Hacer de baño/Going to the bathroom

Question

I have heard "hacer de baño" and "hacer el baño", referring to what one actually does in the bathroom.

Are both correct? Is it regional? Any reference resources?

If "hacer el baño" is not correct here, how would you translate that? Or is it just an incorrect expression?

Thanks.

He escuchado las expresiones "hacer de baño" and "hacer el baño", referiéndose a lo que hace uno en la taza del baño.

¿Ambas son correctas? ¿Son regionalismos? ¿Hay referencias de diccionario, etc.?

Si "hacer el baño" no es correcto, ¿cómo se traduce esa expresión?

Gracias

Answer 1

En realidad se dice "hacer del baño"(no "de baño" ni "el baño")y es de lo más común en México. También se dice "hacer del dos" (pooh) y "hacer del uno" (pee).

Sugiero que aparten todos estos posts sobre el español de España y el de Latinoamerica a su respectivo hilo.

Answer 2

If they are regional expressions they still sound very strange to me. As a matter of fact I've never heard of such expressions.

'(Yo) tengo que ir al baño.'---|"I have to go to the bathroom." is commonly used.

You can also say: "Me voy a dar un baño.", meaning, "I'm going to take a bath."---|"Me voy a dar una ducha." or "Me voy a duchar." means, "I'm going to take a shower." or "I'm going to shower."

These expressions are mostly used in Latin America. Wait around for the European versions.

Answer 3

Muchas gracias, Robert.

Actualicé mi pregunta para hacerla más específica. ÿstas son expresiones que he escuchado, principalmente de personas Mexicanas, para referir a los funciones corporales que uno hace en la taza del baño.

Mi duda es de la segunda, que acabo de enfrentar hoy, la cual dudo que sea correcta. Y mi pregunta sería entonces, ¿cómo se traduce "hacer el baño" en este contexto?

Otra vez más, Gracias.

Answer 4

Hola rrocco, en España si dices: voy a hacer el baño, se cree que vas a limpiarlo (!!). No se entendería eso que dices. Debe ser regional si acaso.

Answer 5

You can also say: "Me voy a dar un baño.", meaning, "I'm going to take a bath."---|"Me voy a dar una ducha." or "Me voy a duchar." means, "I'm going to take a shower." or "I'm going to shower."

These expressions are mostly used in Latin America. Wait around for the European versions.

It doesn't make much sense to talk about Latin America as if the entire continent has one unified standard Spanish which completely differs from that of Spain, and assume that if someone from Latin America says things one way, all the rest will say it the same way, and Spain differently, by default. There are notable differences between Latin American countries too, especially in colloquialism. In any case, all the above sentences are perfectly standard, so it is to be expected that people from all countries -yes, included Spain- to use them (I've certainly used them all many times in my life).

To me, "hacer de baño" is what builders do when they are constructing a house.

Answer 6

You can also say: "Me voy a dar un baño.", meaning, "I'm going to take a bath."---|"Me voy a dar una ducha." or "Me voy a duchar." means, "I'm going to take a shower." or "I'm going to shower."

These expressions are mostly used in Latin America. Wait around for the European versions.

It is quite absurd to talk about Latin America as if the entire continent has one unified standard Spanish which completely differs from that of Spain, and assume that if someone from Latin America says things one way, all the rest will say it the same way, and Spain differently, by default. There are notable differences between Latin American countries too, especially in colloquialism. In any case, all the above sentences are perfectly standard, so it is to be expected that people from all countries -yes, included Spain- to use them (I've certainly used them all many times in my life).

To me, "hacer de baño" is what builders do when they are constructing a house.

I was not born yesterday Lazarus. I know there are other expressions that are used throughout Latin America that I have never heard of. I was merely citing basic expressions that I know are widely used and understood in any Spanish speaking country in this hemisphere. When I mentioned Europe I figured you and Heidita might be able to add to the post with different examples. I wouldn't call someone else's opinion absurd. Don't bother responding to this post. I don't really care. No wonder James doesn't come around here anymore.

Answer 7

No wonder James doesn't come around here anymore.

James did not leave because of me. Actually, we are still in touch.

I've replaced the "absurd" remark for "doesn't make much sense", which is what I meant to say, not to insult you. Sorry if I offended you. I was referring to this habit in general of unifying the entire Latin America against Spain, and not just to yours.

Answer 8

You really have a pair mister. How do you know I "have a habit of unifying"? Think before you pass judgment on other people. Because you've got bigotry in your mind doesn't mean that everybody else does.

unifying the entire Latin America against Spain, and not just to yours.

Let me ask you something? How old are you'

Answer 9

I was referring to this habit in general of unifying the entire Latin America against Spain

I think you are missing a subtle thing here, Lazarus. Certainly there is no such thing as a unified Latin American Spanish (is there such a thing as a unified Iberian Spanish, by the way'), but there definitely is a somewhat unified Latin American culture which is often at odds with Spanish culture. Quite possibly Latin Americans like to think their Spanish is distinct from that of Spain because of this common cultural bond.

I'm also starting to get the feeling that there is some historical animosity between Hispanic Latin America and Spain. I felt a lot of that in Mexico and was surprised by it, since we Brazilians are in quite good terms with the Portuguese.

Last, Robert, sorry to say it but I think you're overreacting to Lazarus' comments. I know, he comes off as a bit smug sometimes, but I don't think he means what you think he is saying.

Answer 10

You really have a pair mister. How do you know I "have a habit of unifying"? Think before you pass judgment on other people. Because you've got bigotry in your mind doesn't mean that everybody else does.

unifying the entire Latin America against Spain, and not just to yours.

Let me ask you something? How old are you?
Note: Lazarus did not say "your habit" he said "the habit". I wouldn't suggest that you are a "newbie" (since, if memory serves, you've been pretty active for several months, now). It is however, true, that there have been many discussions that tend to paint Latin American usage with a "broad" brush (as though Latin America were some sort of monolithic block of speakers whose Spanish differed in consistent [and readily identifiable ways] from the usage in Spain).

In reality the situation is much more complex. They're plenty of differences among the "flavors" of Spanish spoken in various countries in Latin America, just as there are among the various regions in Spain. The situation is really quite similar to that of English. Although one often hears references to the differences between BE and AmE, this is, in fact a gross oversimplification. There are quite distinct regional variations within American English and, if anything, even more differences among the regions of England (to say nothing of Scotland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica et al.).

Answer 11

I'm also starting to get the feeling that there is some historical animosity between Hispanic Latin America and Spain. I felt a lot of that in Mexico and was surprised by it, since we Brazilians are in quite good terms with the Portuguese.

Here in Ecuador the older generation are generally quite disposed towards Spain and the "Spanish" way of doing things. For example, they generally (!!!) think that Spanish Spanish is superior and represents the "correct" way of speaking. Some of the younger generation, however, have developed an attitude with regards to certain aspects of Spanish culture and don't agree with their antecedents.

All this having been said, the vast majority of Ecuadorians wanted Barcelona to beat Manchester United in the Champions league and are fervent supporters of Raphael Nadal in the tennis.

It is all a bit strange I suppose. The Latin connection, although a source of some resentment, is lauded when comparisons are made with other cultures.

Answer 12

That's what I'm talking about. It all sounds like it is a battle Latin America vs Spain to me. Spanish is very different in different parts of Spain, in terms of pronunciation (there is seseo and ceceo, for instance), vocabulary, expressions, and grammatical preferences. There is no reason to believe that Spanish is going to be perfectly uniform throughout Latin America. But even when if these differences are acknowledged, a lot of stressed is made in uniting somehow all these differences in Latin America, just to highlight how all these differences are close enough to one another if we compare them with the "much more different Spanish" in Spain. Then people start saying things like "In Latin America we say it this", implying that everybody in Latin America speaks the same kind of Spanish, or that the person who made such statement has actually travelled country by country, verifying that indeed they all speak that way, and of course, those arrogant ex-oppressors from Spain do not speak "like us". Dictionaries and textbooks help to perpetuate this dichotomy.

Some people actually tell me that Latin American Spanish is different, because we don't pronounce the z the way we do, ignoring that that pronunciation is the inheritance of the dialect from my city, Sevilla, from where all ships departed to America, spreading this pronunciation that still exists in the south of Spain. Differences between Spanish from Spain and Latin American Spanish? What part of Spain? What part of Latin America? Please, let's be serious...

And one last remark: take any formal or literary work from any country, and try to figure out where it was written, if you can. I have lots of books written by people from all parts of Latin America (and Spain, of course), and there is no way I can tell where the book was written without checking the details of the book. Same vocabulary, same grammar, same spelling, same everything! There is one educated standard Spanish that we all share, and countless varieties of spoken and colloquial Spanish all over the world. This fact should bring us all closer together, and not the opposite.

Answer 13

Robert and Lazarus, please don't think the worst of each other automatically.

robert, Lazarus had no intention of insulting you or anybody else and to suggest a certain member left because of another member is a very unfriendly remark. And if that were the case, it would be a very stupid thing to do , if you ask me.

Please note that Lazarus has apologized for his unhappy "absurd".

We often talk like this over here in Spain and we are often considered rude while we don't even know why. Latin Americans as a whole consider our talk: duro. We don't really understand why.

Answer 14

We often talk like this over here in Spain and we are often considered rude while we don't even know why. Latin Americans as a whole consider our talk: duro. We don't really understand why.

I have had so many problems with my so-called rudeness here in Ecuador. I don't consider myself rude but I am definitely direct and frankly I would say that the people I deal with are very bad at taking criticism and are always getting offended with me. I have changed the way I deal with people (to a certain extent) but feel that however long I remain here I will always have this problem.

P.s. Heidita, is that a picture of you or Heidi Klum'

Answer 15

I have had so many problems with my so-called rudeness here in Ecuador. I don't consider myself rude but I am definitely direct and frankly I would say that the people I deal with are very bad at taking criticism and are always getting offended with me. I have changed the way I deal with people (to a certain extent) but feel that however long I remain here I will always have this problem.

this is true, Robert, we have a lot of problems with latins who live in this country and think we are too frank, which is considered rude.

P.s. Heidita, is that a picture of you or Heidi Klum?

But Robert, I don't know why you are doubting....ask anybody here, this is of course....ME!!!