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English seems to have an extraordinary number of euphemisms for "that room": Bathroom. Restroom. Water Closet. Loo. Bog. Khazi. John. Privy. I wonder if other

by manarth 10y ago

English seems to have an extraordinary number of euphemisms for "that room": Bathroom. Restroom. Water Closet. Loo. Bog. Khazi. John. Privy. I wonder if other languages have such an array of words for a toilet, and how much confusion they cause for foreigners.

Symbiote 10y ago
"Bathroom" and "restroom" are only used in American English. In other English-speaking countries, a bathroom contains a bath, and a restroom sounds like somewhere to go if you're tired. "Toilet" is also a euphemism, it's Middle French for a type of cloth. So is "lavatory", it means wash room. I can't think of a word that isn't vulgar or a euphemism.
- baha_man 10y ago
  "Toilet" is not a euphemism: "Toilet" was by etymology a euphemism, but is no longer understood as such. As old euphemisms have become the standard term, they have been progressively replaced by newer ones, an example of the euphemism treadmill at work. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilet#Contemporary_Use https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilet#Contemporary_Use
- chiph 10y ago
  "Crapper" is not a euphemism. It's the name of the man who invented the siphonic flush toilet: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Crapper https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Crapper
troymc 10y ago
You forgot: Washroom. Lavatory. Outhouse. Mens' room. Little girls' room room. Potty. Half bath. And many more (mostly NSFHN). I suspect there's a deep reason for all the different words, probably because of the basic nature of what goes on within such rooms. I wouldn't be surprised if other languages have the same profusion of synonyms.
marcosdumay 10y ago
In Portuguese, "banheiro" uses the exact same euphemism as bathrooms.
foolano 10y ago
> I wonder if other languages have such an array of words for a toilet, and how much confusion they cause for foreigners. Let me try in Spanish: servicio, baño, excusado, w.c, mingitorio, tigre (this is slang)
13of40 10y ago
Do you think our culture is going to be uplifted somehow if we all switch to calling it "the shitter"?

by manarth 10y ago

Symbiote 10y ago

"Bathroom" and "restroom" are only used in American English. In other English-speaking countries, a bathroom contains a bath, and a restroom sounds like somewhere to go if you're tired. "Toilet" is also a euphemism, it's Middle French for a type of cloth. So is "lavatory", it means wash room. I can't think of a word that isn't vulgar or a euphemism.

baha_man 10y ago
"Toilet" is not a euphemism: "Toilet" was by etymology a euphemism, but is no longer understood as such. As old euphemisms have become the standard term, they have been progressively replaced by newer ones, an example of the euphemism treadmill at work. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilet#Contemporary_Use https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilet#Contemporary_Use
chiph 10y ago
"Crapper" is not a euphemism. It's the name of the man who invented the siphonic flush toilet: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Crapper https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Crapper

troymc 10y ago

You forgot: Washroom. Lavatory. Outhouse. Mens' room. Little girls' room room. Potty. Half bath. And many more (mostly NSFHN). I suspect there's a deep reason for all the different words, probably because of the basic nature of what goes on within such rooms. I wouldn't be surprised if other languages have the same profusion of synonyms.

marcosdumay 10y ago

In Portuguese, "banheiro" uses the exact same euphemism as bathrooms.

foolano 10y ago

> I wonder if other languages have such an array of words for a toilet, and how much confusion they cause for foreigners. Let me try in Spanish: servicio, baño, excusado, w.c, mingitorio, tigre (this is slang)

13of40 10y ago

Do you think our culture is going to be uplifted somehow if we all switch to calling it "the shitter"?