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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Loo v Toilet

131 replies

Theaspidistraiswilting · 19/10/2017 21:25

We say loo in our house. Every time my kids ask to go to the loo at school the staff won’t let them go until they ask properly to go to the toilet... They are confused! I am probably being unreasonable but aren’t both acceptable?

OP posts:
kaytee87 · 19/10/2017 21:27

That’s ridiculous! Loo is usually considered the polite term for the toilet. I always say loo.

DeadDoorpost · 19/10/2017 21:29

It's to do with class etc for years back. Don't even remember which way round *e.g. loo for upper class toilet for lower class

Anyway, I'd say it doesn't matter personally but then again I've not been at school for years depending on age... I don't vaguely remember teacher preferring we said 'toilet' though as it sounded cleaner. I didn't say loo for years.

fluffiphlox · 19/10/2017 21:29

My FIL only says ‘lavatory’. He is 89 though.
Personally I think ‘loo’ is fine in 2017.

Moanyoldcow · 19/10/2017 21:30

www.debretts.com/debretts-a-to-z/l/loo/

Send the teacher this link Grin

lostpurplehoodie · 19/10/2017 21:30

You’ll get lots of people saying toilet is completely unacceptable, even though Tatler says it’s ok now Grin but it does put people firmly in the PLT brigade.

We say loo and I got told off at the age of 30 in a restaurant by asking where the loo was as how was the waiter supposed to know what loo meant. I suppose that toilet is a much more international word so much more understandable.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 19/10/2017 21:32

Get them to ask to go to the bogs instead?

RoseWhiteTips · 19/10/2017 21:33

The word “toilet” is the word used at school. How do you imagine the word Loo would look on a sign or signs in school!? Laughable, that’s how.

I use “loo”or “bathroom” at home but school is a different matter altogether.

Topseyt · 19/10/2017 21:33

We use both words in this house. Both are perfectly acceptable.

BuzzKillington · 19/10/2017 21:33

Toilet was a swear word in my house growing up and I do cringe if I hear anyone say it.

My parents would always say lavatory, but we say loo as a less pompous variant.

c3pu · 19/10/2017 21:33

Yabu.

Just refer to it as the bog, or crapper.

kaytee87 · 19/10/2017 21:35

rose no one is asking the school to change their signage though... just to let kids use the loo / toilet when they ask to in a perfectly understandable way.

Original poster
Theaspidistraiswilting · 19/10/2017 21:36

So how does one gently inform the school that I don’t want my children to raise eyebrows? Can’t afford a school that will accept loo!

OP posts:
kaytee87 · 19/10/2017 21:37

Tbh op to make life easy I’d just ask your kids to call it a toilet at school. It is silly though.

lostpurplehoodie · 19/10/2017 21:37

You could get them to misquote Jilly Cooper “my mummy says that toilet is a worse word than fuck”, though in her case it was pardon.

Cavender · 19/10/2017 21:37

I’m not sure why your D.C. are confused? Just tell them to say “toilet” at school if that’s what their teachers require. It’s not difficult.

My D.C. had to learn to say “restroom” when we moved to the US as toilet isn’t considered very polite here and “loo” is unheard of.

Original poster
Theaspidistraiswilting · 19/10/2017 21:37

Bog is my preferred alternative... do you think they will agree to that?

OP posts:
lostpurplehoodie · 19/10/2017 21:38

Technically bog is more socially acceptable than toilet. Grin

Original poster
Theaspidistraiswilting · 19/10/2017 21:39

I know they could say toilet but I feel aggrieved that they are not allowed to say loo!

OP posts:
KERALA1 · 19/10/2017 21:43

Way back in the mists of time the following words were seen as lower middle class and pretentious - said by working class people trying to be posh.

Toilet, pardon, settee, serviette - maybe more.

The real upper class said loo, sorry, sofa and napkin.

Saying the former marks you out as a lower middle. Not sure any of this applies now though

Bobbingalongwithwineandchocs · 19/10/2017 21:46

My DH insists on calling it a bathroom, even though there are no baths in the toilets in Tesco and I have tried telling him this for years!!! Halloween Smile

Topseyt · 19/10/2017 21:46

I wouldn't waste energy being aggrieved over such a non-issue.

Just tell them to say toilet in school and that outside of school they can refer to the loo, bog, shitter or whatever they want at home.

SouthWestmom · 19/10/2017 21:46

The real upper class said loo, sorry, sofa and napkin.

I think 'what' not 'sorry'

Incitatus · 19/10/2017 21:49

Lav or netty would bring a little vintage charm into the classroom environment Smile

Anticyclone · 19/10/2017 21:49

Hmm I consider myself pretty middle class, but toilet seems the most obvious word to me. Loo seems so affected and twee. Am I an abberation?

Almahart · 19/10/2017 21:50

I think it's all pretty outdated now. I remember a game of Shopping List where Dd and I kept saying toilet roll and my DM insisted on saying loo roll. I was absolutely brought up to believe toilet was beyond the pale and couldn't give a toss now. Interested to hear Debtetts agree

OP children are quite adept at using different words in different environments ime. I have to say it woudn't really bother me though I can see why it is irritating