Sofa vs Couch: Is There a Difference?

We’ve all seen that notification on a lazy weekend afternoon, right? There’s nothing I love more than binge-watching a great series from the comfort of my living room sofa… Or is it a couch? 

Those two words - sofa and couch - have become synonymous with each other and are used interchangeably these days. But is there actually a difference between the two?

Maybe a couch is bigger than a sofa? Or does a sofa look a certain way?

We’ll be trying to figure out the answer to these types of questions in this article, and diving into the history of sofas and couches a little. 

But if you want to skip right to the answer, here goes… 

In short: There isn’t really a difference between the a sofa vs a couch, and any differences are extremely subtle. This wasn’t always the case though, and the words sofa and couch have very different origin stories… 

Sofa definition

The word sofa originates from way back in the 1620s. It seems it was first used in Turkey and was derived from the Arabic word "suffah," which means a "raised section of a floor, covered with carpets and cushions.”

The word was first used in English in 1625 when English cleric Samuel Purchas talked of a “sofa with sumptuous carpets of Gold” in his work ‘Purchas this Pilgrimage’, which was written as he traveled in Arabia. 

‘Sofa’ began to creep into the culture in the 17th century as an item of furniture imported to England from France. As authors like Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy began to reference the sofa in their writing the usage of the word became a lot more widespread. 

Modern-day Sofa definitions: 

• “a long, soft seat with a back and usually arms, on which more than one person can sit at the same time”  — Cambridge Dictionary
• “a long upholstered seat usually with arms and a back and often convertible into a bed” — Merriam Webster 
• “a long, comfortable seat with a back and usually with arms, which two or three people can sit on” — Collins Dictionary

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Couch definition

So from searching the history books (well, Google), it appears that the word ‘couch’ was originally used to describe any structure with a soft covering designed or lying or sleeping on. More like a day bed than a place to sit. 

The word actually originates from the French word coucher, which means ‘to sleep’. Which again makes me feel like the original couch was a place to sleep or nap, rather than sit. 

Historically, a couch might have been the perfect place for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Whereas a sofa might have been for a slightly more formal gathering or an afternoon tea. 

Modern-day definitions of Couch:

• “a sofa”  — Cambridge Dictionary (this one really clears up the sofa vs couch debate)
• “an article of furniture for sitting or reclining” — Merriam Webster 
• “a long, comfortable seat for two or three people” — Collins Dictionary