To ask where the toilet is in French, say Où sont les toilettes ? (oo sohn lay twah-LET). Put Excusez-moi in front and s'il vous plaît after it to sound polite. In France les toilettes is always plural. Don't ask for la salle de bain: that is the room with the bath or shower, often separate from the toilet.
- Where is the toilet?
- Où sont les toilettes ?
- Also heard
- les WC (vay-SAY)
- At a friend's home
- Je peux aller aux toilettes ?
- Not the toilet
- la salle de bain
- Level
- A1
Toilettes, WC or salle de bain?
English speakers say bathroom, loo or restroom; French has fewer options but one real trap. Many French homes have the toilet in its own small room, les WC or les toilettes, next to a separate salle de bain with the basin and bath or shower. Ask for the salle de bain and your host may show you the shower.
| French | What it is | Register |
|---|---|---|
| les toilettes | The toilet(s), the room | Standard everywhere; always plural in France |
| les WC | The toilet, the room | Neutral; common on signs and in homes |
| le petit coin | The little corner | Jokey euphemism, family and friends |
| la salle de bain | The room with the bath or shower | Not where you ask for a toilet in France |
| la cuvette | The toilet bowl itself | Rarely needed |
How do you ask politely in a café or at someone's home?
In a café or shop, catch someone's eye, say excuse me and ask. At a friend's place, asking permission sounds more natural than asking where.
Excusez-moi, où sont les toilettes, s'il vous plaît ?
Excuse me, where is the toilet, please?
Il y a des toilettes ici ?
Is there a toilet here?
Je peux aller aux toilettes ?
Can I use the loo?
At someone's home; to a friend, add s'il te plaît.
C'est au fond, à gauche.
It's at the back, on the left.
A typical answer.
En bas de l'escalier.
Downstairs / at the bottom of the stairs.
What signs will you see?
Doors are marked Hommes or Messieurs (men) and Femmes or Dames (women), sometimes just H and F. In cafés, a note saying réservées à la clientèle means for customers only, so buying a coffee first is the usual way in. Hors service means out of order.
Paris and other cities have free automatic public toilets on the street, known in Paris as sanisettes. In stations, you may have to pay a small fee.
Read A1 French stories set in Paris buildings, cafés and stations; tap any word for its meaning.
Read free in your browserWhat mistakes do learners make?
Using the singular. La toilette in France means getting washed and dressed (faire sa toilette) or, in older French, an outfit. For the room you need, say les toilettes.
The other is "restroom": French has no word for a room where you rest, and la salle de repos is a staff break room. Stick to toilettes and you will always be understood.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce où sont les toilettes?
"oo sohn lay twah-LET". Où rhymes with "you", sont has a nasal vowel with no t sound, and the final s of toilettes is silent.
Is WC pronounced in English letters?
No. French says the letters the French way: "vay-SAY", or in full "doo-bluh-vay-SAY". Most people use the short form.
How do you say I need the toilet in French?
J'ai besoin d'aller aux toilettes. Between friends, simply Je vais aux toilettes (I'm going to the loo) is the normal thing to say.
Is it rude to ask where the toilet is in France?
Not at all. Just say excusez-moi first. In a café it is polite to order something before you use the toilets.