I can't figure this one out. I've noticed this in most of the descriptions of bathrooms when looking to book a room in France. (ie: "private bathroom with shower and W.C.&quot Being a nurse, I can't help but think "wheelchair" every time I see it!

It means "water closet." It's a toilet.

water closet

Water closet, which i believe French borrowed from English

W.C. means toilet

in most French homes i've been in there is a bathroom with tub/douche and sink and a separate closet with a toilet in it - they are not in the same room but adjoin.

Hotels i don't know - they may all be in the same room

private W.C. - no sharing one down the hall.

Thank you all for clearing that up. I would never have figured it out!

And if you have to ask for the toilet in France, saying "vay say" is often easier to pronounce than "twa let" for some reason.

Jack - i know it's Vay-say in use but wonder why it's not Double-vay-say?

How did W become V? Just a natural shortening i guess?

I thought that vay-say was the German pronounciation. Isn't the French wee-see?

Vay-Say is just the way it is. Of course the official name would be Doobl-Vay-Say (and some people do indeed say this), but you know how the French like to shorten names. Some French prefer to say "lay vah tare" (les waters), but the most common name these days is still "les toilettes".

oh...maybe "doubl-vay-say" is equipped with a seat and a plain ol "vay-say" is just a hole in the floor...

Just kidding...can you tell I've just come back from rural France though?