If so, you\u2019re not alone as people around the world are trying to unravel<\/p>\n
the mystery of the WC, a space that identifies a room containing a toilet and a sink.<\/p>\n
And while we\u2019ll offer you an explanation of the WC, we can\u2019t promise<\/p>\n
the term will make anymore sense than restroom, bathroom or loo\u2026<\/p>\n
In 2020, a couple named Shelby and Dylan shared a TikTok video that<\/p>\n
revealed a major difference in how some Americans and Canadians do their business.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat in the world is a washroom?\u201d asks Dylan as he walks by sign that says \u201cwashroom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what are they washing in there? Oh, it\u2019s a restroom. The only<\/p>\n
thing I wash in there is my hands,\u201d he tells his wife. Off-camera,<\/p>\n
Shelby can be heard asking: \u201cDo you rest in a restroom?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a good point. They both don\u2019t make much sense,\u201d Dylan adds.<\/p>\n
Online users jumped into the comments section, offering their opinions<\/p>\n
on the term they prefer to use for the sacred room. \u201cIt\u2019s called<\/p>\n
a bathroom, restroom, washroom and toilet,\u201d offers one user.<\/p>\n
A second follower said when they were visiting Disneyland, they<\/p>\n
\u201casked for the washroom\u201d and they \u201csent me to the laundromat!\u201d<\/p>\n
A third adds, \u201cWait \u2018til he finds out about water closets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Water closet
\nAccording to Mirriam Webster\u2019s Dictionary, \u201cwater closet\u201d is a noun<\/p>\n
that describes \u201ca compartment or room with a toilet\u201d or \u201ca toilet bowl and its accessories.\u201d<\/p>\n
Back in the day, when someone would use the bathroom, it was to take<\/p>\n
a bath. And when a person used a restroom, it was apparently to rest<\/p>\n
or get ready for the day by using the sink and mirror.<\/p>\n
Lastly, if you needed to go potty, you would use the toilet in the water closet.<\/p>\n
Depending on where you live in the world, the room that holds the porcelain<\/p>\n
throne goes by various names including the loo, restroom, bathroom, washroom, lavatory or WC.<\/p>\n
In modern days, you\u2019ll often see signage indicating WC in public spaces like airports,<\/p>\n
restaurants, or hotels. It\u2019s just another way of saying \u201crestroom\u201d or \u201cbathroom\u201d<\/p>\n
but is often associated with a more formal or universal sign in places catering to international travelers.<\/p>\n
History of the WC
\nBefore the 19th century in America, indoor toilets were a luxury, reserved primarily<\/p>\n
for the wealthy. Most people used outhouses or other outdoor facilities for their sanitary needs.<\/p>\n
While homes often had \u201cbathrooms\u201d for bathing, these rooms typically didn\u2019t include toilets.<\/p>\n
The widespread installation of indoor plumbing began in the late 19th century,<\/p>\n
with the advent of the water closet by 1890. These rooms housed the toilet separately from bathing spaces.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t until the early 20th century that the modern bathroom, combining both<\/p>\n
bathing facilities and toilets into one integrated space, became common.<\/p>\n
While combining toilets and bathtubs in the same room was a practical solution<\/p>\n
for saving space and simplifying plumbing, this arrangement did reduce privacy, especially in shared spaces.<\/p>\n
Since, the term \u201cwater closet\u201d evolved to refer to a small, enclosed room within<\/p>\n
a larger bathroom, dedicated solely to the toilet. These water closets often<\/p>\n
include a small sink for handwashing, making them self-contained and convenient.<\/p>\n
Attempting to demystify the water closet, online users shared their opinions on<\/p>\n
Reddit in a post called, \u201cWhy is a public WC called bathroom if there is [no] bath?\u201d<\/p>\n
Responding to the message, a Redditor writes, \u201cAmericans might similarly ask:<\/p>\n
\u2018Why is it called a WC (water closet) if it isn\u2019t even a closet?\u201d the comment<\/p>\n
continues to explain that a \u201cbathroom\u201d or \u201crestroom\u201d is the \u201cpreferred US euphemism<\/p>\n
for \u2018room with toilet,\u2019 whereas other places use \u2018WC,\u2019 \u2018lavatory,\u2019 \u2018loo\u2019 etc.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Russian it\u2019s \u2018a room without windows\u2019 even if there actually is a window,\u201d<\/p>\n
shares a third while another adds, \u201cIn Esperanto, it\u2019s necesejo, or \u2018necessary place\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, other Redditors discussed washroom versus bathroom and restroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cCanada famously uses Washroom,\u201d says one netizen while another clarifies,<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m from the midwest, and washroom is fairly common here. Bathroom or restroom are probably used the most though.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBest one, I think. You should be washing in there,\u201d adds another. \u201c\u2026not resting.\u201d<\/p>\n
What are your thoughts on WC and what term do you call the room that holds a toilet?<\/p>\n
Please share your thoughts with us and then share this story so we can hear from others!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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