I assume washroom is a Canadian term. In American English it is bathroom. In British English it is water closet. I have also seen toilets used in Europe, a blunt yet accurate phrase. What other English phrases are used around the world? I noticed on the Chester Zoo (England) Islands thread, they referred to it as a toilet block, which to me sounds like what they would be called in a prison.
I have never heard anyone say "just going to the water closet" or anything like that Other terms for toilets? The loo, the bathroom (even if there is no bath!), the ladies/gents (sounds a bit old fashioned) or - even more old fashioned sounding - the powder room. There are so many ways to say toilet!
No-one ever uses the phrase 'water closet' for toilet unless they're being ironic - though they'll still quite often be shown as WC on signs and maps. The UK mapping agency Ordnance Survey traditionally uses 'PC' - for 'public convenience' - but even this is on the way out: A new symbol for the toilet - BBC News The most often used term in British English is simply 'the toilets'! f you really wanted to avoid the word then 'the facilities', 'the loos', 'the little boys'/girls' room' etc are all there for you! (Before we get onto 'spend a penny', 'answer the call of nature' and suchlike...) The 'toilet block' one is contextual - you wouldn't ask a staff member "Where is the nearest toilet block?" (you'd just say toilets) but in a building/layout context you might use it ("Is there going to be a new toilet block in the new section?").
The above link says Public Convenience is used in the UK and US, but I do not know where in the US it would be used. I consider myself well traveled within my country and I have never heard or seen that term until this thread.
