Ever spotted the letters WC outside a public restroom and found yourself wondering what it stands for? You’re definitely not the only one. People all over the world have asked the same question about this mysterious abbreviation.
WC stands for water closet, which is just another term for a room containing a toilet and sink. And while we can explain where the term comes from, we can’t promise it’ll make any more sense than restroom, bathroom, or loo.
A Viral Confusion: What’s a Washroom?
In 2020, a couple named Shelby and Dylan posted a TikTok that humorously highlighted the regional differences in how people refer to the toilet.
Walking past a sign marked washroom, Dylan asks, “What in the world is a washroom? And what are they washing in there?” He laughs, saying the only thing he washes is his hands. His wife Shelby, off-camera, fires back, “Do you rest in a restroom?”
@shelbanddyl I didn’t know he had Canadian roots 🤣 We got to ride a horse trolley and loved it! We can’t wait to come back and do a lot more! ❤️#shelbanddyl #husbandreacts #canada #couples #relationships ♬ original sound - Shelby & Dylan
“Good point,” Dylan responds. “None of these terms really make sense.”
Their video sparked a wave of comments online, with people chiming in on what they call the place we all have to visit. One user summed it up: “Bathroom, restroom, washroom, toilet—it’s all the same.” Another recalled asking for the “washroom” at Disneyland and being directed to a laundromat!
And then, of course, someone brought up the most formal term of all: water closet.
So, What Is a Water Closet?
According to Merriam-Webster, a water closet is “a compartment or room with a toilet” or simply “a toilet and its accessories.” Historically, the term was used when toilets were first being installed inside homes—usually in a small, separate space from where people bathed or got ready.
In the past, a bathroom was literally a room for bathing. A restroom may have served as a place to freshen up or, as the name implies, rest. The water closet, however, was designated strictly for doing your business.
Today, WC is often used internationally—especially in places like airports, hotels, or restaurants—because it’s widely understood across languages and cultures.
A Brief History of the WC
Before the late 1800s, indoor toilets were a luxury in America, typically found only in wealthy households. Most people relied on outhouses. Homes might have had a bathroom, but it was strictly for bathing.
That changed in the late 19th century with the introduction of the water closet, which featured a toilet in a separate room. By the early 20th century, the modern bathroom—as we know it today, with both a toilet and a bathtub or shower—became more common.
While combining all bathroom functions into one room made sense for convenience and plumbing, it also meant sacrificing a bit of privacy. As a result, the concept of a water closet evolved into a smaller room within the bathroom, specifically housing the toilet, often with a small sink for handwashing.
Reddit Weighs In: The WC Debate
Online forums like Reddit have continued the conversation with questions like: Why do we call it a bathroom if there’s no bath? Or a water closet if it’s not even a closet?
One user pointed out that in the U.S., terms like bathroom or restroom are just common euphemisms for a room with a toilet, while other places prefer WC, lavatory, or loo. Another chimed in, saying, “In Russian, it’s called ‘a room without windows,’ even if there is a window!” And in Esperanto? It’s called necesejo, meaning “necessary place.”
Others debated the washroom vs. bathroom vs. restroom terminology.
“Canada famously uses ‘washroom,’” one commenter noted. Another added, “I’m from the Midwest, and washroom is pretty common here too. But bathroom and restroom are probably more popular.”
“Washroom makes the most sense,” another said. “At least you do wash in there… not rest!”
So, What Do You Call It?
Whether you say bathroom, restroom, washroom, toilet, or WC, it’s clear we all mean the same thing—even if we use wildly different words to describe it.
What term do you use for the room with a toilet? Share your thoughts—and don’t forget to pass this story along to hear what others say too!
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