Water Closet or Loo?
 

Hi there,

What is the correct terminology for a US citizen like myself, to inquire about a restroom in London? Shall I ask for the "loo" or the "water closet?" I'm not sure if one is considered slang or inappropriate if I'm in a nice restaurant.

Thanks! Dana

The term I heard most was "toilet," which seemed to refer to the room and not the porcelain object.

ask for what you need - a "toilet"

Of course loo and WC are heard too - but it is the "gentlemens' toilet" or the "ladies' toilet"

You should ask for 'the Ladies' or 'the toilets'. Nobody ever says water closet.

Oh great, good to know! I will ask for the "ladies" or "toilet" when referring to the room.

Cheers!

I always liked calling The Ladies ~

I just wander around looking confused and someome always points the way!

Why ever do they still refer to the toilts as the "cloakroom"? I haven't worn a claok in all my years...the pashmina room , maybe!!!!!!!!!!

About as silly as calling it a bathroom -- like I'm going to take a bath between courses? Or the restroom -- think I'll take a nap. Most Brits I know ask for the Gents or the Ladies. I don't think I ever hear the term water closet -- but w.c., yes.

A few hundred years ago it was common practice to move from the table to the wall of the room and...........

Has it changed?

If you want to be archaic, you can say you've got to go "spend a penny." This is more or less the equivalent of going to "powder your nose." (It used to cost an English penny to enter the stall.)

What happened to that quaint old euphemism "lavatory"?

30 years ago it was considered very non-U to say "toilet" and most certainly very U to say "lavatory". Does this change in U-sage indicate that the class differences in the UK are being flattened out?
Haven't I read in this forum that Queen EII's English has moved from the far right towards the centre, likewise indicating some erosion of traditional class barriers?

It is still U to say lavatory. But far fewer people care.

"Toilet" was considered non-U by one member of the Mitford family (who hadn't lived in England for decades), one otherwise unheard-of academic who joined Ms Mitford in making money out of the idea, and a few irrelevant old fogeys, who spoke a bizarre dialect of English that was simply incomprehensible to the rest of us.

The other 50-odd million Brits said "toilet". And "mirror" and "serviette" and all the other perfectly normal words this batty woman repaired her finances by spuriously castigating.

Try, "Ladies? or ladies room?." Or..inquire as to the correct/preferred appellation. Try more than one source. Report back, please.Polish system.."WC?", acronym for water closet.

Posh restaurant: "Toilet" (NEVER "lavatory") or "Ladies"

Not posh reataurant: "Khazi".

very un-posh restaurant: "The Bogs"

LOL!

Dana, practice saying
'Sorry, where's the ladies please?"

Just don't call it a bathroom or restroom. HTH!

Don't worry about it. "loo" is a generally-accepted term without much in the way of inherited cultural associations, but anyone will know what you mean if you say what you say at home (we do see quite a lot of American films and TV, you know). They might tease you a little by pretending they think you do want to take a bath or a rest, but if you put on a sufficiently agonised look as you frantically search the cupboard doors at the back, your need should become clear....

A restaurant that takes offence at your choice of terminology is not, in my book, a nice restaurant and not worthy of your custom.

Of course you could always ask to be shown 'the geography of the house'....

Come to think of it, I had a fearsome Edwardian great-aunt who lived in Australia for some years. When she came home she told a tale about being in a hotel somewhere when a real "ocker" Aussie asked her where the dunny was. According to her, she fixed him with a look and said 'Over there, there's a door marked 'Gentlemen', but you just ignore that and go through.'

I don't think people will say that sort of thing any more.......

actually - "loo" is a more acceptable term than "toilet" in a posh restaurant, as it's short for lavatory. "Toilet" is more frequently used by the lower class.

(if you don't believe me - this website on etiquette backs me up! http://www.imagecounts.co.uk/etiquette.htm)

also worth noting is that you should say "napkin" rather than "serviette".

I promised myself I wasn't going to get drawn into this discussion...
But as a well-educated Brit (or so I like to think... ;) ), I would never ask where the "loo" was in a posh restaurant!!

Either you come straight out with it and ask where the toilet is, or you use a euphemism such as "the ladies" or "the cloakroom" (if you are my Mum). At a friend's house I might ask where the loo is, but not in a restaurant.

The class issue (lavatory vs toilet, napkin vs. serviette) is very outdated and really quite irrelevant these days, unless of course you plan on taking tea with Hyacinth Bucket.

that's 'Boo-KAY'... ! ;)

Dana: After reading through this thread, perhaps it's better if you "use the facilities" before you go to the restaurant, drink very little liquid there and then you won't have to ask!

What do you think? :-d

actually...thinking about it, I'd never ask for the "loo" in a posh restaurant, however I'd never ask for the "toilet" or the "bathroom" either. I'd usually say "ladies" in a posh restaurant, or ask for the "loo" anywhere else.

I think Giovanna has the right idea though!! hehee :D

I haven't met her but I am related to Hyacinth Bucket, I think my grandmother was her cousin. You must all come round to one of my candlelight suppers :D

Thanks to all for their bit of comic relief. I was quite humored by all of the responses! Giovanna, maybe I will in fact, use the facilities before I venture out for the afternoon and dinner! :) But all advice was much appreciated! I'll report back on my trip in a couple of weeks!

On our first trip to the UK my family and I were a bit taken aback hearing "toilet" used for the whole room and not just the commode. My sister and I had a funny toilet-term incident at a disco in Ediburgh. It was really loud in the place and a man my sis had been talking to earlier came up to me and asked where my sister was. I said she was in the bathroom. He looked very surprised so I added, youknow, the loo, the WC. Then he said, "Oh I thought you said the BEDROOM and I didn't know they had one here!" After that we were careful to say toilet even though it sounded a bit crude to our American ears.

I always say, sandbox, and "I'm unanimous in that."

I think the biggest cultural difference here is that Americans consider "toilet" to be a slightly crude word, while most of the rest of the world considers it fairly neutral.

I'm generally not expecting a bath until later, but after a busy day sightseeing, I could often use a rest.

"Which way to the euphemism?"

What about "water-loo", considering that Waterloo real hero was General Pierre Cambronne ?

Luke, do you realise this thread is 9 years old... Water loo, never....