Où sont les toilettes
The English phrase "where is the bathroom" is translated into French as Où sont les toilettes.
This phrase is used to ask for the location of a restroom. The word toilettes is generally understood across all French-speaking regions.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to Where are the toilets because the noun is plural.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To make the request much more polite and natural when asking a stranger, you should add s'il vous plaît to the end of the phrase: Où sont les toilettes, s'il vous plaît ?
How does it change in a sentence?
In French, the word for bathroom or restroom is almost always used in the plural form, which is why the verb and noun in this phrase are plural.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say Où est la salle de bain to mean where the restroom is. However, salle de bain specifically refers to a room containing a bathtub or shower for bathing, rather than a public restroom.
Did you know?
- The word toilettes is related to the word toile, meaning 'cloth'. This is because people used to lay a cloth over a dressing table while grooming themselves.
- The word où descends from the Latin word ubi, which is also the root of the English word 'ubiquitous'.
- While Où sont les toilettes is the standard, you may see the sign WC in France. This is an English abbreviation for 'Water Closet' that was adopted into French and is pronounced as double-vé cé.
Examples in context
- Où sont les toilettes ?Where is the bathroom?This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase Où sont les toilettes.Tatoeba #3946 by TRANG, translation #2136 by brauliobezerra
- Pardon, pourriez-vous m'indiquer où se trouvent les toilettes?Pardon me, could you please show me where the restrooms are?
- Excuse-moi, où sont les toilettes?Excuse me, where are the restrooms?
- Dis, où est-ce qu'on peut trouver les toilettes?Hey, where can we find the toilets?
- Savez-vous où se trouvent les toilettes?Do you know where the restrooms are?
- Pouvez-vous me dire où je peux trouver les toilettes?Can you tell me where I can find the restrooms?
- Où est-ce que je peux aller aux toilettes?Where can I go to the restroom?
- Pardon, savez-vous où sont les toilettes ?Excuse me, do you know where the bathroom is?
Example conversation
Nathan is at a restaurant and needs to find the restroom.
- NathanExcusez-moi, où sont les toilettes ?Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
- ChloéElles sont au fond du couloir, à gauche.They are at the end of the hallway, on the left.
- NathanMerci beaucoup, Chloé.Thank you very much, Chloé.
- ChloéJe vous en prie.You're welcome.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries les, où, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
