Sitting room

[coccinelle]

Hi, this cropped up in one of my English (ESL) lessons today; a boy used 'sitting room' which he's learned at school. Is this still used in UK?
When I was a kid (up north, like) we had a back kitchen, a kitchen and a sitting room. As years went by the back kitchen became the kitchen , the kitchen became the living-room and the sitting room ended up being a study. This room initially was only used for visitors or to play the piano or listen to the record player. Bedrooms were only used to sleep in (they were really cold too in winter!)
So, is 'sitting room' still used nowadays? I don't want to correct him if it is stiil used.

[aniani]

Sitting room is definitely correct

[Diane1954]

I have a front room (kept tidy for 'best visitors' i.e.vicar LOL).and a living room and a kitchen and a conservatory. I live oop north. :-)

[jake-the-peg]

I think "Drawing room" is getting pretty archaic but Sitting room's still alive and kicking!

[aniani]

And a lounge is only found in an airport or hotel!

[brionon]

ANYTHING is better than LOUNGE.

[Lil O'lady]

In an ESL context, understanding what 'sitting room' means and how it us falling out of use is important - one of the many wrinkles that give a learner fluency in another language. So I'd use it as a discussion point for the names of rooms

[Clanad]

Another archaic synonym for your 'sitting room', at least here in the U.S. would be parlor. It;s still heard but increasingly a rarity. Same conotation but now fallen out of use by simply calling the area a living room, which here, is distinct from kitchen or dining room... Usually employed by those who enjoy circumlocution...

[coccinelle]

Thank you all for your answers.
Yes, lil o'lady will make it a discussion point next week.

[abstibus]

This is a great site for ESL students and can tell them lots about English (British) life and culture and loads more. I have pasted the link to the 'living room', which is what I suppose most people would call the sitting room, but I see one child refers to the 'lounge' in his house. A matter of personal preference, I suppose, like calling the lavatory the toilet or saying 'Pardon'?
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/custom s/questions/houses/livingroom.htm

[coccinelle]

Thank you so much for the link annemollie. This will be useful for future lessons.

[terambulan]

Parlour.....den & kitchen

[Jenga]

I usually say living room as opposed to sitting room

[sara3]

I say "living room" but my mum probably still says "lounge".

I always thought the use of French words was a bit inappropriate: serviette (napkin).. and now I can't think of any others :o)

[terambulan]

parlour, den & scullery

[Diane1954]

just read our local paper,houses for sale section.Several of them have sitting rooms.
Ideally the kitchen should face east toget the morning sun so you can do household chores,laundry etc. The 'sitting room' should get the afternoon sun so the lady of the house can see well to do her embroidery or letters. Yeah as if!!!

[Miss-Ladybug]

I used to call it the 'sitting room' but thought it was going out so i say 'living room' now.
Is that normal? Haha.

[smudge]

I always call it the living room, or front room, as it's in the front of the house! Never, ever call it the 'lounge'!

Maybe some think 'sitting room' is the correct name for 'living room', but we also 'sit' in the dining room.....if you get my drift!

It's a bit like in the 'olden' days when people said 'scullery'. That then became the kitchen - how posh! ;o}