Sofa Comes From an Arabic Word for a Raised Platform
A sofa is a long upholstered seat. Its name travelled from Arabic through Turkish and French.
A sofa is a long upholstered seat with a back and arms. The word is Arabic *suffah*, a raised platform covered with cushions and carpets, borrowed into Turkish and then into French in the 1620s before reaching English. It is one of at least three words English has for the same object: *sofa* from Arabic, *couch* from French *coucher*, to lie down, and *settee* from *settle*, an old English word for a wooden bench with a high back. Which you use is a fairly reliable class and regional marker in Britain.
- A long seat. *A leather sofa.*
- Couch — the French word. *A couch.*
- Settee — the English one. *A settee.*
- Sofa bed. *A sofa bed.*
- Arabic — *suffah*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | sofa | A sofa. |
| Plural | sofas | Sofas. |
| Related | couch | A couch. |
| Related | settee | A settee. |
| Arabic | suffah | A platform. |
- He fell asleep on the sofa.Furniture.
- Suffah meant a raised platform.Etymology.
- Settee comes from settle.Variant.
Three words, one piece of furniture
- Sofa — Arabic, through Turkish and French
- Couch — French *coucher*, to lie down, usual in America
- Settee — from *settle*, a high-backed wooden bench
- Davenport — American, from a manufacturer's name
- Chesterfield — Canadian and British, from an earl
Arabic *suffah*, a raised cushioned platform, through Turkish and French *sofa*.
What is the difference between a sofa and a couch?
None in the object. Sofa comes from Arabic, couch from French, and usage varies by country and social habit.
Where does settee come from?
From settle, an old English word for a long wooden bench with a high back.