To ask where the toilet is in Italian, say Scusi, dov'è il bagno? (doh-VEH eel BAH-nyoh): excuse me, where is the toilet? Bagno means both toilet and bathroom. In a bar or restaurant, Italians often ask Posso usare il bagno? (can I use the toilet?). At a friend's house, say Scusa instead of Scusi.
- Where is the toilet?
- Dov'è il bagno?
- Can I use the toilet?
- Posso usare il bagno?
- Men / Women (signs)
- Signori / Signore
- Occupied / Free
- Occupato / Libero
- Level
- A1
Bagno, toilette or servizi: which word?
Il bagno is the everyday word and is never rude, so there is no need for a euphemism. The others are mostly what you will read on signs.
| Italian | Meaning | Where you meet it |
|---|---|---|
| il bagno | toilet, bathroom | Everywhere, at home or out |
| i bagni | the toilets | Stations, museums, airports |
| la toilette | toilet | Restaurants and hotels; sounds a little refined |
| i servizi (igienici) | toilets, facilities | Signs and official notices |
| WC | toilet | Signs |
| il gabinetto | toilet | An older word; bagno is far more common |
Vado in bagno means I'm going to the toilet. But fare il bagno means to have a bath, or to go for a swim in the sea, which is what it usually means at the beach.
How do you ask politely in a bar, a shop or someone's home?
Choose Scusi for staff and strangers (Lei) and Scusa for friends and their family if you are on tu terms.
Scusi, dov'è il bagno?
Excuse me, where's the toilet?
Lei
Scusa, dov'è il bagno?
Sorry, where's the bathroom?
tu, at a friend's
Dove sono i bagni?
Where are the toilets?
Posso usare il bagno?
May I use the toilet?
C'è un bagno qui vicino?
Is there a toilet near here?
Mi dà la chiave del bagno, per favore?
Could I have the key to the toilet, please?
Lei; some bars lock theirs
Dov'è is dove (where) plus è (is), joined with an apostrophe; with a plural it becomes dove sono.
Many bars keep their toilets for customers, so ordering a coffee first is the usual courtesy.
What will people answer?
Directions to a toilet are short. These are the lines you are most likely to hear back:
In fondo a destra.
At the end, on the right.
Al piano di sotto.
Downstairs.
Di sopra.
Upstairs.
È occupato.
It's occupied.
È fuori servizio.
It's out of order.
Solo per i clienti.
Customers only.
If the answer comes too fast, the phrases in how to say "I don't understand" in Italian will get it repeated.
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Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you pronounce bagno?
"BAH-nyoh". Gn in Italian is one sound, like the ny in "canyon" or the ñ in Spanish. Don't pronounce the g separately.
Is bagno the toilet or the bathroom?
Both. Italian homes usually have the toilet in the bathroom, so one word covers the room and, in public places, the toilets. Il water (pronounced "VAH-ter") is the toilet bowl itself.
How do you say I need the toilet?
Devo andare in bagno, I need to go to the toilet. With children or friends you might hear the more urgent devo fare pipì.
Are toilets free in Italy?
In bars and restaurants they are for customers. In large railway stations they are often paid, so keep a coin handy. Museums and shopping centres usually have free toilets.