Have you ever seen the letters “WC” outside a public bathroom and wondered what they mean? You’re not alone! Many people around the world are curious about the “WC,” which refers to a room with a toilet and a sink.
While we can explain what “WC” stands for, it might not make much more sense than other terms like restroom, bathroom, or loo.
In 2020, a couple named Shelby and Dylan made a TikTok video showing a funny difference between how some Americans and Canadians refer to bathrooms. In the video, Dylan walks by a sign that says “washroom” and asks, “What in the world is a washroom?” He humorously wonders what people are washing in there, adding, “The only thing I wash in there is my hands.” Off-camera, Shelby chimes in, asking, “Do you rest in a restroom?”
It’s interesting to see how different cultures use different terms for the same place!
“That’s a good point. None of these terms make much sense,” Dylan says in the video.
Many people joined the conversation online, sharing their thoughts about what they call this important room.
One user commented, “It’s called a bathroom, restroom, washroom, and toilet.”
Another follower shared a funny story from Disneyland, saying they “asked for the washroom” and ended up being sent to the laundromat instead!
A third user joked, “Wait until he finds out about water closets.”
**Water Closet**
According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, a “water closet” is a term used to describe “a room with a toilet” or “a toilet bowl and its accessories.”
Long ago, when people talked about using the bathroom, it often meant taking a bath. The term “restroom” suggested a place to rest or get ready by using the sink and mirror.
Lastly, if you needed to go potty, you would use the toilet in the water closet. Depending on where you are in the world, this room is called many different names, including loo, restroom, bathroom, washroom, lavatory, or WC.
In modern times, you will often see signs that say “WC” in public places like airports, restaurants, or hotels. This is just another way to say “restroom” or “bathroom,” but it is usually seen as a more formal or international sign for places that welcome travelers from different countries.
**History of the WC**
Before the 19th century in America, having an indoor toilet was a luxury only for wealthy people. Most people used outhouses or outdoor toilets. While many homes had “bathrooms” for taking baths, these rooms usually didn’t have toilets. The installation of indoor plumbing started to become common in the late 1800s, leading to the creation of the water closet by 1890. These early water closets had toilets that were separate from bathing areas.
It wasn’t until the early 20th century that bathrooms began to combine both bathing areas and toilets into one room. This design helped save space and made plumbing simpler, but it also reduced privacy, especially when multiple people were using the bathroom.
Over time, the term “water closet” changed to refer to a small, private room within a larger bathroom that was used only for the toilet. These water closets often have a small sink for handwashing, making them convenient and self-contained.
To understand the term “water closet,” many people shared their thoughts on Reddit in a post titled, “Why is a public WC called bathroom if there is [no] bath?”
In response, one Reddit user pointed out, “Americans might ask: ‘Why is it called a WC (water closet) if it isn’t even a closet?” This user explained that in the U.S., “bathroom” or “restroom” is the common way to refer to a “room with a toilet.” Other countries use different terms, like “WC,” “lavatory,” or “loo.”
Another user mentioned that in Russian, the term translates to “a room without windows,” even if there is a window. A third user shared that in Esperanto, it’s called “necesejo,” meaning “necessary place.”
Other Reddit users talked about the differences between “washroom,” “bathroom,” and “restroom.” One commenter noted, “Canada famously uses ‘washroom,’” while another clarified that in the Midwest, “washroom” is also common, but “bathroom” and “restroom” are used more frequently.
One user humorously stated, “Best one, I think. You should be washing in there… not resting.”
What do you think about the term WC? What do you call the room that has a toilet? We would love to hear your opinions, so please share your thoughts!
Julie Andrews makes rare public appearance at 87, and everyone’s saying the same thing
One of the most active actors in her generation is Julie Andrews. There is no denying her impact on the Hollywood industry.
The actress has hardly been spotted in public recently. But everyone is expressing the same sentiment in response to her most recent public appearance…
Julie Andrews’ parents were vaudeville artists, thus she was raised in a world full with entertainment. Early on, she demonstrated an interest in performing, and eventually went on to achieve great achievements and leave a lasting impression on the acting industry. For her portrayal of Mary Poppins, she received an Academy Award.
The actress said of the role and film, “It was a brand new thing in my life that I’d never done before. It was for Walt Disney, of course, and the songs in Mary Poppins had a kind of Vaudeville quality to them.”
“I think it’s what attracted me to the role, because all that kind of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and Jolly Holiday music was very much like the kind of things that you hear in English vaudeville,” the actress added.
Andrews assisted Disney in setting records with Mary Poppins. The movie received 13 Academy Award nominations and ended up becoming the highest-grossing movie of 1964.
Andrews said how the inspiration for the Mary Poppins attire came from her ex-husband Tony Walton. His suggestions led to the decision to use colorful patterns on the inside while portraying a more “uniform” appearance on the outside. She disclosed what Tony had said to her at that time., “Because I think that’s what gives her pleasure. Very formal on the outside and a little bit wicked on the inside.”
“It completely gave me a clue as to her character. Big, big help for me,” she later recalled, giving him his due credit. The actress went on to play her iconic role as Maria von Trapp in The Sound Of Music. Recently, she narrated Netflix’s Bridgerton series as Lady Whistledown.
However, the actress did not appear on camera; she merely provided the voice for the narration. She also eliminated any chance that it would occur.
“No, no, no,” she said when asked about the possibility of a role in front of the camera. “You know who Lady Whistledown really is, so I’m afraid it stays with me in the background. But I’m very happy to do that.
Because the actress just made a rare public appearance, fans who were eager to see her can now relax. At the Sag Harbor farmers’ market in The Hamptons on Long Island, New York, the 87-year-old veteran actress was spotted.
She was attractive as she waved to passersby and used her cane to stroll. Fans are not accustomed to seeing the actress walking with a cane. Before heading to her car, she was observed purchasing two boxes of Lu Petit Ecolier European dark chocolate biscuits and some flowers.
Julie Andrews, who is renowned for her traditional manner, did not let us down in this instance either. The actress wore fitting gray pants and a light gray long-sleeve top. She completed her outfit with a white scarf around her neck, a beige tote purse, white sneakers, and gold stud earrings.
A man placed an umbrella over her as she attempted to get into the SUV because it had started to rain. In the images posted online, she appeared to be rather gorgeous.
Everyone thought the actress looked stunning. A user of X (formerly known as Twitter) commented that the actress looked “lovely as ever.” Another person said she was “so beautiful.”
Julie Andrews is unquestionably still as endearing as ever. Her well-known smile, which has for decades warmed the hearts of millions, still has the same impact.
If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy Barbra Eden, who earlier this year made a rare public appearance at the age of 92.
What do you think about Julie Andrew’s public appearance?
Let us know in the comments. Share this with other fans of the actress so they can see how lovely she looks as well.
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