Toilet? Loo? Dunny? Washroom? What do you call it?
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
Perth, Australia
January 5, 2023 7:55am CST
A lot of Australians call the toilet a "Dunny." I can't say I've ever called it that. Though I'm an Aussie, I don't really speak much of the Aussie lingo / slang.
What I call it varies. Depends on who I'm with and in what setting. If I'm more comfortable with someone, I usually say "I need to pee." But if not that comfortable, I say "I'm going to the toilet." or "I'm going to the bathroom."
Toilet, bathroom, loo, dunny, washroom, lavatory, crapper ( 
) etc.
So many to pick from!
What do you personally call it? What's the most common term where you're from? And does the word change depending where you are or who you're with? Is there one you prefer not to say or hear because it's deemed inappropriate?
I personally don't care when people announce they need to go or how they say it. I just don't want to know the details is all.
) etc.
So many to pick from!
What do you personally call it? What's the most common term where you're from? And does the word change depending where you are or who you're with? Is there one you prefer not to say or hear because it's deemed inappropriate?
I personally don't care when people announce they need to go or how they say it. I just don't want to know the details is all.19 people like this
21 responses
@japanesesamurai (2196)
• Japan
5 Jan 23
we call it tearai in japan , translation is funny , it means hand washing place! pretty isnt it ?
i prefer washroom or bathroom when i am with foreigners!
3 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
5 Jan 23
@japanesesamurai That is so cool! I will probably not remember this but I've sure enjoyed learning this right now! Thank you so much for sharing. I think it's cute. 
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471500)
• Switzerland
9 Jan 23
@VivaLaDani13 
It's a nice way to tell where you go without having to say why you go, it could be to wash your hands.
It's a nice way to tell where you go without having to say why you go, it could be to wash your hands.1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Jan 23
@LadyDuck "vado in bagno" Reading it, it looks so nice to say. But I bet you I am saying it wrong in my head. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for sharing!1 person likes this
@maggiesunjuan (554)
• China
5 Jan 23
We call it tse soor or way shung jian in Chinese which means toilet or washroom. We also joke by saying wc which is said the hort form of water closet…
2 people like this
@maggiesunjuan (554)
• China
9 Jan 23
@VivaLaDani13 Well people all over the world have to answer the nature's call, so basically it's useful information
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Jan 23
@maggiesunjuan Awesome! Thank you so kindly for sharing. So interesting to learn anything from different parts of the world. Even if it is about toilets lol
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
10 Jan 23
@maggiesunjuan You are so right about that! Well said.
You are so right about that! Well said.1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Jan 23
@much2say That's right! And yeah I get you. Sometimes my brother likes to share. 
I don't like when he does that. 
That's right! And yeah I get you. Sometimes my brother likes to share. I don't like when he does that. 1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339946)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jan 23
@VivaLaDani13 I don't know that 'dunny' is impolite but growing up I wasn't encouraged to use it.
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Jan 23
@JudyEv ah ok sorry "Impolite" is not really the word I'm trying to use. I can't think of another word. I have rarely said "Dunny" so haven't really had the conversation before on whether or not it should or shouldn't be used. Interesting though!
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
6 Jan 23
@JudyEv I didn't really know Dunny was the more impolite way. I mostly hear of it being used more in the outback. I think the most "Aussie" I get is saying I've been bitten by a mozzie.
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
5 Jan 23
@MrDenata eww! Who even does that! 
I would do that with the water from the sink not the toilet bowl!
That caught me off guard!
I would do that with the water from the sink not the toilet bowl!
That caught me off guard! 2 people like this
@MrDenata (12248)
• Indonesia
5 Jan 23
@VivaLaDani13 i mean that, the sink in front of the toilet LOL
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jan 23
I mostly say bathroom, restroom or toilet. But over the years, I've heard it called many things. One of the interesting things about living in a state that is a high tourist destination, we get people from all over the world, so it's interesting to hear what people call it. But even most foreigners will still call it bathroom.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Jan 23
@VivaLaDani13 I love learning new words/phrases you speak in Australia. We both speak the same language, but have so many different terms for things. It’s very fascinating.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
18 Jan 23
@moffittjc Me too! It's really interesting. I have been speaking a lot to a friend over in England lately and there's quite a lot of words and phrases he says that I'm learning about. I'm still learning Aussie lingo lol
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Jan 23
@moffittjc So true. Even on here I've learned so many different words / phrases. Just interesting.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (10095)
• United States
5 Jan 23
I'm the same way. Depending on who I'm with is what I call it. The most used word for me is bathroom though. Doesn't seem appropriate though since I'm not going in to take a bath, but to pee. Why does pee sound so "OMG, you said pee!" to us. It's so normal.
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Jan 23
@noni1959 I agree with you! We ALL do it. Well said! 
1 person likes this
@florelway (23286)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
7 Jan 23
We call it rest room, comfort room here. Sometimes I call it bathroom or wash room.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Jan 23
@florelway Thank you kindly for sharing. It's all very interesting.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
10 Jan 23
@florelway Why the sad face? Are you alright?
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (56486)
• Philippines
17 Jan 23
We simply say may I use the CR for comfort room.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
18 Jan 23
@Nakitakona Awesome, thank you kindly for your response. All very interesting!
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (56486)
• Philippines
19 Jan 23
@VivaLaDani13 That sounds nice to hear. It's not vulgar.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37472)
•
24 Jan 23
In my own family and most people that I know, we say bathroom at home, but if we are out and about we say restroom.
In the Midwest I have heard every description there possibly is for this. (Some of them aren't classy or nice, either one! ) I've heard, I need to use the can, where's the John? Take a leak. The one I truly cringe over is when someone says they are going to the cra*per. Or that they need to take a dump.
Sorry, I didn't mean to get too graphic. This is a pet peeve of mine, that some people are just kind of...well, crude about it.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
24 Jan 23
@MarieCoyle You're all good I promise. I have heard all of those too. I can understand it being a pet peeve of yours. Thank you kindly for sharing. 
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
26 Jan 23
@MarieCoyle An old fashioned way of thinking is often really nice! There's lots of things that are now old fashioned that I wished was more common again. So I get what you mean. And I don't believe you are a prude. It's really all about preference of how you see things or what you'd rather hear or not hear if that makes sense.
@MarieCoyle (37472)
•
24 Jan 23
@VivaLaDani13
I honestly knew when I wrote that, I felt I sounded just like some old prude, which I am not. I just think some people could show a bit of class at times, if that's the right word to use. I do know I am old fashioned in some of my thinking and doing. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@Treborika (17677)
• Mombasa, Kenya
7 Jan 23
I just call it toilet always whenever, I am with whoever I am with
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Jan 23
@Treborika Awesome, nice and easy. Thank you for sharing!
1 person likes this
@Treborika (17677)
• Mombasa, Kenya
9 Jan 23
@VivaLaDani13 You are welcome my dear friend
1 person likes this
@Treborika (17677)
• Mombasa, Kenya
23 Jan 23
I would like to call it with the common name that I am used to regardless with the person I am with
1 person likes this
@Treborika (17677)
• Mombasa, Kenya
24 Jan 23
@VivaLaDani13 Thanks for the kind response
1 person likes this
@2ndchances24 (8929)
• Cloverdale, Indiana
11 Apr
We don't have a lot of people we visit or associate with
so we just call it the potty room.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
11 Apr
@2ndchances24 Potty room is a good one!
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
13 Apr
@2ndchances24 I don't know if I've heard that before.
1 person likes this
@2ndchances24 (8929)
• Cloverdale, Indiana
12 Apr
@VivaLaDani13 Or what men say the JOHNNY on the spot.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
26 Jan 23
@Marilynda1225 Awesome. Thank you kindly for your answer!
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38219)
• Philippines
10 Jan 23
@VivaLaDani13 comfort room but it’s too long so we say CR
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
11 Jan 23
@sol_cee ah ok got ya. Thank you so much for explaining.
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
10 Jan 23
@sol_cee I feel like I've heard that before but not too sure. What does it stand for?
1 person likes this
@Chellezhere (5738)
• United States
8 Jan 23
In no particular order:
1. the toilet
2. the washroom
3. the library
4. the bathroom
5. the restroom
6. the loo
7. the lavatory
8. the crapper
9. the throne room
10. the latrine
11. the pot (or potty)
12. the can
13. the little girls'/boys' room
14. The ladies'/mens' room
15. the John
16. the privy
17. the commode
Some people also say, "I am going to go pay my water bill," when referring to their need to use the toilet. Others say "dropping the kids off at the pool" when they need to defecate.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Jan 23
@Chellezhere There's some on that list I've not heard before but "I am going to go pay my water bill" really made me laugh. Not heard that before! Thank you kindly for taking the time to share all that!
1 person likes this
@Chellezhere (5738)
• United States
9 Jan 23
@VivaLaDani13 You're welcome. I was in my forties before I ever heard it, and I have only ever heard one person say it, but thought it was a good cover-up for what she was about to do. Oh, and I thought of another: "dropping the kids off at the pool." That's when you have to defecate.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
11 Jan 23
@nela13 aw you're sweet. How nice, thank you so much for sharing. The way it's typed sounds nice. I'm not sure how to say it though.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (58669)
• Portugal
12 Jan 23
@VivaLaDani13 portuguese is not an easy language.
portuguese is not an easy language.1 person likes this
@merrybelle2021 (1393)
• Philippines
8 Jan 23
Growing up, we said banyo, kubeta, kasilyas (in our parent's dialect) and still do. But now, the media uses palikuran.
Outside the home, it's CR (comfort room), toilet, ladies' room, men's room, restroom, washroom.
I've read that in other countries, it's WC, water closet.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Jan 23
@merrybelle2021 Cool! So interesting to know these words from a different place. Thank you so much for sharing!
1 person likes this
@Treborika (17677)
• Mombasa, Kenya
26 Jan 23
It's my hope that you are very fine and you are enjoying your day here
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
26 Jan 23
@Treborika Thank you. Same to you!
1 person likes this
