With the etiquette cutlery language, you communicate silently with the service at the table. How it works and which pieces of cutlery are suitable for it can be read here.

Cutlery Language ─ The Secret Language on the Plate

Have you ever experienced wanting to take just a break while eating, only for the waiter to clear your half-full plate? Apparently, you placed your cutlery incorrectly. The meaning of cutlery position is no longer widely known today. Here, you will learn what the placement of your cutlery signifies.

Development of Cutlery Language

The question of how to place your cutlery after eating is more relevant than ever. Such details ensure smooth proceedings, especially at public events or in restaurants. The rules for this are over 200 years old. Their creator is still widely known today: Adolph Franz Friedrich Ludwig Freiherr Knigge was a German writer who also invented the cutlery language. Whether you're at a business lunch, trying to impress your future in-laws, or on a long-awaited date, the cutlery language makes an impact.

The advantage? You can communicate silently with the service through the Knigge cutlery position without having to interrupt your conversation. Additionally, cutlery language is international, meaning it is easily understood in many other countries, as long as its meaning is known. However, there are deviations, for example, in England and America. These are historically based or simply reflect local customs.

Properly Arranging Cutlery on the Table

By the way, Knigge didn’t just address the position of cutlery on the plate, but also advocated for a fixed arrangement of cutlery on the table. When seated, according to Knigge, the fork should be placed to the left of the plate, and the knife to the right. It’s important to place the knife with the cutting edge facing inward, towards the plate, to avoid injuries. To the right of the knife, the spoon should be placed. Above the plate, there’s space for a horizontally positioned dessert fork with the tines facing right, and a small spoon above it, oriented to the left.

Learn more about how to properly arrange cutlery here.

How can I learn the Cutlery Language?

The cutlery language works quite simply by imagining the plate as an analog clock with hands. The knife and fork typically represent the hands for seconds and hours. Especially expressive is our Montreal Cutlery Set, which not only makes an impression with its high-quality chrome plating but also with its elegant copper, yellow-gold, or rose gold alloys. These are all high-quality 18/10 cutlery pieces.

Find an overview of our high-quality cutlery sets here. There, you will find the perfect cutlery for every occasion, style, and taste.

How do I properly lay down the cutlery?

The cutlery position is like a secret language. Depending on how you place your cutlery, you can signal to the service whether you are still eating, taking a break, or would like your dishes cleared. The "I would like a second helping" position is no longer common. The cutlery position for "The food is not good" is considered unfriendly and outdated. You should be familiar with these variants of the cutlery language:

"I am taking a break, but will continue eating later"

According to Knigge, the correct cutlery positioning to signal a break is to lay the cutlery un-crossed on the plate. The handles should be positioned above the edge of the plate, approximately at 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock, depending on how the food is arranged on the plate.

To avoid staining the tablecloth, place the cutlery only on the plate. Once you have started eating, the cutlery should not touch the tablecloth. This prevents any sauce or meat juice from dripping and causing stains.

"I will continue using the cutlery"

Once considered unthinkable, this ecological variant is now increasingly requested. In this case, the blade and tines of the cutlery are crossed in the middle of the plate. The handles are positioned approximately at 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock on the edge of the plate.

This signals to the service that you intend to continue using the cutlery for the next course. This is common, for example, at buffet events, but is also becoming more frequent at other types of dining.

"I am done with the course"

When you place the cutlery parallel to each other, with the handles at 5 o'clock and the blade or tines pointing toward 11 o'clock, it signals that the plate and cutlery can be cleared. This applies even if there are still remnants of food on the plate. This way, the plate can be safely cleared from the right side by the service.

In England, this variant is slightly modified. Here, the cutlery is placed parallel from 6 o'clock to 12 o'clock. While this makes clearing more difficult, it helps the service by allowing the plate to be taken with the left hand while the next course is placed with the right hand.

By the way: If the course consists of soup, you don't have to abandon the cutlery language. In this case, the spoon placed on the saucer signals that the plate can be cleared.

Cutlery Language Also Works with Other Cutlery Variants

When it comes to the question of how to properly lay down the cutlery, we usually refer to the fork and knife. However, the cutlery language also applies to other cutlery variants. For example, our Veggie Cutlery Set, designed with a focus on fruits and vegetables. The innovative specialty cutlery, with its delicate design, symbolizes our philosophy "Feed your Soul." Give it a try! Even the look of it is a real eye-catcher, not just for food connoisseurs.