To think " belly" is a horrid, ugly word!

No, I have always disliked it.
Apart from used in the context of belly dancing.

I suppose the correct word is abdomen but I wouldn't ask a child if they had an ache in the abdomen.

I’m with you phoenix! Tummy is a much softer, cuddly sort of word, especially for babies!

What about belly dancing? Do you dislike that too? I don't mind the word at all (except for the pork - being vegan).

Good point, Callistemon so acceptable in connection with dancing and pork!

Abdomen I suppose refers to a region in the body, but I think if referring to the internal bit, stomach is perhaps an anatomically correct word, tummy a bit more "fluffy" when taking about it to littlies, but "belly" NO!

What a lot of tosh, belly is the correct word to describe the lower part of the abdomen . Yes i agree no one would ask a child if they have an abdomen pain. Belly can be used to describe a round stove, pot bellied stove. A person who is starving has a pot belly. Belly pork, belly dancing and many others.
So Phoenix are we going abdominal dancing tonight lol
Tummy is just too twee for words.

I agree. Makes me cringe when I hear it. Couldn't eat pork belly. OK for dancing though (although I couldn't do it!!)

I'm with those who dislike the word!

Just horrid.

Almost as bad as moist

Yuk - moist belly....!

I am not keen on the word tummy, but am quite happy with the word belly. You have a belly button not a tummy button so whats wrong with the word belly,

I quite agree Phoenix I was never allowed to say belly as a child . Tummy was acceptable, but belly was common. As was bum. My mother had loads of these can't say or dos. They stick with you as you grow up

etheltbags1

As already stated, belly dancing is fine (if one can do it) and of course one wouldn't ask a child if they had abdomen pain, but surely to ask if they had stomach ache would be ok? (Preferable to belly ache, imo)

And I have to disagree, the word "tummy", especially when used when speaking to children, is NOT "too twee for words"!

Your idea of correct words (particularly when used with children) makes me wonder what else you might deem "correct"!

Barmmeyoldbat sorry to disillusion you, but you can have a tummy button!

My mother considered belly on a par with swearing. Must admit I cringe when I hear it.

I don't like belly much either which is strange as I agree with ethelbags about stoves, dancing etc. Why is the word acceptable in some contexts and not others, or is that just me ?.
Think I'm rambling now better shut up.

I really don't like it either, much prefer tummy
Can I offer "I'm going to change your bum" er no you are going to change his or hers nappy

Phoenix. We always refer to our little ones belly. She has belly pains ans she tells us. We refer to her bum which is quite harmless, although not to some on gnet. We refer to her fairy but she knows its called a vagina. Fairy is maybe a bit twee but all family's have different kids names for body parts, we refer to boobs and boys privates. I don't think my family are any worse than many others .

We all have tummy buttons in the Minty family!

Actually, etheltbags1 you are wrong, her "fairy" (now that is twee!) is not her vagina, but her vulva, the vagina is internal.

I've often wondered, if boys have a silly (as some call it) why don't girls have a wilma?

I so dislike the word.

Yay for Oopsminty!

Tummy buttons here too!

I HATE that word! I can't even bring myself to type it!

Bugger! "Willy" not "silly"

Damn auto correct!

grannyrebel & Anniebach

Would that be the "b" word, rhymes with jelly?

Well for our sins we always say ....

Belly button
Tickle the tummy
Change your bum bum
Have a poo or a wee
The girls have always called their front bits their foo foo (but dunno where that came from?)
And the boy calls his a willy

Of course we are as common as horse muck in the North East .