tuvalet
/tuvɑlet/
The English word 'toilet' is translated into Turkish as tuvalet.
tuvalet is the standard, polite way to refer to the restroom or the fixture itself. If you are specifically referring to the sink used for washing hands, the word lavabo should be used instead.
Meaning: fixture used for urination and defecation (noun)
Which one should you use?
The English abbreviation WC is used informally in Turkish. The term hela is a more colloquial or old-fashioned way to say toilet, often used in casual or slightly crude contexts. To specify a genderless toilet, use Cinsiyetsiz tuvalet.
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the plural, 'toilets', add the suffix to the base word to get tuvaletler.
How do you pronounce it?
/tuvɑlet/. The /u/ sound is like the [oo] in 'cool' and the /v/ sound is like the [v] in 'vase'.
Did you know?
- In many Turkish public tuvaletler, you may find a small handheld spray nozzle called a taharet musluğu used for cleaning instead of toilet paper.
- The word tuvalet is a linguistic loan from the French word toilette, which originally referred to a small cloth used for applying cosmetics or a woman's dressing table.
- Turkish speakers often use the phrase lavaboya gitmek (going to the sink) as a common euphemism for going to the tuvalet.
Examples in context
- Hiç tuvalet kağıdı yok.There is no toilet paper.This sentence shows how to use tuvalet when mentioning toilet paper.Tatoeba #5260934 by deyta, translation #3256303 by Hybrid
- Hiç tuvalet kağıdı yok!There's no toilet paper!This sentence shows the same usage of tuvalet with an exclamation for emphasis.Tatoeba #5804658 by deyta, translation #5803465 by Hybrid
- Onun bir tuvaleti var mı?Does it have a toilet?This sentence demonstrates how to ask if a place has a tuvalet.Tatoeba #1487494 by duran, translation #35439 by Zifre
- Özür dilerim, tuvalet nerede?Excuse me, where is the toilet?
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Merve and Burak are at a restaurant.
- MerveTuvalet nerede?Where is the toilet?
- BurakKoridorun sonunda, sağ tarafta.At the end of the hallway, on the right.
- MerveTeşekkürler, Burak.Thanks, Burak.
- BurakRica ederim, Merve.You're welcome, Merve.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “toilet” translations and entries tuvalet, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tuvalet, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
