Meaning behind the ‘WC’ sign outside bathrooms

Have you ever come across the letters "WC" on the door of a public restroom and wondered about their meaning?

If so, you’re not the only one. People all over the world are curious about the origin of WC, a term that designates a space equipped with a toilet and a sink.

Although we’ll provide an explanation for WC, we can’t guarantee it will make any more sense than terms like restroom, bathroom, or loo.

In 2020, a couple named Shelby and Dylan posted a TikTok video highlighting an interesting difference in how some Americans and Canadians refer to this particular room.

“What even is a washroom?” Dylan asks as he passes a sign labeled “washroom.”

“What’s being washed in there? Oh, it’s a restroom. But the only thing I wash in there is my hands,” he remarks to his wife. Off-camera, Shelby responds, “Do you rest in a restroom?”

“That’s a fair point. Neither term makes much sense,” Dylan concludes.

The video’s comment section quickly filled with opinions from viewers who shared their preferred names for this all-important room. “It’s called a bathroom, restroom, washroom, or toilet,” one commenter noted.

Another user chimed in with a story: while visiting Disneyland, they asked for the washroom and were mistakenly directed to the laundromat!

A third person added, “Wait until he hears about water closets.”

The term "water closet," according to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, refers to “a small compartment or room with a toilet” or “a toilet bowl and its fixtures.”

Historically, people used the bathroom for bathing, the restroom for freshening up or preparing for the day, and the water closet specifically for toilet-related needs. Depending on where you are in the world, the room housing the toilet goes by many names: WC, loo, restroom, bathroom, washroom, or lavatory.

Today, the letters "WC" are often used on signage in public places like airports, hotels, or restaurants. While it’s essentially another way to say “restroom” or “bathroom,” the term is commonly associated with formal or international contexts.

Before the 19th century in the United States, having an indoor toilet was considered a luxury reserved for the affluent. Most people relied on outhouses or outdoor facilities for sanitation. Houses at the time might have contained a “bathroom,” but these rooms were solely for bathing, with no toilet included. The widespread adoption of indoor plumbing began in the late 1800s, with the invention of the water closet in 1890. This innovation introduced a separate space for the toilet, distinct from bathing areas.

By the early 20th century, the concept of a modern bathroom—combining a toilet and bathing facilities in a single space—became more widespread. While this approach saved space and simplified plumbing, it also sacrificed some privacy, particularly in shared living environments.

Over time, "water closet" came to describe a small, enclosed room within a bathroom that housed only the toilet, often paired with a tiny sink for handwashing.

A Reddit post titled, “Why is a public WC called a bathroom if there’s no bath?” sparked further discussion about the term’s usage. One Redditor commented, “Americans might similarly wonder: ‘Why is it called a WC (water closet) when it isn’t even a closet?’” They explained that in the U.S., euphemisms like “bathroom” or “restroom” are more common, whereas other parts of the world favor terms like “WC,” “lavatory,” or “loo.”

“In Russian, it’s referred to as ‘a room without windows,’ even if there’s actually a window,” one user shared. Another added, “In Esperanto, it’s called necesejo, which means ‘necessary place.’”

Meanwhile, others debated the merits of “washroom” versus “bathroom” or “restroom.”

“Canada is well-known for using the term washroom,” someone pointed out. Another clarified, “I’m from the Midwest, and washroom is fairly common here, but bathroom and restroom are used more often.”

One commenter concluded, “Washroom makes the most sense. You should be washing in there, not resting.”

What’s your opinion on the term WC? What do you call the room with a toilet? Share your thoughts with us, and don’t forget to share this story with others to hear their perspectives!