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 |
These terms refer to the physical plumbing fixture used for urination and defecation. While people often use el baño to refer to the room containing the fixture, inodoro is the most standard and neutral term for the fixture itself.
Which one should you use?
While el baño refers to the room containing the toilet, inodoro refers to the physical fixture. Other forms like retrete and excusado are also used.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal or polite contexts, you may use excusado, which is often used in written or older contexts. In formal environments such as restaurants or hotels, the word Servicio is often used. For public signs, the term Aseo can be used as a formal term for a toilet.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, it is common to use the phrase taza del baño to refer to the toilet. In some regions of Argentina and Uruguay, inodoro is a popular term for the fixture.
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms inodoro, excusado and retrete are masculine nouns, while taza del baño is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/inoˈdoɾo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use el baño to mean the room, but if they are asking for the fixture itself, inodoro is more precise.
Did you know?
- The word inodoro is a literal linguistic paradox, meaning 'without odor' thanks to the Latin prefix 'in-' (meaning 'not') and 'odor'.
- In Spanish, the word servicios is often used in the plural to refer to a public toilet.
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 describing 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 a retrete.Tatoeba #6816427 by arh, translation #9179776 by DJ_Saidez
- ¿Dónde está el baño?Where is the toilet?
- Baños y aseosToilets and restrooms
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo is helping Elena fix a problem in the bathroom.
- ElenaMateo, el inodoro no funciona.Mateo, the toilet is not working.
- MateoVoy a revisar el inodoro ahora mismo.I am going to check the toilet right now.
- ElenaGracias, necesito usarlo pronto.Thanks, I need to use it soon.
- MateoNo te preocupes, lo arreglaré.Don't worry, I will fix it.
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.
