What is the British slang for toilet?

Loo. Despite being a very British word for toilet, 'loo' is actually derived from the French phrase 'guardez l'eau', which means 'watch out for the water'.

What are UK names for toilet?

What is the polite word for toilet in the UK?

In the United Kingdom, “the loo” is a common term for toilet. 'The loo' is generally a safe term to use and likely won't ​offend​anyone. 'Lavatory' is a good option for people looking for a very formal word to use in very formal occasions​.

What is the British way of saying going to the toilet?

The 'loo' is very common in the UK & Ireland, and is a safe and polite way to say toilet. There are many theories about the origin of this word, but it is still an unsolved mystery!

Why do Brits call the toilet the loo?

Despite its British popularity for a slightly less crude way to call the toilet, the word “loo” is actually derived from the French phrase 'guardez l'eau', meaning 'watch out for the water”.

28 English Words & Phrases for the TOILET

Is it posher to say loo or toilet?

Toilet. This was on the original 1950s list and, to be honest, I'd rather chew glass than use the word toilet in polite conversation. It's a harsh word that was adapted from the French toilette which means your appearance, hence toiletries bag. Lavatory or loo is much more acceptable.

Is it more polite to say loo or toilet?

In the UK, both toilet and loo are commonly used to refer to the restroom or bathroom. However, toilet is generally considered more polite and widely used in formal or polite contexts.

What is the posh way to say toilet?

Lavatory. Lavatory has Latin origins, deriving from the word “lavare”. During the Medieval period, this evolved to “lavatorium” and finally to lavatory which is still used today, though not commonly and only in the most formal settings.

How do you politely ask for a toilet?

How do British people say I have to pee?

In the UK we just say... "Just popping to the loo" or "Need the loo, be right back". Or "Excuse me, I just need to go to the toilet". But very rarely "Gonna point Percy at the porcelain". Some people say "Need a wee" or "Need a pee", "Just going for a pee/wee", or "Jimmy riddle" = Piddle.

What is the urban slang for toilets?

commode. crapper (coarse slang) crapper trapper (coarse slang, rare) devil's back roads (slang, rare) dunny (AU&NZ, slang)

How do I ask for a toilet UK?

In the UK you can say “Can I use your loo, please?” or “Is it OK if I use your loo?” If you're in a restaurant and ask a waiter to tell you where the toilet is: Excuse me, where are the toilets? Older people in the UK use “the ladies” and “the gents”.

Is head slang for toilet?

The term “head” used for a marine toilet started because of the location of the toilet on the earliest sailing ships. For crewmen, the facilities were located at the head of the ships. The front of ships had a figurehead: a carved wooden figure or bust fitted on the bow of the ship.

What is the old name of toilet?

More musings from the w.c.:

By the early 1800s in the United States, toilet had become a synonym for both the bathroom and the porcelain waste-disposal device. “Latrine” reportedly was derived from the Latin “lavatrina” (for bath or privy) while “lavatory” comes from the Latin “lavare,” meaning “to wash.”

How do you say restroom in London?

In British English, "bathroom" is a common term but is typically reserved for private rooms primarily used for bathing; a room without a bathtub or shower is more often known as a "WC", an abbreviation for water closet, "lavatory", or "loo". Other terms are also used, some as part of a regional dialect.

What is a men's toilet called?

A urinal is a fixture that men use. A toilet is a fixture for both genders. A urinal is a fixture that men use.

Can I go to the bathroom in French formal?

You can say « Puis-je aller aux toilettes », which mostly formal, or « ou sont les toilettes » if you dont know the location. Shymi. “Est-ce que je pourrai aller aux toilettes s'il vous plaît?” How do you say 'I need a bathroom' in French?

Is restroom American or British?

As with many English words, some are common in American English and others are common in British English. However, words such as: bathroom, ladies room, men's room and restroom are common to both. On most airlines, the toilet is referred to as “the lavatory”.

What did the Victorians call the toilet?

We've looked into the stories behind a handful of them. The WC - Still in use today, the abbreviation WC stems from the term “water closet” which is what we used to call toilets in the Victorian era.

Is it OK to say bathroom?

Bathroom is the more casual word. You might ask the waiter at your favorite restaurant where the restroom is but you might ask your friend sitting next to you at the restaurant where the bathroom is. As a generally safe rule, ask strangers where the restroom is and ask friends where the bathroom is.

Is the word toilet rude?

While toilet is an acceptable way to refer to the object itself, delicate euphemisms such as restroom or bathroom are preferred ways of describing the room in which it is found.

What do posh people call sofas?

What is a settee? The settee originated in the Middle Ages, and whilst it had a design more similar to the sofa as we know it, was typically made from wood, and typically featuring an elegant and intricately carved back.

What is the British slang for upper class people?

Aristocracy and the upper classes would all be included in the definition of a toff.

What is the Yorkshire slang for toilet?

Bog – meaning toilet. “I'm off t' bog.”