El baño

[Jessicake]

I have been told that while in the US you would ask to use the "bathroom" when you need to use the toilet, in other English speaking countries this is a very odd thing to say because if you ask for the bathroom you are asking to use the bathtub in that room. Is this also the case in some Spanish speaking countries?


I'm curious because I would feel very silly if I asked a stranger if I could bathe in their home.

[ChilenoAlemanCanada]

Asking to use the bathroom in other English-speaking countries wouldn't be the same as asking to bathe in their home. It's merely a different way of saying it.

[sosia]

In, spain, asking for the bahtroom ("el baño") is always asking to to the toilet. For taking a shower or using the bathtub are other expresions:
asking for the toilet:
¿puedo ir al baño?
¿podría usar su baño?
¿Puedo ir al servicio?

asking for the baththub
¿Podría darme una ducha?
¿donde podría ducharme?
Necesito lavarme completamente. ¿puedo usar su baño?

saludos

[vita32]

"Restroom" is another term used in USA for bathroom (toilet). This term is commonly used and is a label for all public bathrooms (toilets). I don't know if the term is also used in all public toilets in all English speaking countries.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by vita32

"Restroom" is another term used in USA for bathroom (toilet). This term is commonly used and is a label for all public bathrooms (toilets). I don't know if the term is also used in all public toilets in all English speaking countries.

Never in the UK.

[vita32]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Never in the UK.

Thanks, Perikles. It's good to know.

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by Jessicake

I have been told that while in the US you would ask to use the "bathroom" when you need to use the toilet, in other English speaking countries this is a very odd thing to say because if you ask for the bathroom you are asking to use the bathtub in that room. Is this also the case in some Spanish speaking countries?


I'm curious because I would feel very silly if I asked a stranger if I could bathe in their home.

Really I know the word bathroom like you told us, I don't know other names for that, I believe it's the more appropriate for refer in that form over the bathroom.

I believe is more polite mention bathroom than bathtub, because in first thing I won't understand that word, that result hardest to understand in English, that if you told me, I'm going to the bathroom now.

Now I have a doubt in a phrase that you wrote in your post.

the phrase is.
I have been told?

I have made a little search in the internet, and solely I could to find this meaning for that phrase, but anyhow I'm not very sure about if that means or really means other thing.

I found this.

I have been told.

Me han dicho this is the translation in Spanish. Please correcting me if I am wrong.

I will appreciate your advice.

[vita32]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

Really I know the word bathroom like you told us, I don't know other names for that, I believe it's the more appropriate for refer in that form over the bathroom.

I believe is more polite mention bathroom than bathtub, because in first thing I won't understand that word, that result hardest to understand in English, that if you told me, I'm going to the bathroom now.

Now I have a doubt in a phrase that you wrote in your post.

the phrase is.
I have been told?

I have made a little search in the internet, and solely I could to find this meaning for that phrase, but anyhow I'm not very sure about if that means or really means other thing.

I found this.

I have been told.

Me han dicho this is the translation in Spanish. Please correcting me if I am wrong.

I will appreciate your advice.

@Crotalito, Another way of saying the phrase is:

"I have been told (by someone)". Somehow in English this last part is omitted. It is also correct to say: "Someone told me...". I hope this helps.

[Jferstler]

In America, if some asks to use the bathroom, they're asking to use the toilet.

In spanish. Can I use the bathroom is:

Puedo Usar El bano?

Am I right?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Joe: Yes, just be careful with spelling: Capital letters are only used at the start of the sentence, opening question mark is not to be missed and "ñ" can't be replaced by "n". You can type Spanish charaters with the drop-down accent menu on top of replying-to-post box.

The question should be:
¿Puedo usar el baño?

Other ways of asking:

¿Dónde está el baño?
¿Puedo pasar al baño?

[Jferstler]

Thanks!

"¿Dónde está el baño?"
That would be asking "Where is the bathroom?" right?

[pierrre]

Can 'retrete' and 'cloaca' be used as synonyms for baño? Or do those words convey a different meaning like an outhouse or latrine?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

In Mexico "retrete" is not used, but can be understood as "baño".

"Cloaca" is rather used for "gutter".

And "latrine" is a "letrina".

[Jessicake]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

I found this.

I have been told.

Me han dicho this is the translation in Spanish. Please correcting me if I am wrong.

I will appreciate your advice.

Yes, I believe "Me han dicho" is the same as saying "I have been told" or "I've been told"

[irmamar]

Where I live, "lavabo" is the common word used for toilet, although "servicio" is also used. At home both "lavabo" and "cuarto de baño" (or simply "baño").

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by vita32

@Crotalito, Another way of saying the phrase is:

"I have been told (by someone)". Somehow in English this last part is omitted. It is also correct to say: "Someone told me...". I hope this helps.

I agree quite with you.

Solely I did a little refer about the phrase said before for someone, in fact is more understanding your commentary Someone has told me.

In essence I wrote this.

I have been told.

But well I can't relation with any other word in English, in addition either I can understand the phrase.

Thank you
CrOtALiTo.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Where I live, "lavabo" is the common word used for toilet, although "servicio" is also used. At home both "lavabo" and "cuarto de baño" (or simply "baño").

"Lavabo" in Mexico is only the sink where you wash your hands... but in some situations it might be understood as an acceptable euphemism for the word "baño".

"Servicios" can also be used (in plural), in public places, like a store or a restaurant.

[CrOtALiTo]

Yes I'm agree with you.

In many places here in our country the bathroom is called Services room man or the contrary in both cases.

[Elaina]

Where does "WC" fit in all these terms? I've seen it written on public bathroom doors to indicate it is the bathroom. BTW...what does "WC" stand for? Water closet?

Maybe it is an old term.

[JPablo]

Yes, Water Closet. 35 to 40 years ago, at home I would say to my mom, "Tengo que ir al wáter". Then "baño" "servicio" was used in public places, and as Irmamar says "el lavabo" or "los labavos" or "el servicio" or "los servicios" is used commonly...