French word

toilette

Pronunciation

IPA/twalɛt/

Meaning

  • feminine nounbathroom

Example

Je cherche les toilettes.

I am looking for the bathroom.

Illustration for toilette (bathroom)

More examples

Il y a des toilettes publiques près d'ici.

There are public restrooms near here.

Core concept

A private room containing washing facilities and a toilet.

Common phrases

  • aller aux toilettes

    go to the restroom

  • chercher les toilettes

    look for the restroom

  • les toilettes publiques

    public restrooms

Similar words

WC: The common abbreviation for a toilet in signs and everyday conversation.
petit coin: A soft, informal expression for the toilet.
salle de bains: A bathroom equipped for bathing and personal grooming, with a bath and sink.

Definition in French

S'emploie généralement au pluriel 'les toilettes' pour désigner les cabinets ou la pièce destinée à faire ses besoins et à se laver.

Word origin

French toilette comes from toile ('cloth') with the suffix -ette, first referring to a grooming cloth, then to grooming and the place used for it; English toilet was borrowed from French.

Usage tips

  • French normally uses plural les toilettes for the room, even when it has one toilet, while la toilette usually refers to grooming or personal preparation.

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