Know Before You Go! Bathroom Vocab in 9 Different Languages
Sometimes, bathroom emergencies happen.
And when you need to use a foreign language to find the promised land known for sweet relief, your predicament can become that much more stressful.
But no need to fret, as we’re here to ease your foreign language anxiety and boost your language confidence so you can ask someone for help.
To cover the bases, let’s go over a few key phrases and related terms in the most common languages.
Contents
- Why Learn How to Ask Where the Bathroom Is in Different Languages?
- Know Before You Go! Bathroom Vocab in 9 Different Languages
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
Why Learn How to Ask Where the Bathroom Is in Different Languages?
First and foremost, you’ll want to learn where to ask where the bathroom is in different languages because when you need to go, you usually don’t want to fumble around with a translator or dictionary. If you don’t speak the language you’re trying to communicate in, ordinarily, a translator or dictionary would be an ideal solution. You can look up whatever word or phrase you need in just a few moments. However, when you need to use a bathroom, you don’t always have unlimited time to find the right phrase and perfect your pronunciation. Memorizing words and phrases is an ideal solution to ensure you’re ready whenever the need strikes.
Additionally, going to the bathroom is a delicate subject, so you would probably prefer to avoid asking awkwardly. If you haven’t prepared the right phrase, you may stumble on your words, misuse words or just seem nervous and weird. Ask wrong, and your face may flush as much as the toilet. Funny language mistakes can be excellent learning opportunities, but when your bladder is full, you’re not really in the mood for laughing about your foibles just yet.
You never know when you’ll need to know the right phrase. When you’re traveling abroad, you’ll obviously need to know some of the local language to meet your bathroom needs, and you can prepare ahead of time for that. However, doing a little extra homework on bathroom-related words and phrases may help you out even in an unexpected situation at home. In the U.S., for example, not everyone you’ll meet speaks English, and you may need the help of someone who doesn’t—but, chances are, they’ll speak at least one of the languages below. Being generally prepared for this scenario has some distinct advantages.
Know Before You Go! Bathroom Vocab in 9 Different Languages
Herein lie key words and phrases to help you navigate the challenging world of bathroom-based inquiries across languages.
Between languages, there are some distinct commonalities that you might want to note. This will make learning key phrases in multiple languages easier.
One common theme you might notice is that in some languages, it’s more common to ask where the toilet is than where the bathroom is. To native English speakers, this might seem a little direct and even uncouth, but it’s common in many parts of the world. This is in part because in some locations, the toilet is in a separate room from the bathroom, so it’s sometimes important to make the distinction to clarify what exactly you want to use. Plus, when you think about it, do you really want strangers thinking you’re asking to use their bathtub? That’s probably even more awkward than just asking to use the toilet.
It’s also important to note that in most languages, there are several ways to get across the main idea of “Where is the bathroom?” and “May I use the bathroom?” In many languages, there are even several words for “bathroom” and “toilet.” We’ve focused on some of the most common words and phrases. However, if variety is the spice of life for you when it comes to your bathroom vocabulary, don’t hesitate to research additional ways to say these pressing phrases in your target language.
We realize that the list below may not cover all the languages you need, but it will give you vocabulary for a good chunk of common languages, and also a starter template for doing your own bathroom research in whatever other languages you anticipate using.
Chinese
浴室 (yù shì) — bathroom
厕所 (cè suǒ) — toilet
The above term can also be used to mean “WC” or “lavatory.”
卫生间在哪里？ (wèi shēng jiān zài nǎ lǐ?) — Where is the restroom?
The above phrase translates more literally to “Where is the hygiene room?”
我可以用洗手间吗？ (wǒ kě yǐ yòng xǐ shǒu jiān má ？) — May I use the toilet?
French
Salle de bains — bathroom
Toilettes — toilet
Toilettes is actually plural, but is frequently used to refer to the porcelain throne. Toilette (singular) is often used to refer to washing, dressing, cleaning, etc.
Excusez-moi, où se trouvent les toilettes ? — Where is the bathroom?
More literally, “Excuse me, where are the toilets?”
Puis-je utiliser les toilettes ? — May I use the bathroom?
Literally, “Can I use the toilets?”
German
Badezimmer — bathroom
Toilette — toilet
Wo ist die Toilette? — Where is the bathroom?
More literally, “Where is the toilet?”
Könnte ich das Badezimmer benutzen? — May I use the bathroom?
Italian
Bagno — bathroom
Bagno can also refer to a “bath” or a “toilet.”
Gabinetto — toilet
Gabinetto can also mean “bathroom” or “cabinet.”
Dov’è il bagno? — Where is the bathroom?
Posso usare il bagno? — May I use the bathroom?
Japanese
バスルーム — bathroom
トイレ — toilet
トイレ can also be used to mean “bathroom.”
トイレはどこですか？ — Where is the bathroom?
トイレを借りてもいいですか？ — May I use the bathroom? (Pronounced “Toire o karite mo īdesu ka?”)
Korean
욕실 화장실 — bathroom
화장실 — toilet
화장실 can also be used to mean “restroom.”
화장실 어디 있어요? — Where is the bathroom?
화장실을 사용해도 될까요? — May I use the bathroom? (Pronounced “Hwajangsil-eul sayonghaedo doelkkayo?”)
Portuguese
Banheiro — bathroom
Banheiro can also be used to mean “toilet.”
Toalete — toilet
Onde fica o banheiro? — Where is the bathroom?
Posso usar o banheiro? — May I use the bathroom?
Russian
Ванная — bathroom
Ванная usually means “bathroom” but can also mean “toilet” in a private home.
Туалет — toilet
Туалет can also mean “restroom.”
Где туалет? — Where is the bathroom?
More literally, “Where is the toilet?”
Можно я зайду в туалет? — May I use the bathroom?
More literally, “Can drop by the toilet?”
Spanish
Baño — bathroom
Baño can actually refer to “bathroom,” “bath,” “bathtub” or “toilet.”
Inodoro — toilet
In Spanish, you more often hear baño, but if you ever want to discuss the fixture itself, you can use inodoro. Inodoro can also technically be used to refer to a bathroom, though it’s not particularly common. Curiously enough, when used as an adjective, it can also mean “odorless.” Ironic.
¿Dónde está el baño? — Where is the bathroom?
¿Puedo usar el baño? — May I use the bathroom?
3 Tips for Learning Bathroom Phrases
1. Practice saying these phrases out loud.
As with any new vocabulary in your target language, you have to say the phrases out loud. You want native speakers to actually understand your query so you can get on with your business.
Do some language shadowing, repeat the phrases over and over again—just make sure you practice the bathroom phrases enough until they roll off your tongue. Plus, this extra practice will definitely boost your confidence when the time comes that you actually have to ask where the toilet is.
2. Record the phrases on your phone.
These are a couple of reasons why these voice recordings will come in handy.
Firstly, it will allow you to compare your own pronunciation to that of a native speaker. This is also ideal for those who don’t have access to or feel intimidated by native feedback since this allows you to adjust your accent and pronunciation without any added pressure. Plus, these voice notes will be readily available whenever you need to practice.
Secondly, these recordings can be played as a last resort, in case the locals have trouble interpreting what you’re trying to say.
3. Find examples of how these phrases are used in real contexts.
If you want to get a feel of how these phrases would be incorporated in a dialogue, it’s highly recommended that you watch and listen to native conversations. That way, nothing gets lost in translation, and you also learn additional vocabulary associated with bathroom phrases, such as directions, saying “please” and “thank you” and much more.
Tutors and language exchange partners can offer guidance on such conversations, but you can also easily find authentic examples online. FluentU is one tool that can give you that insight.
FluentU is an educational app full of foreign language media clips so you can learn how your target language is spoken in real life.
Plug the phrases above into the search bar to find all types of videos that feature them. These clips also contain interactive subtitles that display definitions, example sentences, images and related videos for more contextual information. You can also add words to a custom vocab list or flashcard deck and take personalized quizzes.
So be prepared. Know before you go.
Don’t let a trip to the bathroom ruin your day or stall your language confidence.
With these helpful phrases, you’ll be ready whenever and wherever you need to go.
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
