'The loo' is generally a safe term to use and likely won't offendanyone. 'Lavatory' is a good option for people looking for a very formal word to use in very formal occasions. In the United Kingdom, some people will shorten lavatory to just 'lav' and when they do it becomes quite informal.
Washroom. One of the most popular phrases in the US for the toilet is “washroom”. Washroom is another polite way of referring to the toilet, though it is not a common phrase to use in the UK.
What is the posh way of saying going to the toilet?
"Use the bathroom" is the most common euphemism, at least in the UK. Some other alternatives: "Use the gents / ladies" - this is slightly more chatty, possibly better suited to a business context. "Use the facilities" - also common, but it avoids the issue so much it sounds a little silly to me.
English conversation. Should I say bathroom, toilet, or WC? #learnenglish #englishconversation
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.
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 offendanyone. 'Lavatory' is a good option for people looking for a very formal word to use in very formal occasions.
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”.
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.
Loo or dunny - Thesea are slang term for toilet. If you are a guest in someone's house for the first time, it is usually polite to ask permission to use his or her toilet. 'May I use your toilet please?'
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.
This room is commonly known as a "bathroom" in American English, a lavatory or loo in the United Kingdom, a "washroom" in Canadian English, and by many other names across the English-speaking world.
It is if you're asking if you're physically capable of going to the toilet. If you're asking permission to go to the toilet, “MAY I go to the toilet?” is more correct.
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”.
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.
A serviette is an old French meaning “to serve”. In 1954 Nancy Mitford wrote in her essay on “The English Aristocracy” that to say serviette was not correct and the right term is napkin.
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.
Ken. Pronounced as written. Although it technically means 'know', some Scots will use it to punctuate their sentences till the point where it feels like it has lost all meaning. Often used in conjunction with 'ye' meaning 'you' and 'fit' which means 'what'. “Di ye ken fit like, y'ken”.
