napkin
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napkin
A piece of cloth or paper used at the table to protect clothing and to wipe your mouth or fingers.
Könntest du mir bitte eine Serviette reichen? Ich habe gekleckert.
Could you please pass me a napkin? I spilled something.
To specify the material, it is simply placed before the word. The most common forms are 'Papierserviette' (paper napkin) for disposable napkins and 'Stoffserviette' (cloth napkin) for reusable ones made of fabric.
Für die Party brauchen wir noch eine Packung Papierservietten.
We still need a pack of paper napkins for the party.
There are fixed verbs used around table use for 'Serviette' (napkin). You can 'falten' (fold), 'benutzen' (use), 'reichen' (pass) a napkin to someone, or 'sich auf den Schoß legen' (place it on your lap).
Die Kinder lernten, ihre Servietten ordentlich zu falten.
The children learned to fold their napkins neatly.
When describing that you clean your mouth with the napkin, the typical structure is: 'sich (Dative) mit der Serviette den Mund abwischen' (to wipe one's mouth with the napkin).
Nach dem Essen wischte sie sich mit der Serviette den Mund ab.
After the meal, she wiped her mouth with the napkin.
rag / license / wimp
'Lappen' and 'Serviette' can both be pieces of cloth or paper used to wipe something. The difference is mainly in the place and purpose. You use a 'Lappen' (rag / cloth) for cleaning, wiping, or drying, for example in the kitchen or bathroom. You use a 'Serviette' (napkin) when eating, to keep your mouth, fingers, or clothing clean. The words can be confused because both are used for wiping. At the table, 'Serviette' sounds right; when cleaning, 'Lappen' sounds natural.
Beim Abendessen legte Anna die Serviette neben den Teller.
At dinner, Anna placed the napkin next to the plate.
In der Küche hängt ein Lappen, mit dem wir die Arbeitsfläche sauber machen.
There is a cloth hanging in the kitchen that we use to clean the work surface.