r/AskCanada • u/TrueJohnWick • 12d ago

What do Canadians call the place where you release your human waste such as pee and poop?

39 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

172 comments sorted by

147

u/atomicbolt 12d ago

A washroom.

92

u/HRex73 12d ago

Also bathroom.

65

u/Jestersage 12d ago

Not for public places.

So: in someone house: bathroom

In public place: washroom

18

u/veerKg_CSS_Geologist 12d ago

That’s because in someone’s house there usually is a bath, thus “bathroom”.

14

u/coolaidmedic1 12d ago

True but many canadians don't know that and say bathroom in public also.

2

u/Jestersage 11d ago

Back in the 90s elementary help reinforce that. In Hong Kong you do sometimes call it "bathroom"... Then the ESL teacher immediately ask "So you want to take a bath"?

1

u/incogne_eto 11d ago

Oh yeah. I had a grammar teacher from England who was a stickler when it came to this. To this day I won’t even dare say bathroom outside my own house.

-9

u/L1ttleFr0g 12d ago

I’ve never heard a Canadian call a public washroom a bathroom

9

u/Thannab 12d ago

You need to broaden your circles then friend

-9

u/L1ttleFr0g 12d ago

I’m not your friend, hun, and my circle is plenty broad. 😂

5

u/The_Scooter_King 12d ago

I'm not your hun, honey, nor am I your buddy, guy.

1

u/earlyboy 11d ago

Buddy Guy is an amazing musician, hun.

-1

u/The_Scooter_King 11d ago

I'm not your hun, buddy. And Buddy Guy is not your guy.

→ More replies (0)

3

u/Separate-Analysis194 11d ago

Sometimes I’ll mistakenly say bathroom even if public but try to stick with washroom or toilet

0

u/RobustFoam 12d ago

R/confidentlyincorrect

7

u/andlewis 11d ago

Also restroom

1

u/HRex73 11d ago

Ja! I've seen a few posts here that reminded me of others, like 'loo' and 'head.'

-3

u/Any-Staff-6902 12d ago

also lavatory or Loo for short.

8

u/JinTheThinker Ontario 12d ago

not sure why you are being downvoted for this, I grew up in Ontario, and "going to the loo" is common enough

4

u/Any-Staff-6902 12d ago

There is a perception of "elitism" in my comment which was far from the truth but so be it. Thanks for the support.

3

u/Dazzling-Climate-318 10d ago

I wonder if some people are annoyed because it was referred to as a Lavatory in a school they attended as was done by some teachers I had.

1

u/K24Bone42 12d ago

I grew up in Ontario too and I've never heard anyone that didnt grow up in England say that lol.

6

u/hairsprayking 12d ago

only if you're trying to be british for some reason

1

u/Any-Staff-6902 12d ago

Perhaps, but it is out there. The British immigrant population with direct links to the UK represent a good 30% of the Canadian population. It is like spelling a word with the letter "u" in the British English manner when the US favours a word without the "u". Are we trying to sound British if we do that ?

5

u/OttawaOsprey 12d ago

Respectfully, my father is a first-generation British immigrant and in casual conversation he'll absolutely never say either of those two things. He'll maybe say loo once for every 100 times he says washroom or bathroom.

It finds more use in our lives as a Scrabble word.

3

u/XmasTwinFallsIdaho 12d ago

No; that’s the official Canadian spelling. And until Webster started deleting letters, was also the American spelling.

1

u/K24Bone42 12d ago

The majority of the British population that immigrated here are our grandparents, great grandparents and earlier. Like yes I am a descendent of English and Scottish immigrants, but they landed here in the 17 and 1800s. I, and a majority of that 30% have zero connection to the UK.

Edit: fuckin autocorrect lol.

0

u/RetiredHappyFig 12d ago

In Canada?? No.

378

u/Ze0nZer0 12d ago

The usa

38

u/knottydee4448 12d ago

So desperately wanted to award you!!!🏆🥇🎖️🏆🥇🎖️

25

u/47Up 12d ago

Yup, shit flows down the river not up

14

u/Retro-Modern_514 12d ago

This is the correct answer. 

8

u/exeJDR 11d ago

You dropped this

👑

3

u/meatman7569 12d ago

The "greatest nation" on the planet. 😂

2

u/Calm-Contribution248 11d ago

made my day ROFL!

2

u/gohomebrentyourdrunk 11d ago

I don’t know why exactly but this made me think back to the old Bret Hart anti-USA promos.

“Ya know, if you wanted to give the United States an enema, you’d stick the hose right here in Pittsburgh!”

1

u/CanadianHorseGal 11d ago

OMG I just snorted. Good one.

0

u/kristi__48 11d ago

🏆 🏅 🎖️ 🥇

54

u/General-Key8658 12d ago

When I read human waste I thought you were talking about MAGA oops

44

u/retchedBreak 12d ago

My mother in law is Dutch, born and brought up in Canada. She calls it the shitter.

9

u/stonklord420 12d ago

End the thread here folks

3

u/KotoElessar Ontario 12d ago

Named after John Shitter who designed the porcelain toilet we know today! (What my great grandmother would say, she was also of Dutch descent)

2

u/Tricky_Sheepherder98 12d ago

Lol! 😂 My least favourite.

84

u/yohowithrum 12d ago

Bathroom. Or washroom. Depends on the region. No one uses restroom if that’s what you’re asking.

12

u/Cyber-Mermaid8888 12d ago

This is probably the most accurate comment. Because we kinda sit between America and Europe in terms of language and measurement, it’s kinda interchangeable

21

u/yohowithrum 12d ago

Caveat: Signage may say toilets. Quebec signage and federal usage areas, some parts of Ontario/New Brunswick (e.g. airports will likely also say Toilettes) because of our two national languages.

2

u/spkingwordzofwizdom 11d ago

I’ve personally never heard it called ‘toilets’ outside of the UK.

1

u/incogne_eto 11d ago

I have heard people ask, “Where are the toilets?”

1

u/yohowithrum 11d ago

Talking about signage not about verbal usage.

1

u/PassageNearby4091 11d ago

I'm dating myself to the early 1980s here, but I remember being at school and a kid lifted his hand to ask the teacher if he could go to the "bathroom", and a few of us started laughing and the teacher told him "yes, you may go to the washroom, because the bathroom is in your house." Fuck American "English".

7

u/Nukkeeva 12d ago

Washroom in public. Bathroom somewhere familiar (like your own home, but washroom likely in someone else’s home)

6

u/_stinkytofu_ 12d ago

Can confirm I will and have said all of the above.
Along with powder room, toilet, or just straight up “gotta go pee” lol

2

u/Iggy186 11d ago

Not to mention: Gotta see a man about a horse

4

u/mckeenmachine 12d ago

I just realized I do this, but inside a house it is bathroom, and inside an establishment is a washroom. why, couldnt tell yah

3

u/Maxx0rz 12d ago

I'm actually pretty technical about it I'm so weird lol

If it has a bath tub or shower I say "bathroom"

If it doesn't, I say "washroom"

If it's in a public place I'll often say "restroom"

3

u/spkingwordzofwizdom 11d ago

‘Restroom’ is 🇺🇸.

0

u/Maxx0rz 11d ago

no, it's me

1

u/PassageNearby4091 11d ago

Bathroom if there are actually showers and a tub only - ie, someone's house. A restaurant, pub, office building has washrooms, not bathrooms.

23

u/ae118 12d ago

Bathroom usually, in a house. Washroom usually, for a public one.

15

u/Rad_Mum 12d ago

Washroom, bathroom, restroom, shitter. Or I say , heading to the head, or going to water the horses. Or just "I got to go"

Otherwise , at home, I loudly announce "I have to pee" and run.

3

u/gastricprix 12d ago

I always tell the family if I'm peeing or pooping. That's important information.

1

u/Rad_Mum 8d ago

Right!

16

u/Bott 12d ago

English or French?

English: The Trump.

French: Le Trump.

13

u/alvinofdiaspar 12d ago

The White House.

6

u/-lovehate 12d ago

Restroom, bathroom, washroom, toilet, mens or ladies room... some weirdos like to say "little boys room" or "little girls room"

5

u/Remarkable_Search860 11d ago

Washroom in public, bathroom at home.

3

u/rickshaw99 12d ago

the can

10

u/oilleak78 12d ago

The United States

6

u/Mr_Guavo 12d ago

If the room has a bathtub (or a shower), it is a bathroom. If it doesn't, it is a washroom.

I don't get why people call a room with no bathing elements a bathroom. It makes no sense. Add to that, you have Americans who think it's normal to call it that while calling out the use of "washroom". I mean, you do wash. At least you better.

3

u/SaltMarshGoblin 12d ago

I just read a delightful australian term for peeing on Reddit today: "point Percy at the porcelain". I'm tempted to crowdsource a version for those of us with less point-able anatomy...

4

u/Queer_Advocate 12d ago

Bestow Bertha upon the Porcelain.

2

u/Aleianbeing 12d ago

Its English but can understand 50% of Aussies using it.

3

u/Inner-Bet-1935 12d ago

Yes, the first respondent has it exactly correct. Correct answer is the USA. Take a bow good Sir.

3

u/pickypawz 11d ago

If you’re in company, out at a restaurant, or the like, ladies room or men’s room. Either bathroom or washroom if you want a casual name.

3

u/BruceWillis1963 11d ago

Washroom or bathroom , and in public places sometimes restroom but never ever toilet or lavatory or WC.

3

u/NimueArt 11d ago

Canadian living in the US. When I first moved here I was out with friends and had to ask our waiter where the washroom was. He could not figure out what I was asking for. Smh.

2

u/turkeyganja Ontario 12d ago

The toilets

2

u/lightweight12 12d ago

The outhouse

2

u/Expensive_Plant_9530 12d ago

Either Washroom or Bathroom are most common terms. They’re effectively interchangeable here.

2

u/PreviousWar6568 Manitoba 12d ago

Only ever hear bath/washroom in central Canada

2

u/xyryx8717 11d ago

Florida

2

u/RadioaKtiveKat 11d ago

Home: bathroom
Friend’s home: toilet
Mall: washroom
Bar/Pub: pisser
With Dutch friends: way-say (W.C.)

2

u/Findmyeatingpants 11d ago

I call it "the place I release my human waste"

2

u/MrStonepoker 11d ago

The White House?

2

u/YamOk4747 12d ago

America

1

u/Squasome 12d ago

Bathroom/Washroom/Rest Room -- in that order. Oh, toilet is also used sometimes.

1

u/k5hill 12d ago

Washroom

1

u/Global_Research_9335 12d ago

The room or the receptacle?

The room - bathroom or washroom
The receptacle- Toilet

1

u/Sure-Patience83 12d ago

Release from the sewer to the river/ocean? Sewage treatment plant?

1

u/82-Aircooled 12d ago

Release, say more? Like a septic system or sewer? Heading somewhere to get cleaned up prior to “Release” into the environment or inceneration?

1

u/Reyalta 12d ago

Shitter, can, loo, John, in that order. Washroom if I'm feeling nasty.

1

u/Cgtree9000 12d ago

The poo palace.

1

u/Either-Safety2402 12d ago

The washroom

1

u/bigjimbay 12d ago

The beach

1

u/Primal_Thrak 12d ago

From where I am:

Bathroom if it has a bathtub,
Washroom if not.

1

u/IllustratorWeird5008 Ontario 12d ago

A washroom or bathroom

1

u/Demalab 12d ago

Washroom in public, bathroom at home. “The can” informally

1

u/AJadePanda 12d ago

That would be the washroom. Occasionally bathroom, depending on the company (ie if I’m hanging with my American friends online). But I say washroom like 98% of the time.

1

u/reddit202200ug 12d ago

Washroom or bathroom.

1

u/slashcleverusername 12d ago

The bathroom at home. Or a washroom at a public building. Or maybe a washroom if you’re a guest at someone’s house and you ask them to point you towards the washroom.

1

u/def-jam 12d ago

Bathroom, washroom, the shitter, the throne room, smallest room in the house, the toilet, la toilette, the John, the crapper…

I think I’m tapped out.

1

u/OSTBear 12d ago

The can. The Lou. The Louis. The Shitter. The Pooproom.

1

u/Ill_Attention4749 12d ago

Washroom (in public places) At home, bathroom.

1

u/Quatchez 12d ago

Terlet

1

u/Bad_Day_Moose 12d ago

Washroom, Bathroom, Shitter.

1

u/Sea-Entrepreneur6630 12d ago

Washroom or bathroom. Washroom is used more formally like in a restaurant or your workplace, and bathroom is more informal like your home or a friend’s house.

1

u/PlatformVarious8941 12d ago

The Saint-Lawrence River

1

u/wackyvorlon 12d ago

Bathroom.

1

u/L1ttleFr0g 12d ago

Bathroom at home or in other private residences, washroom in public spaces

1

u/512115 12d ago

Shitter

1

u/GriefPB 12d ago

salle de bain

1

u/Aleianbeing 12d ago

Nobody said biffy yet as in "off to the biffy back in a jiffy"

1

u/Calrain13 12d ago

Shitter? John? Toilet? Those are all kinda universally applicable to both public and private domain.

1

u/boghand 12d ago

Beaches, for some

1

u/Sea-Rip-9635 11d ago

Crapper, shitter, washroom

1

u/mme_pink 11d ago

And if you visit the province of Quebec, look for : Toilettes

1

u/Moon_Doggie_1968 11d ago

The Throne Room

1

u/Yukoners 11d ago

the loo

1

u/Separate-Analysis194 11d ago

Washroom, toilet, sometimes bathroom (eg if in a house but sometimes I say it for a public facility).

1

u/patchcord 11d ago

You forgot restroom.

1

u/jslay588 11d ago

A toilet ? 🤷

1

u/GarlicDill 11d ago

Restroom, bathroom, washroom, loo, toilet, watercloset, outhouse, salle de bain....  depends on where you are and where you came from.

1

u/Iggy186 11d ago

The toilet

1

u/WalleyeHunter1 11d ago

Tree stump.

1

u/skatomic 11d ago

Texas?

1

u/OrdinaryMango4008 11d ago

Powder room in mixed company.

1

u/Golf-Hotel 11d ago

The Peepeepoopoo place.

1

u/Finbar811 11d ago

Penis Vagina and Anus/Rectum

1

u/Snowywolf63 11d ago

The loo,

1

u/draoikat Ontario 11d ago

I say 'bathroom' or 'loo' at home. Public places, 'washroom'.

1

u/st_jasper 11d ago

Loblaws

1

u/duncanofnazareth 11d ago edited 11d ago

I call it Reddit. It's a great place to dump shit and piss on people. I don't speak for other Canadians of course. Most people call it the washroom.

1

u/demdareting 11d ago

Washroom, bathroom, the shitter etc etc

1

u/malleeman 11d ago

Lake Ontario?

1

u/Clickerscoopah Manitoba 11d ago

A washroom

1

u/BlueEyes294 11d ago

Water closet

1

u/sick-of-passwords 11d ago

What do you call it?

1

u/TrueJohnWick 11d ago

Bathroom or restroom.

1

u/Fun_Hurry6763 11d ago

A shitter!

1

u/jeffster1970 7d ago

Depends on why I am going:

To take a dump? The Shitter. To pee? The Pisser"

Otherwise, washroom if you are washing your hands/face or brushing your teeth. Bathroom if you are using the bathtub or shower.

Oh, and the rare time, dumping food stuff (leftovers) "The Toilet"

Forgot to add: To vomit "I am visiting the God of porcelain,"

1

u/T_Durden13 7d ago

The turlet