Australians commonly call portable toilets Portaloo, a brand name that's become generic, or simply Portaloos, but also use dunnies, loos, or bogs, with "dunny" often referring to any toilet and "portaloo" specifically to the temporary ones at events or construction sites.
In the United States, you can expect the use of porta-potty and porta-John. Locally, Aussies often use Dunny or, if you're in rural areas, maybe even Thunderbox.
If you ever find yourself looking for another word for porta potty, you can refer to this list: Port a privy (a nod to the sense of privacy this device offers in a public setting) Port toilet (this synonym emphasizes the “portable” part but ditches the childish “potty” part) Porta john.
The most common Australian slang for toilet is dunny, especially for outdoor or older toilets, while loo is used more generally for indoor toilets, similar to UK usage. Other terms include thunderbox (often for rural/outdoor) and more informal/humorous options like throne, facilities, or the crapper, though "dunny" remains iconic, notes.
In Britain, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and New Zealand, the terms in use are "public toilet", "public lavatory" (abbreviated "lav"), "public convenience", and more informally, "public loo".
Bog. The slang word bog first appeared in the late eighteenth century, originally as “boghouse.” It most likely evolved from earlier British slang linked to defecation. Although informal, bog remains one of the most commonly used casual alternatives to toilets in the UK.
Woop Woop is used to refer to a place in the middle of nowhere. People use it to signify that a location is far away, unfamiliar to them, and difficult to get to.
A rather more vulgar word for toilet is 'crapper'. First appearing in 1932, crapper became a popular alternative word for toilet thanks to the Thomas Crapper & Co Ltd company that manufactured toilets.
Discover why Australians say 'toilet' instead of 'bathroom' and explore unique Aussie expressions. Learn more about Aussie culture and language! #toilet #bathroom #aussiethings #aussie #australia #australian #aussielife.
Here are 5 common Aussie slang words/phrases: G'day (hello), Mate (friend), Arvo (afternoon), No worries (no problem/you're welcome), and Barbie (barbecue), with many Aussies shortening words (like Brekkie for breakfast, Servo for gas station) and using colourful terms for everyday things.
The Johnny on the Spot
“Johnny on the Spot” is one of the oldest and most widespread nicknames for porta-potties. The origin of this name comes from the idea that these portable restrooms are always conveniently available—right on the spot when nature calls.
"Skibidi" is a nonsensical slang term from the viral YouTube series Skibidi Toilet, meaning it can signify something cool, bad, weird, or just be used as random gibberish, often to express absurdity or as a conversational filler, especially among Gen Alpha. Its meaning is highly contextual, derived from the absurdist videos featuring singing heads emerging from toilets in a war against electronic-headed humans.
A portable or mobile toilet (colloquial terms: thunderbox, porta-john, porta-potty or porta-loo) is any type of toilet that can be moved around, some by one person, some by mechanical equipment such as a truck and crane.
In Australian English the word dunny is used informally for toilet. It derives from the British dialect word dunnekin meaning 'privy' (from dung 'excrement' and ken 'house'). It was originally used in Australian English, from the 1930s, to refer to an unsewered outside toilet.
"Loo" is a distinctly British English colloquial term referring to a toilet or bathroom facility. This informal word designates both the physical toilet fixture itself and the room containing it.
In Aussie English a dunny can be any toilet.
Australians most commonly call portable toilets "portaloos," though other terms like "dunny," "loo," or "bog" are also used, sometimes humorously, with "dunny" being a classic term for any toilet and "loo" common for indoor ones, while "porta-loo" directly references the portable nature, like in the UK.
Common Australian slang for a girl includes "Sheila" (older, sometimes dated or slightly derogatory), "chick," or just using general terms like "mate," "gal," or "lass," with context and tone being important, but "girl" is still widely used; some slang, like "moll," can refer to a girlfriend or a promiscuous woman, while "bogan" describes an unsophisticated person.
Bluey wants to play 'three in the bed' while Dad is in the dunny. But Mum doesn't like it when Bluey says the word 'dunny' and insists she say 'toilet' instead. Bluey doesn't understand why and tries to trick Mum into saying the word by playing 'Pass It On'.
In many Amish homes, rags are a common toilet paper alternative. These rags are typically old clothes that have been worn out. After simple processing, they become practical cleaning tools.
The Birth Of The Please Don't Do Coke In The Bathroom Sign
2014 saw former knitting store manager, Jessica Kleinmann, open Lyman's Tavern in Washington DC's Columbia Heights. She 'wanted something cute' to hang in its bathroom. And what could be cuter than not doing cocaine?
Lavatory. Lavatory has Latin origins, deriving from the word “lavare”. During the Medieval period, this evolved to “lavatorium” and finally to lavatory which is still used today, though not commonly and only in the most formal settings.
"Ozzy Ozzy Ozzy, Oi Oi Oi" (often written as "Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi") is a patriotic Australian sports chant, a rallying cry of national pride, originating from older British cheers like "Oggy Oggy Oggy," with "Aussie" being slang for Australian, and "Oi" functioning as an emphatic interjection, similar to "Hey!" or "Go!". It's used at sporting events, sometimes considered a bit cheesy or "cringey" by some Australians, but generally seen as an inclusive way to support national teams.
"Hoo-ha" (or hoo-hah) slang means a noisy fuss, commotion, or excitement, often over something trivial, but it can also euphemistically refer to female genitalia. It's an informal term for a "brouhaha," "hullabaloo," or general to-do, signifying uproar or fuss, but sometimes used to describe a state of arousal or, less commonly, male anatomy, though its primary use is for commotion or female anatomy.
The birds have also come to be regarded as a problem species in Victoria as a result of their scavenging activities, scattering rubbish from tips and bins in the process, and earning the widespread nickname "bin chicken". They are even known to snatch sandwiches from picnickers.