inodoro

Question

Need to know if there is a better word to describe a toilet... as I'm being told it is a inodoro but I was told it was either "baño" or "lavatorio"

Answer 1

This is the problem with euphemisms. You start using a word for toilet, and sooner or later, people try to sound less direct and to avoid mentioning the word that reminds them of the dirty stuff going on there, so they come up with a new word, which, for some time, sounds more acceptable... only to be replaced by another one again, and again.

Starting with "letrina", then "necesarias", "común", "excusado", "retrete", "inodoro", "(cuarto de) baño", "lavabo", "aseo", "servicios", "váter" (water-closet)... and many others.

Coming up with new words to say the same "better" is very fashionable nowadays.

Answer 2

Yes, even the question is confusing. In America, "toilet" always means the actual toilet that you use, as in, "Please flush the toilet." You would never say "Where is the toilet'" -- but instead "Where is the bathroom'" or "Where is the restroom'"

My mom is from the country and she says "pot" or "commode" when she means the toilet. Needless to say, this can be a little confusing to the rest of us . . .

However, it's my understanding (please feel free to correct) that in Britain it would be quite natural to ask, "Where is the toilet'"

In the BBC Spanish lessons, they say "¿Donde está el servicio'" to ask this. However, they use a different word rather than "inódoro" for the actual toilet. (I'm going to have to go look this up.) It appears that this is yet another example of usage varying by country. Personally, I would like to know the best Mexican usage . . . can anyone help'

Answer 3

TimEivissa said:

In England asking for anything except "The toilet/s" would get you some very strange looks!With the exception,maybe,of the lavatory but that's a very old fashioned word.

I thought you Brits called it the loo. Is that no longer true?

In the US, toilet is the only word for the fixture, and while it can also be used for the room, it has a somewhat crude sound to it, and wouldn't be appropriate in formal contexts.

We also use "go to the bathroom" as a euphemism for urinate or defecate. I remember as a little boy, standing in our bathroom and telling my dad to hurry up, because "I have to go to the bathroom!," to which he replied, "But you're already in the bathroom." The irony was lost on my young brain and full bladder at the time.

Answer 4

I am actually looking for something else and came across this. I had the same question a while back when I was looking for the specific word for the actual toilet fixture.

At that time, no one that I knew seemed to know the word for the specific fixture. That's one of the problems in Southern California where "Spanglish" is the lingua franca. We have a kind of "creole" in which words for particular things, like "el inodoro," "el lavabo," la bañera (or "tina") and "la ducha," get lost in the general concept of the room, "el baño" or "el cuarto de baño," where we find them.

People kept saying that the room and the fixture are both "el baño." I had heard "inodoro" somewhere but wasn't sure anyone actually used the word until I was walking through Lowes (or Home Depot) and there is was, right in the plumbing section: "Inodoros"! If it's in Home Depot, it's settled!

Answer 5

Yes! That's the word
Inodoro (m) - Toilet

Inodoro químico - Chemical toilet

It is also an andjective and means odourless or odorless

Answer 6

Thanks

Answer 7

I would just say
¿Dónde está el baño? o
Voy al baño.
I don't think I need to be too specific.

Answer 8

I don't understand how Inodoro can mean both Toilet and Odourless as in my experience most toilets are anything but odourless.

• ;) my vote - territurtle Nov 30, 2011

Answer 9

Natasha said:

Yes, even the question is confusing. In America, "toilet" always means the actual toilet that you use, as in, "Please flush the toilet." You would never say "Where is the toilet'" -- but instead "Where is the bathroom'" or "Where is the restroom'"My mom is from the country and she says "pot" or "commode" when she means the toilet. Needless to say, this can be a little confusing to the rest of us . . .However, it's my understanding (please feel free to correct) that in Britain it would be quite natural to ask, "Where is the toilet'"In the BBC Spanish lessons, they say "¿Donde está el servicio'" to ask this. However, they use a different word rather than "inódoro" for the actual toilet. (I'm going to have to go look this up.) It appears that this is yet another example of usage varying by country. Personally, I would like to know the best Mexican usage . . . can anyone help?

Hi Natasha
You are quite right. We would say where is the toilet. However, the first time I was in America, I could never understand why the restrooms never had any settees or sofas in them. Plenty of "seats" but none to take a "rest" on. Plus the fact, A bathroom is where we take a bath.

Answer 10

Eddy said:

Hi Natasha

You are quite right. We would say where is the toilet. However, the first time I was in America, I could never understand why the restrooms never had any settees or sofas in them. Plenty of "seats" but none to take a "rest" on. Plus the fact, A bathroom is where we take a bath.

Hahahaha! Good one, Eddy!

Answer 11

Eddy said:

Natasha said:

Yes, even the question is confusing. In America, "toilet" always means the actual toilet that you use, as in, "Please flush the toilet." You would never say "Where is the toilet'" -- but instead "Where is the bathroom'" or "Where is the restroom'"My mom is from the country and she says "pot" or "commode" when she means the toilet. Needless to say, this can be a little confusing to the rest of us . . .However, it's my understanding (please feel free to correct) that in Britain it would be quite natural to ask, "Where is the toilet'"In the BBC Spanish lessons, they say "¿Donde está el servicio'" to ask this. However, they use a different word rather than "inódoro" for the actual toilet. (I'm going to have to go look this up.) It appears that this is yet another example of usage varying by country. Personally, I would like to know the best Mexican usage . . . can anyone help?

Hi NatashaYou are quite right. We would say where is the toilet. However, the first time I was in America, I could never understand why the restrooms never had any settees or sofas in them. Plenty of "seats" but none to take a "rest" on. Plus the fact, A bathroom is where we take a bath.

Jeje. I suppose the "rest areas" along the highway were even more confusing!

• I know! Isn't English just a hoot?! - Neffgirl Jun 17, 2010

Answer 12

In the USA we have Ladies & Gentlemen on the doors. I don't know where that leaves the rest of us.

Answer 13

I see that CrazyKit is from Canada, so it's unclear whether she meant the room or the porcelain fixture when she said "a toilet." But my impression is the latter. Given that, "baño" is definitely incorrect.

A toilet, I believe, is called a váter or inodoro. But like words for the room, usage probably varies from country to country.

Answer 14

No one has offered "excusado", but I'm sure I saw this on a sign in Yucatan asking you not to throw things in the toilet. (The appliance, not the room ).

Answer 15

Ask for the bathroom, toilet, ladies, the loo, and to spend a penny... yes that is old fashioned!

And to continue Eddies theme, I once overheard two Canadian girls at a festival saying they needed to go to the restroom... it was the first time I'd heard the expression and and being rather tired and overworked and on a short break I decided to follow them to this illusive place... how could I have missed that? Laugh at my disappointment when they ended up queuing for the portaloo cubicles... yuck!

A year or 2 later I did actually encounter one of these blue plastic things which had 2 real seats as well as the serviceable one, presumably so you could wait for your mates or maybe a mum with young children in tow... but why anyone would want to spend more time than absolutely necessary in one of these beats me.....