Loo v Toilet

[Theaspidistraiswilting]

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?

Are you sure it’s the word loo they are objecting too?

When I teach older children I discourage them from saying ‘can I go toilet?’ I get them to say ‘can I go to the toilet?’

Bathroom in this house.

I knew someone who insisted on calling it powder room.

"Please, Miss, may I perambulate to the Water Closet? Thanks most awfully".

Standards were strict in my youth.

How about water closet? We have Australian relatives so could stretch to dunny?

As long as kids are asking politely, and not calling the loo anything offensive, do schools really^ insist on which term they use? Jeez.

OP,

X-post!

Ours were taught to never use the T word. Fuck is a more acceptable word here. The place is called a lavatory. Loo is fine. It was easy enough for the children to understand some school staff in their primary used inappropriate words that were not permitted at home. Luckily secondary staff reinforced that one went to the lavatory but performed ones toilet before leaving home in the morning.
My husband visibly cringes every time he hears the T word.

If not loo teach them to say "lavatory". These things are still judged and I would not thank a teacher for correcting DC with a non-u word.

I tend to use loo, but use toilet at work as there are a fair number of English as a second language.

Better than asking to use the shitter

I say toilet. My common as muck Irish granny said lavatory so it's definitely not a class thing!
Isn't loo a bit dated?

At least they're being clear - one guest arrived at our house and asked to wash his hands. I showed him the kitchen sink... Fortunately he didn't use it for his intended purpose!

Blimey, one could get lost in that Debrett’s website

Crumbs,

Hypothetically speaking, if your Grandson's Mother-in-Law, a guest in your home, were to mention "toilet" in your presence (compounding her "pleased to meet you" upon first introduction...horrors!), how would you and your husband react?

Normally 'loo' or 'bog' here. But I wouldn't regard saying 'toilet' as in any way wrong. I guess it's just why use two syllables when you can use one?

Loo always. Toilet is a no-no. As is ‘bog’ and anything else vulgar.

I always say ‘bathroom’

I didn’t realise that saying toilet was so unacceptable!

Loo sounds so common.

oh god, are we going to get into a 'supper' scenario again??

(recent thread for those who missed it, supper is an affectation apparently, it's tea for the evening meal, I think that sums the thread up in a nutshell!).

Loo, ladies, ou sont les toilettes svp if in France. Personally not keen on toilet and lavatory is ancient usage IMO. Def not bog, shitter or crapper!

Come on, Crumbs, I'm curious to know your answer!

ThaliaLuxurySpa. I don’t have grandchildren and am not old enough to have a married grandson. My children’s partners generally say lavatory or loo. None say the T word. One son did bring home a girlfriend who apparently said the T word but she didn’t ever say it in front of us - I suspect people who use the T word are a bit refined and tend not to mention the need for bodily functions.
How would we react to a guest saying it? We’d give them directions to it, of course. Good manners are about making others feel comfortable. It is after all, just a word and some people use it when they are trying to be polite.

Who gives a shit?

Usually the bog, in our house.

Loo, loo, skip to me loo...