Pter  [More info] I would like to know which word is used more frequently.  Are there any differences between British and American usage?  Are there any situations that any of the above is inappropriate? Thanks. Pter Joined on Wed, Nov 28 2007 Regular Member 566

	+1 Doll  [More info] This has been discussed before please search it on the right above. Doll Joined on Sat, Mar 10 2007 Senior Member 2,888

	+1 Feebs11  [More info]  In British use, we would use "toilet/bathroom/loo". [I take it you are asking about a room with only a wc and possibly a basin?].Quite generally in restaurants and other public places, the question is "Where is the ladies'?" or "Where is the gents'?" - the word "toilets" is understood but usually omitted.   Water closet is never used, except in technical description. Restrooms in the UK are places we go to sit and rest.  We do not use the term "washroom". Feebs11 Joined on Thu, Nov 23 2006 UK Veteran Member 5,006

	+1 Yoong Liat  [More info] Bathroom (especially AmE) is what is in BrE, toilet or lavatory. A restroom or rest room is AmE.  In BrE,  toilet is usually used. Washroom US OLD-FASHIONED FOR TOILET Water closet UK OLD-FASHIONED FOR  WC. WC --  UK FOR  water closet: a toilet or a room containing a toilet. Yoong Liat Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006 Veteran Member 6,767

	+1 Grammar Geek  [More info] In the US, it's "bathroom" in a home and "restroom" in a public facilty (like a restaurant, etc.). In public, you also refer to the ladies' room or the men's room. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 22,009 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!

	+1 Yankee  [More info] A room in a home that has only a toilet and a sink (i.e. no bathtub or shower) might also be called a "powder room" (AmE).  Yankee Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006 Connecticut, USA Veteran Member 6,910 Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain

	+1 Grammar Geek  [More info] Oh yes - but I don't usually hear that except in a description of a house for sale. Amy, I have a split-level, and downstairs, the washer and dryer share the same room as the toilet and sink. But because of the location, it requires a pump of some sort under the toilet, so you have to actually climb up two steps to sit there. I call it "the Throne Roome" but alas, all you can survey as you view your realm is the washer and dryer. Grammar Geek

	+1 nona the brit  [More info] UK slang - bog, heads, jakes (but these are not very polite. There are worse names too but let's not go into those) pretty everyday - loo, ladies, gents, toilet - used a lot 20-odd years ago but starting to sound a bit coarse these days (and some people always found it awful) W.C - lav/lavvy - I don't hear these at all but I've heard that lav is preferred in posher circles than those I move in! I could be wrong/outdated on that. Bathroom - used sometimes in domestic settings. It sounds very silly to us to use it in contexts where there couldn't possibly be a bath/shower in the room, i.e in shopping centres. But actually I think this is increasing in use - an Americanism we are picking up. Slang for going to use the bathroom 'going to see a man about a dog' (usually men) 'going to powder my nose' (women) 'going to/need to spend a penny (women) These are not offensive, but are slangy (the dog one could be seen as rather coarse so watch the company when you use it). Again, there are some very coarse ones but I don't think you need to know those. nona the brit Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004 England Veteran Member 11,782 The name says it all.

	+1 Delmobile  [More info]  "Head" is okay if you're on a boat though, right? At least, that's what I've always heard from my AE friends who boat. I have one dear friend with the rather irritating habit of always calling it the head...as if he's SO used to being on a boat he just can't break that habit :)  Oh, and many AE speakers, in an excess of delicacy, refer to the "little girls'" or "little boys' " room, instead of ladies' or men's.    GG, I say powder room all the time. I thought "half-bath" was the real estate term.  Delmobile Joined on Wed, Jan 2 2008 Contributing Member 1,154