Despite its British popularity for a slightly less crude way to call the toilet, the word “loo” is actually derived from the French phrase 'guardez l'eau', meaning 'watch out for the water”.
Loo. Despite being a very British word for toilet, 'loo' is actually derived from the French phrase 'guardez l'eau', which means 'watch out for the water'.
Loo is an informal yet polite British term for toilet. The word “loo” has interesting origins and can be traced back to Medieval Europe, when chamber pots had to be emptied from bedroom windows onto the street below.
countable noun. A loo is a toilet. [British, informal]
British people are known for being polite to a fault, and nowhere is this more evident than in the lengths we'll go to avoid saying toilet! Over the centuries, we've been extremely imaginative, coming up with all sorts of terms to sanitise the word. “Going to the loo”, however, is the phrase that reigns supreme.
In the United Kingdom, “the loo” is a common term for toilet. 'The loo' is generally a safe term to use and likely won't offendanyone. 'Lavatory' is a good option for people looking for a very formal word to use in very formal occasions.
In America, they refer to the toilet as the bathroom. To actually use the word toilet is considered slightly bad form.
Restroom, comfort station, bathroom, lavatory, WC – whatever we call it, when we need a London loo, we really need one…
The name “John” was later derived from “Jake” and “Jack.” Secondly but most notable amongst historians, John was the name of the first man credited with inventing the first flushing toilet. John Harington was born during the time in which Queen Elizabeth reigned.
noun, verb (used with or without object),plural loos,looed, loo·ing. Scots. love.
Toilet. This was on the original 1950s list and, to be honest, I'd rather chew glass than use the word toilet in polite conversation. It's a harsh word that was adapted from the French toilette which means your appearance, hence toiletries bag. Lavatory or loo is much more acceptable.
Hunky-Dory
'Hunky-dory' – a neat little piece of British slang that means that a situation is okay, cool, or normal. For example, 'Yeah, everything's hunky-dory at the office. '
The not-so-slight rivalry between the English and French aristocracy dates back over a thousand years, so unsurprisingly, the Royal Family doesn't use this word of French descent. Instead of toilet, they'd refer to that particular room as the lavatory or loo.
2 syllables: "SHOW" + "uh"
A Biscuit (U.S.) Is a Scone (U.K.)
A British biscuit is not remotely similar to the fluffy and filling American biscuits made famous in Southern American cuisine. The closest British equivalent to those buttery miracles is a scone, which ain't too bad either.
Loo. Toilet. An outdoor toilet is a Dunny and an indoor toliet is called a loo. So you might say, "You can use the dunny out the back on the loo in the front." And that's how you say "toilet" in Australian.
15 – Toilet Related French Vocabulary
Les WC – pronounce “double vé cé” or “vécé” in short – from the British Water Closet… Le petit coin, le trône – other words for the toilet, common slang.
The head (pl. heads) is a ship's toilet. The name derives from sailing ships in which the toilet area for the regular sailors was placed at the head or bow of the ship.
Carsey/ Khazi
(Noun) Originating from the Cockney region its usage is much more common with people in Liverpool. It comes from the Italian term casa meaning “house.” This slang refers to the lavatory or toilet itself. Example: Never use a public carsey.
Etymology: Americans use the "john" while British use a "loo." What are the sources and semantic differences, if any, between the two terms? Both words are actually rather old in English, predating modern flush toilets.
Imagine needing the toilet and unable to ask for directions to one! In the UK (so using British English), people are quite straight forward and will tend to ask 'Could you tell me where the bathroom is please' 'Where are the toilets please? '
This room is commonly known as a "bathroom" in American English, a lavatory or loo in the United Kingdom, a "washroom" in Canadian English, and by many other names across the English-speaking world.
Urinals are often provided in public toilets for male users in Western countries (less so in Muslim countries). They are usually used in a standing position. Urinals can be with manual flushing, automatic flushing, or without flushing, as is the case for waterless urinals.
In the UK we just say... "Just popping to the loo" or "Need the loo, be right back". Or "Excuse me, I just need to go to the toilet". But very rarely "Gonna point Percy at the porcelain". Some people say "Need a wee" or "Need a pee", "Just going for a pee/wee", or "Jimmy riddle" = Piddle.