bany
[ˈbaɲ]masculine
The Catalan word for bathroom is bany. Wiktionary also lists cambra de bany.
Meaning: a room with a bathtub (noun)
Ways to say it
| Catalan | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bany | [ˈbaɲ] (Balearic, Central, Northern, Northwestern, Valencia, narrow) | masculine |
| cambra de bany | [ˈkam.bɾə də ˈbaɲ] (Balearic, Central, Northern, word by word, narrow) | feminine |
The term refers to a room with a bathtub. In a domestic context, when asking where the bathroom is, people often use the masculine noun bany rather than the full cambra de bany. Casa de banys translates to bathhouse or restroom.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase cambra de bany is a literal construction meaning room of bath.
Which one should you use?
While cambra de bany specifically refers to the room, bany is often used as a shorthand for the room itself in common speech.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Servei is used in formal settings in Balearic Catalan.
How does it change in a sentence?
bany is masculine, while cambra de bany is feminine.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not confuse bany with baulera, which refers to a storage room or pantry.
Did you know?
- Using casa de banys to describe a public restroom literally describes a 'house of baths', reflecting the historical influence of Roman bath culture.
- The word bany is derived from the Latin balneum, which is the root for the English word 'balneology' the study of therapeutic bathing.
- Catalan has two words derived from the same Latin root for room: the common cambra and the more formal càmera, such as in 'càmera de comerç'.
Examples in context
- El meu apartament té una sala d'estar, un dormitori, una cuina i un bany.My apartment has a living room, a bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom.This sentence shows how to list the rooms found in an apartment using bany.Tatoeba #2061535 by Kiraness, translation #3943524 by bpeel
- Necessito anar al bany urgentment!I need to go to the bathroom urgently!
- El bany de l'hotel és molt gran.The hotel bathroom is very large.
- He de netejar el bany avui.I have to clean the bathroom today.
Example conversation
Júlia and Aleix are at a friend's house looking at the apartment.
- JúliaOn és el bany?Where is the bathroom?
- AleixÉs al final del passadís.It is at the end of the hallway.
- JúliaGràcies, Aleix.Thanks, Aleix.
- AleixDe res, Júlia.You're welcome, Júlia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bathroom” translations and entries bany, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (cambra, de, bany) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
