Ways to say it
| Dari | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| تَشْنَاب | tašnāb |
| تُوالِت | tovâlet |
| دَسْتْشویی | dastšuyi |
| مُسْتَراح | mostarâh |
The terms used to refer to a toilet in Dari vary significantly based on whether you are referring to the physical fixture, a polite restroom or a more casual setting.
What does it mean word for word?
The formal term مُسْتَراح literally means 'a place of rest'.
Which one should you use?
The term دَسْتْشویی is used to mean 'washroom' or 'restroom' and is considered a polite way to refer to the facility. In contrast, the word تَشْنَاب specifically refers to the fixture itself, such as a toilet or latrine. While تُوالِت is a loanword commonly used in everyday speech, مُسْتَراح is a formal or literary option.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For everyday spoken Dari, the colloquial loanword تُوالِت is very common. If you wish to be polite, use دَسْتْشویی to mean 'washroom'. For highly formal or literary contexts, you can use مُسْتَراح. The term تَشْنَاب is often used in more technical or traditional contexts to describe the fixture.
How do you pronounce it?
tašnāb
Did you know?
- In many regions where Dari is spoken, the toilet is equipped with a آبپاش or a small water hose rather than toilet paper for personal cleansing.
- The polite term دَسْتْشویی is derived from words meaning 'hand washing', shifting the focus from the biological necessity to the act of hygiene.
- Because مُسْتَراح means 'place of rest', using it in a very casual setting might sound overly poetic or even slightly humorous to a native speaker.
Examples in context
- تَشْنَاب کجاست؟tashnāb kujāst?Where is the toilet?
- این تَشْنَاب کثیف است.in tashnāb kasif ast.This toilet is dirty.
Example conversation
Omar and Sara are at a restaurant.
- عمر Omarسارا، تَشْنَاب کجاست؟Sara, tashnab kujast?Sara, where is the toilet?
- سارا Saraآن طرف راهرو است.an taraf-e rahro ast.It is at the end of the hallway.
- عمر Omarتشکر، من سریع میروم.tashakur, man sari berawam.Thanks, I will go quickly.
- سارا Saraبسیار خوب، من منتظر هستم.besyar khob, man muntazir hastam.Very well, I am waiting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “toilet” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
