Baño or Baños?

Question

Hola! I am travelling in South America and try to learn spanish meanwhile. Sometimes I see signs that says Baño and sometimes Baños. When should I use the plural form and when the singular form? Muchas gracias and sorry for my broken english

Answer 1

Hmm, I don't know exactly where in South America you're traveling, but if you happen to be in Ecuador some of the signs that read "Baños" may refer to either of two towns by that name. When you're talking about bathrooms, I would think you'd use "baño" when you mean one bathroom and "baños" when you mean more than one.

You didn't ask for corrections to your Engish, so I hope the following minor edits are not unwelcome: I am traveling . . . and try ing to learn S panish (names of languages are capitalized in English). . . . Sometimes I see signs that say. . . .

(Sorry about the confusing spaces in the words I edited. Other people seem to be able to make a part of a word bold, but it doesn't work when I try to do it, so I have to insert a space.)

Have a vote as well. :) - bosquederoble, Feb 6, 2017

Thank you for the corrections in English :) - Shaq1234, Feb 6, 2017

You are most welcome, Shaq. - AnnRon, Feb 6, 2017

I didn't get it yet. When I am in a restaurante and want to ask where are the bathrooms, shold it be baño or baños? Idont know if they have only one bathroom or more - Shaq1234, Feb 6, 2017

I don't think they're going to be that picky, Shaq. If you're asking for both you and a dinner companion of the opposite sex, say "baños." Otherwise just say whichever happens to come to mind. Do remember to use "está" if you use "baño" and "están" if ... - AnnRon, Feb 6, 2017

...you use "baños." - AnnRon, Feb 6, 2017

Answer 2

In Spain you can ask for the "baño" or "baños" equally. I think that it is not necessary to choose one of them: you can use the one you like more.

On the other hand, in Spain most of the people (included me) don't ask for the "baño/s" but the "servicio/s":

Please, where is the toilet?

Por favor, ¿donde está el (los) baño (baños)?

or

Por favor, ¿donde está el (los) servicio (servicios)?

'indifferently' has many different meanings - equally may be cleaer. On the other hand or by the way. - Mardle, Feb 6, 2017

Answer 3

Baños is plural, baño is singular.

¿Dónde están los baños? Where are the bathrooms.

¿Dónde está el baño? Where is the bathroom.

Some places have a men's and women's next to each other.

I normally ask where is the bathroom, unless I am asking to find one for myself and my wife, in a place I expect separate ones, as they are not always next to each other, although usually they are so. But in many cases they ask for the same information in essence.

You beat me by one second! Have a vote for extraordinary speed. :-) - AnnRon, Feb 6, 2017

In most places, the men's room is usually labeled "caballeros" and the ladies' is "damas." - Daniela2041, Feb 6, 2017