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Where did the word toilet come from? a word that has evolved into a word that is
not polite to say in public?
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Is it not polite to say "toilet" in public? A second question: why has society in
some countries evolved in such a was as to regard such a harmless word as impolite.
I don't find it impolite at all but I'm Aussie. In fact I'd go so far as to call
those who do "tight-arsed". I'm sorry I can't help with the etymology, though.
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Is kinda like in your face when you say toilet....I don't need to know that you need
to take care of business. Saying bathroom is a much better word since it doesn't
necesseraly imply that you are...you know taking care of business, you might be just
fixing your appearance or what-not.
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If it's got a bath in it, it's a bathroom, if it hasn't, it's not.
Let me get in your face a bit and ask "Do you mean 'take a piss and/or shit' when
you say 'take care of business'?" Why pussy-foot around the issue?
All I'm saying is that the word "toilet" is only impolite if you let it be. Relax,
call a spade a spade. If you want a bath then tell me that you're off to the bathroom.
If not then don't.
There's nothing wrong with going to the toilet though if you don't feel like telling
everyone where you're going then don't, what's wrong with "Excuse me."?
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Like I said in the other thread (why did you start two?), for me "toilet" is the
actual device that you flush. The bathroom is the room itself (I know not all of
them have baths or showers, but, hey, I didn't invent the term). I don't know if
toilet is impolite (it's uncommon in North America for one to say "where's the toilet?"),
but it's a word that refers to a certain object. If you were to say to someone in
the U.S....."Is this toilet broken?" or "I think we might have to get a new toilet.".....it
wouldn't be considered impolite. Referring to the object itself, i.e. the toilet,
isn't considered impolite in AE. I suppose what some may say is impolite is referring
to the bathroom itself as "the toilet."
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Aussie English is a bit different to american English and closer to British/Irish
English. We use "toilet" for the room and the device in it. In Aussie English all
bathrooms have baths in them by definition.
Also see
http://www.antimoon.com/forum/2002/401.htm
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I usually just say "MAN I GOTTA PEE!" but only to my friends. hahah
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I prefer "I gotta take a piss."
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"Toilet" comes from the French "toilette".
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I dont care to tell a family member or close friend that I'll be going to the toilet
for a few seconds. But I dont think its appropriate to tell someone that Im not
that familiar with that Im going to the toilet, its more polite to mention the bathroom
instead. That's all. Not that its a big deal or anything.
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Look guys. I got the point what Jim was trying to say. I also got the point what
Juan was trying to say. My final verdict is, use any word that you think is appropriate
for a place where you do your poo-poo and then clean it. That's it.
Don't mind, guys. I haven't used a bathroom/toilet in my life. I've been on consipation
since I was born. Which term is right to say or which is not is the main problem
of yours not mine.
Peace.
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As Jim says, "toilet" to us Aussies is not an impolite term. In my house I have
a bathroom which contains a bath plus a commode (the "bathroom commode"), and two
separate "toilet" rooms with just a commode in them.
Anyway, doesn't "La toilette" mean washing, getting washed. So how has "toilet"
become impolite when toilets (English) = les toilettes (French) = washroom.
I would consider it impolite to refer to the toilet as the "shithouse", and some
people even find the slang word "dunny" to be impolite.
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I think commode isn't an appropriate word for a toilet or lavatory.As a matter of
fact, it is a chair-shaped piece of moveable furniture used by people who are ill
or old.I want to know more about this word in various English speaking countries,such
as America, Canada, Austrailia etc;
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The reason why I started them both is because, I accidentally wrote the subject as
my name on the other thread.
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Imran's explanation definitely holds true here in the U.S. A commode is used to
describe a portable toilet for terminally ill or incapacitated patients. Perhaps
this is different in other English speaking countries.
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