banyo
/ˈbanjo/
The Tagalog word for bathroom is banyo.
The term banyo specifically refers to a room containing a bathtub. In common daily speech, particularly in the Philippines, people frequently use the acronym CR (pronounced as the individual letters C and R) to refer to a restroom or comfort room.
Meaning: a room with a bathtub (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
banyo is a loanword from the Spanish word baño, meaning bathroom.
Which one should you use?
While banyo is the standard term for a bathroom, palikuran is used when a more formal or literary word for a toilet or restroom is required. In casual settings, the acronym CR is a common colloquial alternative.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbanjo/
When do people say it?
In the Philippines, it is very common to use the acronym CR (comfort room) when asking for or referring to a restroom.
Did you know?
- The word banyo is a linguistic traveler that traces its ancestry back to the Ancient Greek word βαλανεῖον.
- While banyo refers to the room, the formal word palikuran literally translates to 'the place where one goes behind'.
- The term CR stands for 'comfort room', a unique Philippine English phrase that is rarely understood by English speakers from the US or UK.
Examples in context
- Pinalinis ni Tom ang banyo kay Mary.Tom asked Mary to clean the bathroom.This sentence shows someone asking for the banyo to be cleaned.Tatoeba #12417451 by rayah, translation #4017053 by CK
- Kung magtatagal ka pa diyan sa banyo para magbabad, tataas ang singil natin sa tubig.If you stay longer there in the bathroom to soak yourself, our water bill will increase.This sentence illustrates the use of banyo in the context of staying in the room to soak in water.Tatoeba #9774456 by ye3t, translation #9774516 by ye3t
- Tinulungan ng aking "Tito" Bert ang aking Papa Frank na itayo ang aming mga silid at banyo sa lapag.My "Uncle" Bert helped my Papa Frank build our ground floor bedrooms and bathroom.This sentence describes the construction of bedrooms and the banyo on a ground floor.Tatoeba #10783580 by nonong, translation #10783569 by nonong
- Mayroon bang kubeta sa mall na ito?Is there a bathroom in this mall?
- Pwede bang pahingi ng susi ng C.R.?Can I have the key to the restroom?
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a hotel room.
- ChristinaNasaan ang banyo?Where is the bathroom?
- MarkNasa loob ng kwarto ang banyo.The bathroom is inside the room.
- ChristinaMay malaking banyo ba rito?Is there a large bathroom here?
- MarkOo, malaki ang banyo sa silid na ito.Yes, the bathroom in this room is large.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bathroom” translations and entries banyo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries banyo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
