Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

mark7523 · Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 1

Dear teachers:

I'd like to know what's the differences between these three words.
It's a true story.
My friend went to Australia and asked someone where the "restroom" is.
""(She forgot which one she used.)
And people in Australia all laughed.

I want to know:
Do these three words have different meaning in different countries?
Thank you for your help:)

Best wishes

Mark chen

Christine123 · Joined: 15 Oct 2008 Posts: 90 Location: Indiana

Correct, it is more common to use certain terms over other ones in different countries.
"Restroom" is a term most commonly used in American and Canadian English. Other common terms here are "bathroom," and to a lesser extent, "washroom." In British English, "pubic toilet," or "public loo" are most common, with "water closet" being used to a lesser extent. I am not sure what terms are more common with Australian English speakers, but their language tends to be closer to British English than American English.

Bluegum · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 89 Location: Melbourne

The word for toilet (the most common term here in Australia) has undergone a constant process of euphemism.
My parents use the word "lavatory" which originally meant a bathroom.
Then people thought that was crude, and started calling it a "toilet" which also used to mean something to do with washing.
Now in countries advanced in euphemism it is called the "bathroom," which is considered a bit twee here.
What I want to know is, what word do Americans use to distinguish the room with the bath in it from the toilet?

Christine123 · Joined: 15 Oct 2008 Posts: 90 Location: Indiana

Bob S. · Joined: 29 Apr 2004 Posts: 1767 Location: So. Cal

pugachevV · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2295

Americans weren't always so embarrassed about bodily functions.
During the Civil War (at Ft. Gaines for instance) they had a wooden bench with over a dozen holes cut in it to fit various derrieres. Presumably the soldiers used to sit and chat while attending to the demands of nature.
They sea used to wash away the detritus at high tide.
In the British Army the ablutions were referred to as "The bogs". No doubt that evokes some unpleasant ideas from the old days.
In ruder circles the toilets are referred to as "The Crapper". This may be after Thomas Crapper who was a big influence on the plumbing industry in the 1800's in England, or it may be just a vulgar slang word based on crap.