Have you ever noticed the letters “WC” posted outside a public bathroom and wondered what they mean?
If so, you’re not alone, as people around the world are trying to unravel the mystery behind WC—a term used to identify a room that contains a toilet and a sink.
And while we can explain what WC stands for, it may not make much more sense than restroom, bathroom, or loo…
In 2020, a couple named Shelby and Dylan shared a TikTok video highlighting a major difference in how some Americans and Canadians describe the place where they go to use the toilet.
“What in the world is a washroom?” Dylan asks as he walks past a sign labeled “washroom.”
“And what are they washing in there? Oh, it’s a restroom. The only thing I wash in there is my hands,” he tells his wife. Off-camera, Shelby can be heard asking, “Do you rest in a restroom?”
“That’s a good point. Neither of them really makes much sense,” Dylan adds.
Online users quickly joined the conversation, sharing their preferred term for the room. “It’s called a bathroom, restroom, washroom, and toilet,” one user commented.
Another follower said that when visiting Disneyland, they once “asked for the washroom” and were mistakenly “sent to the laundromat!”
A third joked, “Wait until he finds out about water closets.”
Water closet
According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, a “water closet” is a noun that refers to “a compartment or room with a toilet” or “a toilet bowl and its accessories.”
In the past, people used bathrooms mainly for bathing. Restrooms were supposedly places to rest or prepare for the day by using the sink and mirror.
If someone needed to use the toilet, they would go to the water closet. Depending on where you are in the world, this room may be called a loo, restroom, bathroom, washroom, lavatory, or WC.
Today, WC signs are commonly seen in public spaces such as airports, restaurants, and hotels. It is simply another way of saying “restroom” or “bathroom,” and is often used as a more formal or internationally recognized sign for travelers.
History of the WC
Before the 19th century in America, indoor toilets were a luxury mostly reserved for the wealthy. Most people relied on outdoor outhouses for sanitation. While homes had “bathrooms” for bathing, these rooms usually did not include toilets. Widespread indoor plumbing began in the late 19th century with the introduction of the water closet around 1890. These rooms were designed to house the toilet separately from bathing areas.
By the early 20th century, the modern bathroom that combined bathing facilities and toilets into one space became more common.
Although combining toilets and bathtubs in the same room was practical for saving space and simplifying plumbing, it did reduce privacy, especially in shared environments.
Over time, the term “water closet” came to refer to a small, enclosed section inside a larger bathroom, dedicated only to the toilet. These water closets often include a small sink for handwashing, making them convenient and self-contained.
Trying to demystify the water closet, online users also shared opinions on Reddit in a post titled, “Why is a public WC called bathroom if there is [no] bath?”
One Redditor responded, “Americans might similarly ask: ‘Why is it called a WC (water closet) if it isn’t even a closet?’” The comment further explained that “bathroom” or “restroom” is the preferred U.S. euphemism for a “room with a toilet,” while other regions use terms like “WC,” “lavatory,” or “loo.”
“In Russian, it’s called ‘a room without windows,’ even if there is actually a window,” shared one user, while another added, “In Esperanto, it’s necesejo, meaning ‘necessary place.’”
Meanwhile, other Redditors compared washroom, bathroom, and restroom terminology.
“Canada famously uses washroom,” said one netizen, while another clarified, “I’m from the Midwest, and washroom is fairly common here. Bathroom or restroom are probably used most often.”
“Best one, I think. You should be washing in there… not resting,” another added.
What are your thoughts on WC, and what do you call the room that contains a toilet? Please share your thoughts with us, and then share this story so we can hear from others!
