el baño
everyday, Venezuela
To ask for the toilet in Venezuela, say el baño. For the toilet bowl itself, Venezuelans say la poceta, a word that is typical of the country. It is also called el sanitario and el inodoro.
Meaning: toilet or bathroom (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| el baño | everyday, Venezuela |
| el sanitario | formal |
| la poceta | Venezuela, the bowl itself |
| el inodoro | standard |
¿Dónde está el baño? is the question you need in restaurants and shops. Baño covers the whole room, even when there is no bath.
Which one should you use?
Inodoro is the standard word in many Spanish-speaking countries and is used for the fixture. In Venezuela people tend to say poceta instead when something is wrong with it, for example la poceta está tapada.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not mix up the room with the sink. In Venezuela the sink is el lavamanos.
Did you know?
- A waiter in Venezuela is called a mesonero, another word that sets Venezuelan Spanish apart.
Examples in context
- ¿Dónde está el baño, por favor?Where is the bathroom, please?
- La poceta está tapada.The toilet is clogged.
- Necesito ir al baño.I need to go to the bathroom.
Example conversation
A tourist asks a waiter for directions in a restaurant in Mérida.
- TuristaDisculpe, ¿dónde está el baño?Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
- MesoneroAl fondo, a la derecha.At the back, on the right.
- TuristaMuchas gracias.Thank you very much.
