whats lavabo mean? dictionary is no help for me
what lavabo mean'
16 Answers
Lavabo, from the verb "lavar", was originally intended to be a washbasin or something upon which you could wash your hands and face (i.e. an old washstand, a sink...), but this particular word began to be used in Spain about a century and a half ago only, so it is no wonder Guillermo is not familiar with it and all its implications.
At some point, people started to use "lavabo" as an euphemism for "toilet", because toilets normally have a sink to wash yourself, so making reference to the sink in the toilet, one can avoid the word "toilet", with all the "dirty" connotations of the word. In Spain the word "toilet" is replaced every so many years with a new euphemism that makes the old one sound "less dirty". If I remember correctly, over 12 words for toilet have already been abandoned in favour of new "cleaner" ones... that will sound dirty or not very elegant sooner or later, if the trend continues.
I don't know in Colombia, but in Argentina we use "lavatorio". We know what "lavabo" is, but it will sound odd there.
Natasha said:
harold masmela said:
:
It correct, lavabo means Sink but usually this word is used in rural areas, like country or farms
They used lavabo in the "Mi Vida Loca" lessons (set in Spain) for a sink in a hotel bathroom.What word do you commonly use for bathroom sink in Colombia?
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James Santiago is right i don't use the terms washbasin, washroom, or lavatory. The Dictionary would have been a help if it just said "BATHROOM SINK". That's the kind of english i use
Lavavajillas in Spain is a dish washer, You can hear, lavaplatos or friegaplatos.Nati
WE use the word pila for kitchen sink. In the bathroom: lavabo
También fregadero:
fregadero.
1. m. Pila de fregar
lavabo.
1. m. Pila con grifos y otros accesorios que se utiliza para lavarse.
In some countries, lavaplatos does mean kitchen sink, but in others it means a dishwasher.
Not where I lived in Texas, but who knows . . .
James Santiago said:
Gwenerfresh said:
Washbasin
Do people really use this word in Texas? Here in California, a washbasin is an antique ceramic bowl, the kind people used to use to wash their hands and faces before indoor plumbing was common.
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I thought kitchen sink was el lavaplatos (sigh)
James Santiago said:
Eddy wrote: I don't understand why the dictionary is no help. I went to our dictionary and there it was in all its glory.
Except that it doesn't give the one term we use where I live: bathroom sink.
I used "bathroom" above because I believe a kitchen sink is called a fregadero.
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Eddy wrote:
I don't understand why the dictionary is no help. I went to our dictionary and there it was in all its glory.
Except that it doesn't give the one term we use where I live: bathroom sink.
I used "bathroom" above because I believe a kitchen sink is called a fregadero.
Gwenerfresh said:
Washbasin
Do people really use this word in Texas? Here in California, a washbasin is an antique ceramic bowl, the kind people used to use to wash their hands and faces before indoor plumbing was common.
Hi The Man
I don't understand why the dictionary is no help. I went to our dictionary and there it was in all its glory.
- A washbasin (lavamanos); washstand (con soporte); washroom (cuarto de aseo). (m)
- (Rel.) Lavabo (lavatorio). (m)
- The napkin on which the priest dries his hands after washing. (m)
- Lavatory, toilet (retrete). (m)
You would obviously have to supply some context to make sure the correct translation was applied.
Washbasin
harold masmela said:
:
It correct, lavabo means Sink but usually this word is used in rural areas, like country or farms
They used lavabo in the "Mi Vida Loca" lessons (set in Spain) for a sink in a hotel bathroom.
What word do you commonly use for bathroom sink in Colombia'
Why is the dictionary no help for you?
It correct, lavabo means Sink but usually this word is used in rural areas, like country or farms
Yeah, it means "sink" as in the bathroom sink. Or washbowl.
