[ti:Is It a Couch or a Sofa?] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:01.16]This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Abid [00:06.52]about something a lot of people have in their living rooms. [00:11.32]Here is what he says: [00:13.76]Hi, I have a question: [00:16.64]What is the difference between "couch" and "sofa"? -Regards, Abid [00:20.76]Hello Abid, [00:22.12]In my living room, I have a long piece of furniture covered in cloth. [00:27.80]Sometimes, I call it a "couch." [00:30.20]Other times, I call it a "sofa." [00:34.08]In the United States, the words "couch" and "sofa" [00:38.12]are generally interchangeable. [00:41.52]That means either word is used to describe this piece of furniture, [00:47.12]which a person can sit or lie down on. [00:52.00]A Google ngram of the two words tells us that, [00:56.32]in the U.S. today, the words are about equally common, [01:01.28]with "couch" being a little more popular. [01:06.20]Historically, however, the meanings were different. [01:10.64]The word "couch" comes from French word "coucher" [01:14.84]and once meant a low, bed-like piece of furniture [01:19.32]that did not have arms. [01:22.52]And the word "sofa," which comes from Arabic, [01:26.00]was something more like a bench with arms and a back. [01:32.12]Today, the American public uses either word, [01:36.28]whether or not the piece of furniture has arms. [01:41.92]However, some people consider the word "couch" [01:46.00]to be less formal than "sofa." [01:49.56]And sofas might sound as though [01:52.68]they are more costly and refined than couches. [01:58.04]It is worth noting that some industries only use the word "sofa." [02:04.84]That includes furniture designers, [02:08.28]makers and sellers as well as home decorators. [02:14.20]And that's Ask a Teacher for this week. [02:17.68]I'm Alice Bryant. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM