[Idiom] cabinets or cupboards

[Will17]

Hello!

What's the difference between a "kitchen cabinet" and "kitchen cupboard", please?

Thank you
Will

 

[bhaisahab]

Hello!

What's the difference between a "kitchen cabinet" and "kitchen cupboard", please?

Thank you
Will

There is no difference.

 

[Rover_KE]

A cabinet is free-standing and can be moved.

A cupboard is built-in or fixed to the wall.


Rover

 

[freezeframe]

A cabinet is free-standing and can be moved.

A cupboard is built-in or fixed to the wall.


Rover

... but doesn't have to be.

 

[Route21]

Hi Will17

It's just my preference, but:

I tend to use "cupboard" for "a piece of furniture or a recessed area of a room, with a door concealing storage space" as per cupboard - definition of cupboard by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

I would tend to use "cabinet" for "a piece of furniture containing [i.e. which includes] shelves, cupboards, [and/]or drawers for storage or display" as per cabinet - definition of cabinet by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

i.e. If I can see [at least some of] the contents, I would regard it as a cabinet (as in "display cabinet"). A "display cupboard" wouldn't work for me.

Hope this helps
R21

PS As an example, I have a cabinet in my dining room. The lower section contains cupboards for crockery and drawers for cutlery etc. The upper section has glass shelves and glass panelled doors and is used as a display cabinet.

 

[bhaisahab]

Résultats Google Recherche d'images correspondant à http://www.industrialedge.com/Wall_Kitchen_Cabinet.jpg

Résultats Google Recherche d'images correspondant à http://www.clicksitebuilder.com/home2/id/isabelskitchencupboard.com/images/w/warwick_vint_cream_1_821-671.jpg

 

[SoothingDave]

I think that "cabinets" refers to any of the built-in storage areas in a kitchen. But "cupboard" would refer only to the ones that are above the counter, or similarly elevated. Where you would store cups and plates. The lower cabinets, where you would store pots and pans, I would not call "cupboards."

 

[JMurray]

Clearly a lot of regional variation for this one, so I can only speak from my own experience. Generally I concur with Route21.
To me a cabinet is usually free-standing, sometimes with a glass front and sides and would typically be used to display items as in a "china cabinet" and/or hold bottles of wine and spirits etc, a "drinks/liquor cabinet".
All the enclosed shelving units that you'd find in a kitchen, top and bottom, are usually called cupboards in everyday speech. I sense that cabinet is preferred in the trade and may be coming in but I almost never hear it used with that sense in people's homes.

 

[freezeframe]

I can only add that if this thread sparks a flaming war over cupboards and cabinets, that would be epic. :-D

 

[JMurray]

I can only add that if this thread sparks a flaming war over cupboards and cabinets, that would be epic.

... closet warmongers!

 

[Route21]

Résultats Google Recherche d'images correspondant à http://www.industrialedge.com/Wall_Kitchen_Cabinet.jpg

Résultats Google Recherche d'images correspondant à http://www.clicksitebuilder.com/home2/id/isabelskitchencupboard.com/images/w/warwick_vint_cream_1_821-671.jpg

To be fair, I believe market forces may play a significant role in this situation.
Would they be able to sell more units, at a higher price, if they called them "cabinets" than they would if they called them "cupboards"? - probably!

Regards
R21