Why is using the word "bathroom" sometimes considered to be offensive or impolite?

Question

In social and professional situations, people tend to use the euphemism "rest room" rather than "bathroom."

I can understand why "bathroom" is preferable to others such as "the toilet." It just seems to me that "bathroom" is already a euphemism, as the room may not have a bath in it, nor would you always be going there to bathe.

Similerly, you probably would not be going in there just to "rest," but that's another issue all together.

Do you personally find something offensive about the word bathroom? If so, what?

Is it because we get naked to bathe and some people uncomfortable the idea of nudity?

Just to be clear, I am not asking why people don't say "I have to take a crap" or "I need to use the sh***er," etc.

I just don't know what's so wrong with "bathroom."

To the person who explained that "bathroom" may be incorrect because sometimes there is no bath -- good point!

That brings me back, however, to my point that we don't usually go in there just to "rest," either. So, from your standpoint, wouldn’t "restroom" also be incorrect?

Answer 1

The term "bathroom" comes from Victorian times, where much of modern social etiquette has its roots. Victorians were enamored with the classical Greco-Roman times, and in those times, the bath houses were the only places where you found running water. "Bath room" then is a euphemism identifying the restroom by this Classical allusion.

But, to answer your question, I dont think theres anything inherently offensive about the term "bathroom". I also dont agree with the other posters who said its "incorrect" to call a room without a bath, like a public one, a bathroom - the term has evolved beyond its literal meaning. When you're buying a house, you can say its "2 1/2 baths", meaning three bathrooms, one without a bath. You dont say "2 baths and a rest".

I think the main reason "restroom" is a little more palatable than "bathroom" is just the phonetics. "Bathroom" has a sort of obnoxious series of sounds - a hard "b", then a heavy "a" followed by a hard "th" diphthong - that make the word sound louder. "Restroom" has a softer short "e" followed by a sibilant "s", making it sound a little quieter and under the breath.

You sound a little more quiet and polite saying "I'm going to the restroom" than "I'm going to the baaaaathroom" :)

Answer 2

It's true that really nice bathrooms/restrooms/ etc have a space for resting, a sofa and a chair or something along those lines. Some department stores have chairs and things for the purpose of sitting down for a moment, often to provide mothers the chance to deal with unruly children in a slightly less public arena. This does indeed derive from the practice of giving ladies a place to go and not have to dance or otherwise be "on" for the gentlemen.

My mother is utterly unable to use the word "bathroom" because it conjures up images of toilets and what goes into them. However, I have a friend from the UK who uses the word "toilet" exclusively, because that is the most accurate term for what she needs at that moment. When I was teaching preschool, I found myself using the word "potty" constantly because that was what the kids said. So I think it's a cultural issue concerning what you hear around you.

Personally, when I am in public or when I am at the home of someone I don't know terribly well, I use the word "ladies' room". The owner of the private home will typically laugh at me and say that they only have a bathroom. I only use "bathroom" at home or at a good friend's home. "Restroom" is simply inaccurate in most situations nowadays.

Answer 3

The etiquette is to use the word bathroom only when you are in someone's home. If you are in a public place, it is a restroom because there is no bath in it. We do consider it distasteful to say toilet instead of restroom because that calls to mind exactly what a person will be doing (however, in other cultures this is not the case, like in France, because the word means something more than it does here). It's not a nudity thing, but a grammar thing. You can't call a restroom a bathroom...they aren't the same.

Answer 4

Personally, I don't find it too offensive as long as it's meant positively. On the other hand, it's often not meant positively. For instance, the other day, a "friend" of a friend said to me, "Sweetie, you have no idea how much I want to break your pretty little face." Not that that's not thrilling and all, but I think I could at least do without the "sweetie" on the front of it. For the most part, however, I don't usually mind.

Answer 5

The way I see it, a bathroom is the one at home or in a hotel, with a bath or shower. When I'm at somebody's house, I say bathroom. But restrooms are public, just toilets and sinks, made to service humans in that thing that we all do at least a few times a day.

Answer 6

I'm really not sure why people don't like it to be called a bathroom. I always call it the bathroom and that gets me in trouble when I'm traveling to Europe because over there they all call it "the toilet". And i HATE saying "I have to go to the toilet" it sounds so crude and icky. I'd much rather say bathroom. I suppose it just depends on where you're from.

Answer 7

Interesting question! I wonder that myself. When we're in a restaurant with friends, for example, most of the time they will say they need to go to the Ladies' Room, rather than the bathroom. They never say that even though most people say it at home. I say it wherever I am; I don't see the big deal.

Answer 8

In the upper-crust of society, a bathroom may have an extravagant lounging area, where a woman may rest from dancing, entertaining, etc. Calling it a rest-room didn't automatically provoke an image of the toilet, so it was considered a more genteel way of excusing oneself.

Answer 9

In the UK the proper term is lavatory. This is used by the upper class e.g. at Buckingham Palace. Using euphemisms like toilet, bathroom, is used by the lower classes.

Answer 10

It's a form of heightened gentility that is supposed to show class and breeding by people who are trying too hard. There is nothing wrong with calling it a bathroom. People should really just say "Excuse me" with no other clarification.