English Vocabulary: Don’t Call It a Toilet!
In Canada and the US it is impolite to use the word toilet. You can call the actual physical thing a toilet, but if you want to say that you need to use the toilet, you must say something else.
We have all sorts of other polite names for it! You can start by saying:
Where is the _________ ?
I need to use the _________.
I have to go to the __________.
Then, you can choose one of the following words, based on where you are:
restroom – in the US, in a public place
washroom – in Canada, in a public place
ladies’ room or men’s room – in a public place
bathroom – in someone’s house
In the construction, real estate, and interior design professions, there are two formal names for different types of bathrooms in a house:
powder room: a small bathroom with only a toilet and a sink (but with no bathtub or shower)
en suite: a full bathroom connected to a room
bathroom: a room with a toilet, a sink, and a bathtub and/or a shower, but not connected to a room
IMPORTANT: You may have learned some other slang words for toilet, but you must remember that those words are slang and should NOT be used in public or in a professional environment, especially with people you don’t know.
I always say restroom.
thanks a lot for this explanation, always had problems with it, but in restaurants, I always asked the way to the ladies’ room…by intuition I suppose..
but I still don’t understand why it is so embarrassing??? in Russian(I’m russian) we ask “Where’s the toilet?”, but in russian TOILET – means the room itself, for the object “toilet bowl” we have another word.
I’m from Kazakhstan and at most we speak russian. Usually to say toilet politely we say “Ubornaya”.
Does this rule also apply to the word “lavatory”? Is lavatory has the same shade of meaning as toilet?
That’s a good question, Andrew!
Actually, in American English, the only time ‘lavatory’ is used is on an airplane! On an airplane, the small cabin with a toilet & a sink is called the ‘lavatory,’ (not just the toilet).
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Thank you, Melanie, for making it clear to me!
Could you please comment on another rather popular word related to the subject – WC? What is its usage in the context of American/Canadian English?
I am new to your blog and I find it just amazing! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with others!
Thank YOU for your lovely comment, Andrew!
WC isn’t used in North America. I’ve travelled a lot across Europe and I’ve noticed that WC is very common there. It stands for ‘water closet’ which is the old-fashioned word for ‘washroom.’
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hello teacher melanie thankyou soo much for your explanations .is it ok to say `loo`
Hi, Miriam!
‘Loo’ is a British word! It’s not used in North America.
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This is a very nice subject for English students to talk about: Toilet, loo, washroom, WC, lavatory, bathroom, restroom, ladies’ room and men’s room.
My first day at an English school in New Zealand was so embarassing. I asked for restroom to a South Korean student. She hadn’t understood me, so I explained her I was looking for a place where a could wash my hands. Then, she said to me: “Ah, a washroom!”
Also “loo” is a very common word for toilet in New Zealand, as well in England.
I’m from New Zealand, and everyone says toilet, and at restaurants on the toilet door it usually says ‘toilet’, not any of those things. I’m going to America soon, and I had no idea what the toilet was called. Thanks for this page!
what about saying where is the water closet 🙂
‘Water closet’ is not an American expression. It’s used in the U.K. & Europe.
If you say ‘water closet’ to an American or Canadian, he will not know what you are talking about!
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The first time I heard the word ” powder room”. It’s interesting 🙂
Could you please say what I should say when I want to ask my 5 yo daughter if she needs to use the toilet? I think “Do you want to go potty?” is for kids that use ones. Right?
Thanks!
Hi, Lidia!
A ‘potty’ is actually a specific container that is used (instead of the real toilet) to teach kids how to use the toilet!
Some parents do say “Do you need to go potty?” to small children, but that’s a personal choice!
You can just ask your daughter:
“Do you need to use the toilet?”
“Do you need to go to the bathroom?”
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that’s really useful :))
I always say bathroom.