Ways to say it
| Swiss German | Note |
|---|---|
| Wo isch s WC? | |
| Wo isch d Toilette? | also used |
The word Toilette also works and is understood the same way: Wo isch d Toilette?
What does it mean word for word?
Wo isch means 'where is', and WC is the usual Swiss German word for the toilet, said as separate letters.
Which one should you use?
Both questions ask the same thing. WC is the more typically Swiss choice, while Toilette sounds a touch closer to Standard German.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are polite, suitable for a restaurant, a shop or a train station.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrasing is shared across German-speaking Switzerland.
How does it change in a sentence?
Isch is the Swiss German form of 'is', shortened from Standard German 'ist'.
How do you pronounce it?
WC is pronounced as separate letters, 'vee-tsee'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Asking Wo isch s Bad? can cause confusion, since Bad suggests a bathtub room at home rather than a public toilet.
When do people say it?
Public WCs are often clearly signed in Swiss train stations and shopping centres, sometimes requiring a small coin.
Did you know?
- WC is pronounced as letters rather than as a word, a small reminder of its French origin even in German-speaking Switzerland.
- Train station WCs across Switzerland are often maintained to a high standard, sometimes with a staffed entrance.
Examples in context
- Wo isch d Toilette hie?Where is the bathroom here?
- Isch s WC grad dete hinde?Is the bathroom right over there?
Example conversation
A visitor, Katja, asks a waiter, Lorenz, for the bathroom in a restaurant.
- KatjaEntschuldigung, wo isch s WC?Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
- LorenzDete hinde, näb der Chuchi.Over there, next to the kitchen.
- KatjaMerci vielmal.Thank you very much.
- LorenzGärn gscheh.You are welcome.
