Napkin vs Serviette: Difference and Comparison (2024)

A Napkin and Serviette is a square cloth or paper which is basically used during our meal to wipe our lips and mouth after eating, It is also used to wipe our oily hands after the meal.

This is used to ensure that we don’t have any left oily or food particles on our mouth or hand which can damage the clothing and outlook.

Key Takeaways

1. Napkins are made of cloth, while serviettes are made of paper.
2. Cloth napkins are more environmentally friendly and reusable than disposable paper serviettes.
3. Serviettes are convenient for informal settings and events, whereas napkins are preferred for formal occasions.

Napkin vs Serviette

Napkin is a small piece of cloth or paper used to wipe and clean the mouth and hands during a meal. The term is commonly used in American English. It is the same as a serviette, which is a more commonly used term in British English. Both words carry the same meaning and function.

A Napkin is a rectangular or square piece of paper we use at the table for cleaning the mouth and fingers while eating. It additionally shields the garments you are wearing from food stains, spills, and pieces.

Napkins are collapsed into different designs and shapes.

Serviette is table linen, which is also shaped in rectangular or square, the only difference is that it is made up of cloth or fabric (a soft cloth with fibers facing outside) which is used after our meal to clean our mouth and lips.

Comparison Table

What is Napkin?

A napkin is made up of light paper they are white in color and have some designs to give a soothing look. Generally, napkins are kept to one side of the spot in any restaurant or food-eating place.

People after eating the food or while eating the food take the napkins to ensure that food doesn’t get spilled to their clothes.

Napkins are great in absorbing the liquid as soon as water or any oily substance comes in contact with it absorbs it in no seconds.

Apart from the use of napkins with the meal they are also used during summer for face wiping which is called the face wiping napkins.

Napinks are most common in use and in day to day life of every person. Usually, the napkins come in a bundle of 50-100 in a pack and they are always affordable to buy.

They are stacked in such a way that once the first napkin is pulled out the other is automatically pulled to half.

The napkins cannot be folded into the design like the Serviette, due to their small length and light design. Napkins get torn off with the small pressure applied, this is also one of the reasons that they are not suitable for making designs.

What is Serviette?

Serviette is made up of cloth or fabric which are used during the meal to wipe the food from lips and hands. They are made up of soft cloth which has the fabrics facing outwards, when the food or oil is wiped with this cloth it gets absorbed by the cloth fabric.

They are used in hotels and high-end restaurants for the customers. Once they are used it is washed and reused again for the next day.

Serviette is also made into designs to give the luxury look. As they are made up of cloth, it is easy to make into the design ( like an open flower, flame, etc).

Serviette comes in various sizes, some are small and some are long, it depends on which brand is serving, usually, the smalls serviette are found in normal restaurants, and long serviette is found in the hotels.

The long serviette is long enough to cover your lap, this is used to ensure that while eating the food which is fell it doesn’t damage your garments.

You need to unfurl the serviette and put it on your lap, after finishing the food you can put the serviette back on the table.

Main Differences Between Napkin and Serviette

1. A Napkin is made up of light paper whereas the Serviette is made up of soft cloth.
2. Serviette is comparably costlier than the Napkin, as it is made up of soft and delicate cloth which is expensive.
3. Napkins once used it is thrown in the dustbin, whereas Serviette is used again and again just they need to be washed after every usage.
4. Serviette can be long and small also, but Napkins comes in only one standard size, as their usage is limited.
5. Serviette can be purchased single or in a bundle, whereas the Napkins are packed in bundles of 50100 pieces.

References

1. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1471-2431-12-59