inodoro
/inoˈdoɾo/masculine
The English word 'toilet' can be translated into Spanish as inodoro. Wiktionary also lists excusado and taza del baño.
Meaning: fixture used for urination and defecation (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| inodoro | /inoˈdoɾo/ | masculine |
| excusado | /eɡskuˈsado/ | masculine |
| taza del baño | /taθa del baɲo/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /tasa del baɲo/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
Mexico, feminine |
| retrete | /reˈtɾete/ | masculine |
The terms in this pack refer to the fixture used for urination and defecation. In Spain, the most standard and common term to refer to the toilet or the bathroom is el baño.
What does it mean word for word?
The word inodoro literally means 'odorless', derived from the prefix in- ('not') and odor ('odor').
Which one should you use?
While inodoro refers specifically to the porcelain fixture itself, el baño refers to the entire room (the bathroom).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, taza del baño is a common way to refer to the toilet fixture.
How do you pronounce it?
/inoˈdoɾo/
When do people say it?
In public places in Spain, signs for ladies typically use the word señoras, while signs for gentlemen typically use the word caballeros.
Did you know?
- The word retrete is not originally from Spanish but was borrowed from Catalan or Occitan, where it shares a root with the English word 'retreat'.
- While inodoro means 'odorless', the term was popularized during the 19th century to market the new flush toilets as a sanitary improvement over old pits.
- In some Latin American countries, you may see the word sanitario on public signs, which refers to the facility rather than the porcelain fixture itself.
Examples in context
- He cambiado el retrete.I replaced the toilet.This sentence is useful for talking about replacing the retrete.Tatoeba #7160346 by arh, translation #9678994 by DJ_Saidez
- Tom limpió la taza del baño.Tom cleaned the toilet.This sentence is useful for talking about cleaning the taza del baño.Tatoeba #1526902 by marcelostockle, translation #1095263 by CK
- Este retrete tiene un fluxómetro.This toilet has a flushometer.This sentence is useful for describing a feature of the retrete.Tatoeba #6816427 by arh, translation #9179776 by DJ_Saidez
- Disculpe, ¿dónde está el baño, por favor?Excuse me, where is the toilet, please?
- Perdone, ¿dónde se encuentra el servicio?Excuse me, where is the toilet?
- Oye, ¿dónde está el váter?Hey, where is the toilet?
- ¿Sabes dónde está el retrete?Do you know where the toilet is?
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are renovating their bathroom.
- ElenaAlejandro, ¿te gusta este inodoro blanco?Alejandro, do you like this white toilet?
- AlejandroSí, pero es muy grande para el baño.Yes, but it is too big for the bathroom.
- ElenaBusquemos un inodoro más pequeño entonces.Let's look for a smaller toilet then.
- AlejandroDe acuerdo, vamos a la tienda ahora.Agreed, let's go to the store now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “toilet” translations and entries inodoro, excusado, retrete, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries baño, del, excusado, inodoro, retrete, taza, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
