lavabo
/laˈbabo/
The Spanish word for lavatory (specifically a basin used for washing hands and face) is lavabo.
In Spanish, lavabo refers specifically to the sink or basin used for washing. If you wish to refer to the entire room (the bathroom), the most common word is baño.
Which one should you use?
While lavabo refers specifically to the sink or basin, baño is the more common word used to refer to the entire room.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of lavabo is lavabos.
How do you pronounce it?
/laˈbabo/
Did you know?
- The word lavabo is actually a verb form in disguise. It comes from the Latin 'lavābō', which means 'I shall wash'.
- The term lavabo is closely linked to the Catholic Mass, where the 'lavabo' is the ritual washing of the priest's hands.
- Spanish has a specific distinction between lavabo for the bathroom sink and fregadero for the kitchen sink.
Examples in context
- Disculpe, ¿dónde está el baño?Excuse me, where is the restroom?
- ¿Dónde están los servicios?Where are the restrooms?
- Por favor, ¿dónde están los sanitarios?Please, where are the restrooms?
- Oye, ¿dónde está el aseo?Hey, where is the bathroom?
- ¿Dónde está el W.C.?Where is the bathroom?
- Necesito ir al baño públicoI need to go to the public restroom
- ¿Sabes dónde hay un aseo por aquí?Do you know where there is a bathroom around here?
- ¿Me podría indicar dónde están los sanitarios?Could you please tell me where the restrooms are?
- ¿Eh, sabes dónde está el W.C.?Hey, do you know where the bathroom is?
- El lavabo es de porcelana blanca.The washbasin is made of white porcelain.
- Necesito limpiar el lavabo del baño.I need to clean the bathroom washbasin.
- El lavabo está un poco roto.The washbasin is a little broken.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are renovating their new apartment.
- SofíaMira este lavabo moderno para el baño.Look at this modern washbasin for the bathroom.
- MateoEs muy bonito, Sofía.It is very pretty, Sofía.
- Sofía¿Crees que el lavabo cabe en el espacio?Do you think the washbasin fits in the space?
- MateoSí, creo que es el tamaño perfecto.Yes, I think it is the perfect size.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry lavabo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lavabo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
