toilettes
/twa.lɛt/feminine, plural
The French word for toilet is toilettes. Wiktionary also lists w.-c.
Meaning: fixture used for urination and defecation (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| toilettes | /twa.lɛt/ | feminine, plural |
| w.-c. | /ve.se/ | masculine |
In French, the word refers to the fixture used for urination and defecation.
Which one should you use?
The plural feminine form toilettes refers to the restroom or the toilet fixture. This is distinct from the singular feminine form la toilette, which refers to the act of washing oneself or one's personal grooming.
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to the restroom or the fixture, the word is almost always used in the plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of toilettes is /twa.lɛt/. It consists of two syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the singular masculine form le toilette to refer to the restroom. Instead, use the feminine plural les toilettes.
Did you know?
- The word toilettes derives from the textile history of the word 'toile', as the word originally described the cloths used for covering or cleaning.
- The abbreviation w.-c. is used frequently in France, even though it is a direct loan from the English 'water closet'.
- In very formal settings, one might use the term cabinet to refer to the toilet, stemming from the historical use of small private rooms.
Examples in context
- Où sont les toilettes ?Where is the toilet?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of the toilettes.Tatoeba #3946 by TRANG, translation #38937 by CK
- Elle est aux toilettes.She's in the toilet.This sentence uses the toilettes to indicate a person's location.Tatoeba #551938 by zmoo, translation #10131878 by sundown
- Ils vont aux toilettes.They're going to the toilet.This sentence describes the action of going to the toilettes.Tatoeba #10464431 by Julien_PDC, translation #11559672 by weirdie
- Je dois aller aux WC, est-ce que vous savez où ils se trouvent ?I need to go to the toilet, do you know where they are?
- Excusez-moi, où puis-je trouver des toilettes publiques ?Excuse me, where can I find public toilets?
- 50 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In a restaurant, a woman asks a man where the restroom is.
- ManonHugo, est-ce que tu sais où sont les toilettes ?Hugo, do you know where the toilets are?
- HugoOui, elles sont au fond du couloir.Yes, they are at the end of the hallway.
- ManonMerci beaucoup pour ton aide.Thank you very much for your help.
- HugoDe rien, Manon.You're welcome, Manon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “toilet” translations and entries toilettes, w.-c., CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries w.-c., CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
