What is a Lou toilet?

Author: Miss Odie Wyman Jr.  |  Last update: Thursday, October 2, 2025

Despite being a very British word for toilet, 'loo' is actually derived from the French phrase 'guardez l'eau', which means 'watch out for the water'.

Why do the British call the toilet the lou?

Loo is an Anglicisation in speech of French l'eau (water). The term was originally an euphemistic allusion to the chamberpot.

Why do they call it the Lou?

Despite its British popularity for a slightly less crude way to call the toilet, the word “loo” is actually derived from the French phrase 'guardez l'eau', meaning 'watch out for the water”.

What is the difference between a toilet and a loo?

Loo is an informal yet polite British term for toilet.

What do Americans call loo?

The contraction "lav" is commonly used in British English. In American English, the most common term for a private toilet is "bathroom", regardless of whether a bathtub or shower is present.

Lou & Andy On The Toilet | Little Britain | Lucas and Walliams

What is the Lou slang toilet?

Loo. Despite being a very British word for toilet, 'loo' is actually derived from the French phrase 'guardez l'eau', which means 'watch out for the water'. ...

What is a female toilet called?

ladies' room. [also L- r-] a restroom or lavatory (sense 2) lavatory (sense 2a) for women.

Is it more polite to say loo or toilet?

British people are known for being polite to a fault, and nowhere is this more evident than in the lengths we'll go to avoid saying toilet! Over the centuries, we've been extremely imaginative, coming up with all sorts of terms to sanitise the word. “Going to the loo”, however, is the phrase that reigns supreme.

What is the old name for a toilet?

Lavatory. Another word with a Latin root, lavatory comes from 'lavare'. During the Medieval period it evolved into 'lavatorium' (which means washbasin), before arriving at the lavatory at some point in the 14th century.

What is the posh way to say toilet?

Toilet. This was on the original 1950s list and, to be honest, I'd rather chew glass than use the word toilet in polite conversation. It's a harsh word that was adapted from the French toilette which means your appearance, hence toiletries bag. Lavatory or loo is much more acceptable.

Why is a toilet called a bog?

There are stories citing the use of bog deriving from the early days of mass manufacture, especially the making of plain white ceramic toilet bowls, the most basic of which were referred to as Bog Standard. For those not so familiar with colloquial English, a bog is a slang term for the lavatory or toilet.

What is the Lou short for?

Newest is " the Lou", short for St Louis, also, the Gateway to the west b//c St Louis sits on the Western bank of the Mississippi River and that was considered the border between East and West.

Why is the bathroom called the John?

Sir John Harington

Secondly but most notable amongst historians, John was the name of the first man credited with inventing the first flushing toilet. John Harington was born during the time in which Queen Elizabeth reigned. His mother was a member of the Queen's chamber.

How do Southerners say toilet?

We called it commode or tur-let in the NOLA area growing up. My southern grandma called the bathroom the lavatory too. NC… as a child I remember it being a commode… but now I say toilet… no idea why!

What do they call the bathroom in Ireland?

5. The Jacks. Here's a handy one: 'the Jacks' is an Irish word for the toilets, or restroom. Don't be surprised if you hear that while out with friends and classmates at the pub (once they re-open), or at other events where public toilets are available.

Why do Southerners call a toilet a commode?

The term originates in the vocabulary of French furniture from about 1700. At that time, a commode meant a cabinet or chest of drawers, low enough so that it sat at the height of the dado rail (à hauteur d'appui). It was a piece of veneered case furniture much wider than it was high, raised on high or low legs.

Why is a toilet called a crapper?

The toilets displayed the company logo 'Thomas Crapper & Co Ltd'. The US soldiers stationed in England at the time started referring to the toilet as “the Crapper” and brought that slang term back with them to the United States. The slang word for toilet became more widely taken up and is still being used today.

What did people use before toilet paper?

Before the availability of mass produced toilet paper in the mid-1800s, humans had to resort to using what was free and available, even if it didn't provide the most effective (or comfortable) results. Options included rocks, leaves, grass, moss, animal fur, corn cobs, coconut husks, sticks, sand, and sea shells.

What is a men's toilet called?

A urinal (US: /ˈjʊərənəl/, UK: /jʊəˈraɪnəl/) is a sanitary plumbing fixture similar to a toilet, but for urination only. Urinals are often provided in men's public restrooms in Western countries (less so in Muslim countries).

How do you say toilet in a classy way?

'Washroom' is another formal word that most English speakers will understand. It is mostly used in the USA. 'Restroom' is a safe term to use in the United States and won't offend anyone. When traveling on ​motorways​, signs may appear announcing “rest stops”.

What is a nickname for a toilet?

The loo, the latrine, the lavatory — the nicknames for the porcelain throne are endless!

What is a pink toilet?

Prolite II is a split-sole canvas ballet slipper, featuring a soft canvas arch insert which hugs the foot and minimises bunching when pointing. Teardrop-shaped split-sole design. Cotton lining and suede insock. Elastic drawstring. Pre-sewn single elastic over the instep gives a secure fit.

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