What is a bathroom in France?
Bathroom (salle de bain) in France refers to a room containing a bath. If you want to ask if you can go to the toilet, you should ask “Puis-je aller au toilette ?” or “Puis-je aller au WC ?”
Do Canadians say bathroom or washroom?
I've always been confused by the terms washroom, restroom, bathroom, lavatory, toilet and toilet room. My impression is that Canadians would rather say washroom while Americans would probably say bathroom or Saint John's in the same situation.
Why can't you say'where is the bathroom'in French?
Because on top of possibly sounding impolite in French, you could also end up sounding totally ridiculous. If you want to ask, "Where is the bathroom," and you go for a literal translation, you'd ask, " Où est la salle de bains "?
What is the difference between a bathroom and a girlfriend in Canada?
In Canadian French, both are: ‘bec’ A bathroom is ‘une toilette’ in France. In Canada you could hear the word ‘bécosse’ and have no idea what is being said. It’s a deformation of the English: ‘backhouse’. A girlfriend in France is ‘copine’ or ‘petite amie’. In Canada it’s common to say: ‘ma blonde’ even if your girlfriend isn’t blonde at all.
How do you ask to go to the bathroom in French Canadian?
0:141:04How to Ask For The Bathroom in French - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAussant ce n'est pas la.MoreAussant ce n'est pas la.
What is restroom called in Canada?
WashroomWashroom: a polite word for bathroom. The Canadian version of “restroom.”
What do the French call a toilet room?
So, what are the various bathroom equivalents in French and English? Les toilettes, also known in French slang as les chiottes, are most frequently found in a dedicated room called le WC. Alternatively, le cabinet de toilette.
Do only Canadians say bathroom?
"Washroom" is basically the Canadian version of "restroom."
Where do they say washroom?
American English uses washroom for public convenience facility in commercial and public places. The term bathroom is used for smaller and residential facility. Washroom continues to be used to denote public convenience in Chicago and Canada. In the US utility rooms are also known as washrooms.
Where is the toilet in France?
Imagine the surprise of your host when you ask what will sound to them like: “where can I take a bath?”… The correct question is: “où sont les toilettes”. Note that the toilet is plural in French. Ask “où sont les toilettes” – not for la salle de bain…
How do I ask for a bathroom?
You simply say, “Excuse me, I need to goto the restroom.”, or, “Excuse me, I need to goto the bathroom.”, or, “Excuse me, can I use your restroom?”, or, “Pardon me, is there a bathroom nearby?” (like in a store you might use this one).
How do you ask to go to the bathroom?
Ask to use the bathroom.Raise your hand, wait patiently to be called on, and ask for permission to use the restroom. "May I please go to the restroom, Mr./Mrs/Ms. ... Raise your hand with the special signal (perhaps crossed fingers) and patiently wait for a response.
Without Making a Faux Pas
Camille is a teacher and author of many French audiobooks and audio lessons on modern spoken French. She co-created and runs French Today, offering original audio for adult students.
At a Dinner Party, Be Discreet
If you've gone to this house for a dinner party, keep in mind that you are not supposed to leave the dinner table...and dinner may last for hours. If you absolutely have to use the bathroom, time your exit well, for example, not just before a new course is brought in.
At a Restaurant or Café, Be Polite and Use 'Vous'
If you're in a restaurant or a café, it's the same question. You will, of course, be using vous: Où sont les toilettes, s'il vous plaît? In big cities, you often need to be a customer to use the restroom.
What is a kiss in French?
In French, kissing or a kiss is: ‘baiser’ or ‘bise’ (bisou). In Canadian French, both are: ‘bec’. A bathroom is ‘une toilette’ in France. In Canada you could hear the word ‘bécosse’ and have no idea what is being said. It’s a deformation of the English: ‘backhouse’. A girlfriend in France is ‘copine’ or ‘petite amie’.
Is Canadian French pronounced pompous?
When you learn Canadian French, you’ll notice that they also seem to swallow words or parti al words that in Metropolitan French are indeed supposed to be pronounced. This is also partially the reason why Continental French is often seen as a bit stuck up or pompous in Canada.
Is Canadian French more formal than Metropolitan French?
In a sense, Canadian French is more traditional, for instance when it comes to grammar and idiom, whereas Metropolitan French is more formal. This is noticeable especially in pronunciation. In fact, visitors to Canada who did not learn Canadian French first, often find that Canadians consider Metropolitan French to be quite pompous.
Why do we say "bathroom"?
In the US we typically say "bathroom" for the room in our home that contains the toilet. When in public and trying to be polite we ask directions to the "restroom". Indeed, most signs in restaurants, bars and airports will use the word "Restrooms" to direct people to the toilet.
What is the toilet?
It previously was used to refer to the early morning routine of preparing for the day by washing, combing hair and applying various potions. So far as I know it did not include defecation and was therefore a perfectly innocuous and polite subject for general conversation. It can be startling to read the word when used in that sense in older books or artworks.
What is the difference between toilet and lavatory?
toilet - a euphemism based on a woman's morning ritual, then applied to the room and now to both the room and the bowl. lavatory - means wash room and is a euphemism. loo - from the French for l'eau (water) and is essentially a room with water, a euphemism.
What is a WC?
WC or water closet - a room provided with a water source, then applied to the actual apparatus. bathroom - a room with a bath in the whole world except North America where it now doesn't need a bath and is used as a euphemism so that Americans don't have to use another euphemism like toilet or lavatory.
What is a latrine in the military?
latrines - simple toilet especially in the military, often temporary and little more than a hole with a board above it. Now often used by the Army as a general term. Then you have the more vulgar, of varying vulgarity, terms such as dunny, bog, john, can, and even more vulgar cr pper, sh thouse etc.
What is the worst thing you can do in the restroom?
The worst thing you can possibly do in a public restroom is cause a blockage. No one wants to be that person. And some countries do not have systems that can break down toilet paper easily, so it’s customary not to flush.
Why do people squat in the toilet?
Squatting to use the restroom has been shown to be healthier and more natural for the body, which might be why some countries use in-ground toilets with steps on each side to place your feet. If there is a pedal to start running water or a bucket to wash down any waste, be sure to use it.
Where is the bidet most popular?
Some places where the bidet is most popular include Italy and Portugal, Japan, Argentina, and Venezuela.
1- Don’T Ask For The Bathroom in French to Avoid An Embarrassing Mistake!
2 – Using The Toilet in A French Café
- If you are visiting France and need to use the restroom, the easiest thing to do is to step in a coffee shop. Just ask: “est-ce que je peux utiliser vos toilettes s’il vous plaît” (may I use your restroom) with a smile, and it should be no problem. If it’s a big and busyParisian café, just get in and open your eyes for a staircase – toilets are often located one floor down or one floor up. Do…
3 – Asking to Use The Restroom in A Restaurant in France
- If you are with company in a restaurant in France and need to use the bathroom, first excuse yourself from the table. Just say to the people with you “Veuillez m’excusez” (more formal), or just “Excusez-moi.” Then get up (you don’t need to say where you are going) and go towards an employee, and ask: “Où sont les toilettes s’il vous plaît”. Easy enough.
4 – Asking For The Toilet in A French House
- If you get invited to someone’s house, it’s a bit more complicated. In the best-case scenario, the hostess will volunteer the info when she takes your coat or accompanies you to the living room. She’ll say something like: “Les toilettes sont à gauche” (“The rest room is on the left”) and you should memorize the door. If she doesn’t, then wait for her to get up, follow her (but not into the …
5 – Using The Public Restroom in France – Watch Out!!!
- In major cities, you’ll also have what is called “une sanisette”, an automated public restroom (featured on the main picture of this article). You need to pay to get in. It’s usually relatively clean. The instructions are easy enough, it’s not rocket science. However, one word of caution: these toilets “self clean” – meaning the entire room will get cleaned automatically after you exit and lo…
6 – What About “Les Urinoirs” in France?
- Urinals are extremely common in public toilets in France (as in a highway rest area, a restaurant, a movie theater…). And not discreet at all. French womenand kids often have to walk in front of a row of urinals to access the stalls. Or the sinks… How charming.
7 – What Is “Une Dame Pipi”?
- “Une dame pipi” is a very old but still used name for a bathroom attendant. There is another term ” un /une employé(e) sanitaire” but really, nobody uses it. I’ve even asked a “dame pipi” to check, and she said she called herself “une dame pipi”. They are still quite numerous in France, believe it or not. If there is one, you need to leave a tip – sometimes a certain sum is mandatory (such as i…
8 – What Are These Buttons on The Top of A French Loo ?
- The French toilets are now equipped with 2 buttons: they will control the amount of water flushed. So press the small one when you went number one, the bigger one for “la grosse commission” (French expression to say poop). In old houses however, there still may be a tank flush, with a handle hanging from it – you need to pull on it rather strongly – without breaking it though…
9 – What Is A Bidet ?
- In older houses or elegant hotels (well, now elegant hotels… before very low class hotels…) you had what is called “un bidet”. It’s a very small tub. You sit on it, facing whatever part you want to wash to the water, and can wash your privates (or your feet) quite easily this way. It’s quite practical actually.
10 – No Hand Shower on French Toilets
- Unlike in many countries in the world, French toilets are not equipped with a small hand shower. Nor do we have intelligent Japanese like stalls. I guess the loo is still quite classical in France.