Ways to say it
| Swiss German | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| WC | vee-tsee | |
| Badzimmer | room with a bathtub |
For the room at home with a bathtub or shower, Swiss speakers say Badzimmer instead, keeping the two rooms clearly separate.
What does it mean word for word?
WC is simply the abbreviation of the French 'water closet', pronounced letter by letter in Swiss German. Badzimmer joins Bad, 'bath', with Zimmer, 'room'.
Which one should you use?
WC is what you ask for when you need the toilet, whether at a restaurant, a train station or a friend's place. Badzimmer specifically names the room with the bathtub.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are neutral and used in any setting.
Is it said differently in some regions?
WC is used the same way across German-speaking Switzerland and much of German-speaking Europe.
How does it change in a sentence?
Neither word changes with the person speaking or being addressed.
How do you pronounce it?
WC is said as separate letters, 'vee-tsee', not spelled out as an English word.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Asking for the Badzimmer when you only need the toilet can sound confusing, since many public places have a WC without any bathtub at all.
When do people say it?
Public WCs in Swiss train stations are often clean, well signed and sometimes require a small coin to enter.
Did you know?
- WC comes from the English 'water closet' but is pronounced as French-style letters, 'vee-tsee', throughout German-speaking Switzerland.
- Many Swiss public toilets, especially in train stations, charge a small coin fee to keep them clean and staffed.
Examples in context
- Wo isch s WC, bitte?Where is the bathroom, please?
- S Badzimmer isch obe links.The bathroom with the tub is upstairs on the left.
- Ich muess churz as WC.I need to go to the bathroom for a moment.
Example conversation
A traveller, Mia, asks a station worker, Urs, for directions in Zurich.
- MiaEntschuldigung, wo isch s WC?Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
- UrsDete hinde, bim Gleis zwei.Over there in the back, by platform two.
- MiaMerci, chostets öppis?Thanks, does it cost anything?
- UrsJo, en Franke.Yes, one franc.
