager Dutchess.. Lots more than three if you dig further - we also have a lounge (but not a settee). And presumably many more that I'm not even aware of. (But I don't use my DGMs fish knives)

I think serviettes as a team isn't really used as much as it used to be.

I agree. My (Northern) parents always called them serviettes in the 80s, but I haven't heard the term for a long time and I think even I would always call them napkins now.

Napkin is the posh word, but how is that relevant to being in a little cafe. They're called serviettes where I live and I would assume anyone who didn't understand had poor English.

I'm not Wilde, it's just my nature ;-)

Besides, I can resist anything but tempting napkins!

"Wow, I love how in Ireland, saying serviette says nothing about you. Saying mantelpiece says nothing about you. You don't have to watch what you say all the time. Pudding dessert toilet loo.. Nobody really cares. You are judged on your accent, your clothes, your job, your house! your friends! it's not some utopian classless society, so far from it but these threads never cease to astonish me. That somebody's parents would say to their child ''serviette is common''. shock"

I don't think most normal people worry about these things either. MN is full of snobs.

MrsKoala slightly choked on Margot being your power animal

Yes, I had a very thorough training from my uc parents that anything french was common - therefore baffled when offered a serviette at a friend’s house, and didn’t know what they wanted when they suggested my glasses might be on the settee. Which is odd, given that I also had French lessons?!

Meanwhile, in the land of Oz, I’m biting my tongue because my naice in-laws, and many others, constantly refer to dessert, serviettes, toilets, and ...the sofa is a lounge.

Completely nothing wrong with saying any of this except that, if you have been brainwashed for the first 20 years of your life, you flinch at the sound of it.

Not sure whether to use this knowledge of brainwashing for good or evil, when it comes to my own children...

Ah was that an Oscar Wilde quote, never having seen a serviette! I did wonder if BertrandRussell had taken leave of her usual senses there! She is usually very anti-snobbery. Or at least that is how I have 'read' her over the years.

Definitely serviette! Napkins are fabric

I say serviette rather than napkin - I'm 39 and live in Kent and am definitely not posh!!! I remember asking for one in France when on an exchange aged 15 and was given a funny look and brought a bath towel... should've looked it up!!

tempusfugitive don't worry about us, we don't actually care about it

Yep - another vote here for paper = serviettes and linen ones napkins. We were a working class family (not that long ago I add hastily) and having paper disposable napkins was for special occasions. Linen rewashable ones were everyday. Environmentally friendly out of financial necessity. Tissue is definitely for noses

Napkins

Napkin = upper class
so paper ones = paper napkins
Serviettes = previously thought to be a posh word but actually despised by the truly posh
Tissues = only for wiping various orifices
But this was in MacDonalds so say whatever you want.

same as other answers tissues are for blowing your nose, napkins are posh linen squares ans serviettes are paper squares in restaurants as far as im concerned

cousin helen you meant were rather than was of course grin

No. I'm talking about the term, not the items themselves, so it's 'was'. "We had it drummed into us that 'serviettes' were common' Do you see, that isn't correct.

Davros, I'm not worried. I'm relieved.

Is that so cousin helen. If I laugh more I might pee enough to need a serviette.

Serviettes if made of paper.

I don't think most normal people worry about these things either. MN is full of snobs.

Well quite. No normal person gives a fuck about what Nancy Mitford thought about anything. Why would they?

I know napkin is 'U' but this thread makes me want to yell, 'Toilet! Serviette!

I've just shown you how 'were' doesn't work in the example, Heading. I'm not trying to offend you honestly. I was happy to explain.

“tissues are for blowing your nose“

No- a paper handkerchief is what you blow your nose on. Tissue is a scientific term, or a fabric, or a sort of paper.