Have you ever seen the letters “WC” outside a public bathroom and wondered what they mean? You’re not alone! Many people around the world are curious about the “WC,” which refers to a room with a toilet and a sink.
While we can explain what “WC” stands for, it might not make much more sense than other terms like restroom, bathroom, or loo.
In 2020, a couple named Shelby and Dylan made a TikTok video showing a funny difference between how some Americans and Canadians refer to bathrooms. In the video, Dylan walks by a sign that says “washroom” and asks, “What in the world is a washroom?” He humorously wonders what people are washing in there, adding, “The only thing I wash in there is my hands.” Off-camera, Shelby chimes in, asking, “Do you rest in a restroom?”
It’s interesting to see how different cultures use different terms for the same place!
“That’s a good point. None of these terms make much sense,” Dylan says in the video.
Many people joined the conversation online, sharing their thoughts about what they call this important room.
One user commented, “It’s called a bathroom, restroom, washroom, and toilet.”
Another follower shared a funny story from Disneyland, saying they “asked for the washroom” and ended up being sent to the laundromat instead!
A third user joked, “Wait until he finds out about water closets.”
**Water Closet**
According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, a “water closet” is a term used to describe “a room with a toilet” or “a toilet bowl and its accessories.”
Long ago, when people talked about using the bathroom, it often meant taking a bath. The term “restroom” suggested a place to rest or get ready by using the sink and mirror.
Lastly, if you needed to go potty, you would use the toilet in the water closet. Depending on where you are in the world, this room is called many different names, including loo, restroom, bathroom, washroom, lavatory, or WC.
In modern times, you will often see signs that say “WC” in public places like airports, restaurants, or hotels. This is just another way to say “restroom” or “bathroom,” but it is usually seen as a more formal or international sign for places that welcome travelers from different countries.
**History of the WC**
Before the 19th century in America, having an indoor toilet was a luxury only for wealthy people. Most people used outhouses or outdoor toilets. While many homes had “bathrooms” for taking baths, these rooms usually didn’t have toilets. The installation of indoor plumbing started to become common in the late 1800s, leading to the creation of the water closet by 1890. These early water closets had toilets that were separate from bathing areas.
It wasn’t until the early 20th century that bathrooms began to combine both bathing areas and toilets into one room. This design helped save space and made plumbing simpler, but it also reduced privacy, especially when multiple people were using the bathroom.
Over time, the term “water closet” changed to refer to a small, private room within a larger bathroom that was used only for the toilet. These water closets often have a small sink for handwashing, making them convenient and self-contained.
To understand the term “water closet,” many people shared their thoughts on Reddit in a post titled, “Why is a public WC called bathroom if there is [no] bath?”
In response, one Reddit user pointed out, “Americans might ask: ‘Why is it called a WC (water closet) if it isn’t even a closet?” This user explained that in the U.S., “bathroom” or “restroom” is the common way to refer to a “room with a toilet.” Other countries use different terms, like “WC,” “lavatory,” or “loo.”
Another user mentioned that in Russian, the term translates to “a room without windows,” even if there is a window. A third user shared that in Esperanto, it’s called “necesejo,” meaning “necessary place.”
Other Reddit users talked about the differences between “washroom,” “bathroom,” and “restroom.” One commenter noted, “Canada famously uses ‘washroom,’” while another clarified that in the Midwest, “washroom” is also common, but “bathroom” and “restroom” are used more frequently.
One user humorously stated, “Best one, I think. You should be washing in there… not resting.”
What do you think about the term WC? What do you call the room that has a toilet? We would love to hear your opinions, so please share your thoughts!
Shaq speaks out after PDA photo of ‘his hands’ on influencer goes viral
The NBA Hall of Famer addressed the allegations in a manner characteristic of Shaq.
Shaq may be the man in the picture of an unidentified man holding a woman with his big hands, according to social media investigators.
Shaquille O’Neal, the NBA Hall of Famer, has since spoken out following the viral success of the endearing picture.
Maria Ozuna Teachey posted a photo of herself holding a very tall man who was hugging her from behind, but the selfie she took in the mirror left his head off.
The photo was captioned “Unapologetically us” by eachey. Guess who feet, guys? #loveyou.
Claimantly identifying themselves as the seven-foot-one-inch, 325-pound basketball icon, Shaq’s more than 200,000 strong Instagram followers instantly flooded her feed with comments.
“People on social media seem to think #Shaq has a new girlfriend,” wrote the popular social media account WorldStar when it published the image on its Instagram page.
The legendary former LA Lakers player remarked, “Nope not the kid.”
Then, in a hilarious turn of events, Shaq posted a video of himself with five women on his own Instagram account, writing, “Is this my girlfriend too? Trust me, I’ll let y’all know who my woman is. By the way, her name is Shaqirah.”
He also uploaded a video of himself lip-syncing to the iconic Training Day speech delivered by Denzel Washington, along with the message, “I’ll let you know when I fall in love.”
Although Teachey removed the post from her Instagram account a while ago, it remains on Facebook.
Since divorcing his ex-wife Shaunie Henderson, the founder and CEO of Amirah, Inc., the business behind Basketball Wives, in 2011, Shaq has been remarkably silent on the dating scene.
Together, the couple has five children: Shareef, Amirah, Me’arah, Shaqir, and Myles B. O’Neal, Shaunie’s step-son from a previous relationship. In addition, Shaq and his ex-girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh are the parents of Taahirah O’Neal, their daughter.
Shaq has been quiet about his current girlfriend despite a number of speculations circulating about her.
The Olympic gold champion, who once challenged Michael Phelps in a swimming competition, is unquestionably a sporting star.
The 15-time NBA All-Star finished the race in 23.14 seconds, while Phelps finished in 24.03 seconds—though, it should be noted, he was only swimming 25 yards, while the most decorated Olympian of all time had to cover 50 yards with a five-second head start—back when he was filming the competitive ABC series, Shaq Vs.
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