I'm in Europe and today I asked for shampoo at a little mart. The lady at the counter pointed me to a row of bottles; I was confused so she came over and picked one out for me. I'm back at my hotel and I just noticed it says douche. I don't want to put douche on my head. What does this mean?

Douche means "shower" - - also known as "bath wash" when referring to a liquid in a bottle, Essentially the same as shampoo to me.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Douche is the French word for shampoo or body shampoo. It's totally legit. (And don't feel bad, the first time I saw douche I was thinking the same thing.)<BR>Sarah

I am not a troll. By your suggestion, I now feel really stupid. I was too embarrassed to ask anyone so I thought I could rely on fodors to help. Thanks for making me feel so stupid!

Pay no attention to that idiot behind the (shower) curtain.<BR><BR>Keep coming back with your questions. Did you make it all the way to Europe on a trip - - and just now discover "us"?<BR>

No, I used fodors.com to help me plan my trip. That's how I knew I could log on and ask questions hopefully without feeling like an idiot. Also, the writing on the bottle didn't look like German to me so I was confused. I'm in Innsbruck and it seems like there are multiple languages spoken here and I don't know any of them. Thanks for the replies and now it's time to go to bed. As it is I'll probably be in bed until noon at the earliest.

Douche doesn't mean "shampoo" but "shower". If you bought a "gel douche", you didn't buy shampoo but liquid soap.

Sorry...Justnoticed that the OP was refering to germany. "douche= shower" in french, but in german, I've no clue, so it could mean "shampoo" as a previous poster wrote.

Use the "douche" on the top of you, or even on the bottom of you.<BR>

Well why didnt you just try using it as soap. Soap can be used on the hair too. It is no big deal!! Do not be so cautious-live a little and get off your fodors dependency!

Next time just verify with the clerk--even if it means pointing to your hair and pretend scrubbing. They will most often help. Whatever you do do NOT rely on that douche bad Rexy. He misleads people purposely..

huh? looks like jet, or is it trollbuster? is upset at being made to look stupid<BR><BR>good answers always win here<BR><BR>

For crying out loud, the poor woman (I assume she is a woman) asked a simple question, and has gotten a lot of trash, and few answers. Rex answered the question (correctly) and has been maligined here, what is up with you children (very generalized here, not everyone is behaving badly). <BR>Sweet pea, you got the right thing. I didn't realise that douche is shower/bath in French also, but douche IS the German word for shower (which has embarrased some of my good friends to no extent before they too realised what it meant, so don't feel bad) and you did get shower gel. Usually, I have found that the gels over in Germany (and I would assume most of the rest of Europe) can be used as body "shampoo" and regular hair "shampoo" at least that is the way they are marketed - I don't know if I personally would test that theory beyond a few days, but it is ok for a couple of days at least.<BR>Good luck with the rest of your trip!

To be very correct: <BR>In German, douche/shower would be "Dusche".

We remember our first trip to Germany and checked into a small inn and was asked if I wanted a bad or dusche (bath or shower). So don't make fun of the questions of a first time traveler. We were all a first time traveler at some point.

I am sure this could and should be posted as a separate note, but after reading this I am quite curious about one thing. It seems that a lot of people that travel continue to log on to this site from (alleged of course) some country, like this girl claiming to be in Austria, and posting. Now, I know that there are internet cafes around that provide access, but I fail to understand why anyone would take their valuable vacation time to diddle around on the internet. I have an even harder time with the fools that drag their laptops along with them. Come on folks you are supposed to be on vacation, so forget the stupid internet, and for a group of superior than thous like you all are, always bad mouthing people that take too much luggage, I sould suggest that if you are dragging a laptop computer with you you are an idiot.....

Lots of people travel for business as well as fun and the laptop is essential. Also It is nice to have if you are on a very long trip to keep in contact with your family, write your journal notes or pay your bills online.

I think this is great! The idea that someone is so far away and can log on to Fodors or any site and ask a question !Sometimes it just feels good to make contact with "home" and not feel quite so far away~<BR> Have a great time, sweet pea, and ask away!

Wouldn't BAIN DOUCHE be shower?<BR>and I am sitting here looking a shampoo we bought in Paris but is made by a Japanese Cosmetics co.and has German instructions on the back also!<BR>English-shampoo<BR>German-shampoo<BR>French-shampooing volumateur<BR>Spanish-champu<BR>

Of course douche does not mean shampoo it means SHOWER.....the word douche on the shampoo means it can be used in the SHOWER.......chambre avec douche means ROOM WITH SHOWER not ROOM WITH SHAMPOO!<BR>If you want a room with a bath tub then it would be chambre avec bain, and if you want both it would be chambre avec bain et douche. Lets keep it straight folks. If you can't speak the language then don't be giving advice!