Sofa
A cushioned multi-person seat, also called couch or settee.
A sofa is a cushioned piece of furniture designed to seat multiple people, commonly found in homes and non-residential settings such as hotels, lobbies, waiting rooms, and bars. The term is most commonly used in the United Kingdom and India, while 'couch' is predominant in North America, Australia, South Africa, and Ireland. Historically, the word "couch" originally referred to an item meant for lying or sleeping, deriving from Middle English and Old French roots meaning "to lie down." "Sofa" entered English from Turkish, ultimately tracing back to an Arabic word for a ledge or bench, and was defined in an early 18th-century dictionary as a sort of alcove furnished with rich carpets and cushions. "Settee" comes from an Old English term for long benches with high backs and arms, though by the 20th century the distinction between settee and sofa had largely disappeared. Other synonymous terms include divan, davenport, lounge, and canapé. In Canadian English, "chesterfield" was once widely used for any couch, though this usage is now fading. The most common types include the two-seater loveseat and the larger sofa. Sectional sofas consist of multiple sections, often joining at an angle to wrap around walls. Some sofas double as beds, such as sofa beds, daybeds, or futons. A chesterfield specifically describes a deep buttoned sofa, usually leather, with arms and back of equal height; the first such piece was commissioned by the 4th Earl of Chesterfield in the 18th century. A sofa’s construction typically includes a frame, often wood but also steel, plastic, or laminated boards; padding made from foam, down, feathers, or fabric; and a covering of leather, corduroy, or linen. Springs are commonly placed under the padding for additional support.
- also_known_as
- couch, settee, chesterfield, davenport
- common_uses
- seating, sleeping
- typical_locations
- family room, living room, den, lounge, hotels, offices, waiting rooms, bars
- common_types
- two-seater (loveseat), sofa, sectional, divan, fainting couch, canapé, sofa bed, daybed, futon
- materials
- wood, steel, plastic, laminated boards for frame; foam, down, feathers, fabric for padding; leather, corduroy, linen for covering
Lore & Background
The word 'sofa' comes from the Turkish language and is derived from the Arabic word 'suffah' (meaning 'ledge/bench'), with cognates in Aramaic. furnished with rich carpets and cushions.' The term came into use at the beginning of the 18th century, alongside 'settee,' which originally denoted a smaller sofa but lost that distinction by the 20th century. A sofa consists of a frame (usually wood, but also steel, plastic, or laminated boards), springs, padding (foam, down, feathers, fabric, or combination), and a covering (soft leather, corduroy, or linen). Common types include the two-seater loveseat, the larger sofa, and the sectional sofa formed from multiple sections joining at an angle. Some sofas double as beds, such as sofa beds, daybeds, or futons. In the UK and Canada, the term 'chesterfield' was used in the 1900s to refer to any couch; it now describes a deep buttoned sofa, usually leather, with arms and back of the same height.
Reader's Guide
The sofa is a central piece of domestic and commercial furniture, serving primarily as seating but also for sleeping. Its significance lies in its ubiquity across cultures and its evolution from earlier forms like the settee and divan. The terminology varies regionally: 'sofa' and 'settee' are standard in the UK and India, while 'couch' dominates in North America, Australia, South Africa, and Ireland. The sofa's design has diversified into specialized types such as the loveseat, sectional, and sofa bed, reflecting changing social and spatial needs. Its construction—frame, springs, padding, covering—has remained consistent, though materials have expanded to include steel, plastic, and laminated boards. The sofa's legacy includes its role in both private homes and public spaces like hotels and waiting rooms, and its association with comfort and social gathering. The term's etymology traces through Turkish and Arabic, highlighting cross-cultural influences. The chesterfield variant, with its distinctive buttoned leather, remains a notable historical style linked to the 4th Earl of Chesterfield.
Did You Know?
- The word 'sofa' comes from the Turkish language and is derived from the Arabic word 'suffah' meaning 'ledge/bench'.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sofa?
A sofa is a padded, multi-person seat built for everyday sitting and, in some models, occasional sleeping. It's one of the most ubiquitous pieces of furniture in both private homes and public spaces.
What's the difference between a sofa and a couch?
They're the same item—just different regional names. The word 'sofa' is the go-to term in the UK and India, whereas 'couch' is what most people in North America, Australia, South Africa, and Ireland use.
What types of sofas exist?
You'll encounter everything from a compact two-seater (loveseat) to large sectionals, divans, canapés, fainting couches, daybeds, futons, and sofa beds. Each variant serves a slightly different purpose, whether it's fitting a small room or doubling as a guest sleeping spot.
What materials are used to build a sofa?
The internal frame is usually made of wood, steel, plastic, or laminated boards, with padding consisting of foam, down, or feathers. The visible outer layer is typically leather, corduroy, or linen, depending on the style and budget.
Where do people usually put a sofa?
In a home it most often anchors the living room, family room, or den. Outside the home you'll see them in hotel lobbies, office waiting areas, and bars, where they provide comfortable group seating.
More in Home And Furniture 1-23
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record