Have you ever paused to think about what the letters ‘WC’ stand for when you see them on bathroom doors? Many of us casually refer to this place as the ‘bathroom’ or ‘restroom,’ but it turns out ‘WC’ carries a rather surprising meaning.
Believe it or not, ‘WC’ stands for ‘Water Closet.’ Yes, you read that right! There’s quite a sensible reason behind this historical term.
In times gone by, people would refer to washing themselves as ‘using the bathroom.’ When folks wanted to freshen up or prepare for their day, they’d head to the ‘restroom.’ If it was time to relieve oneself, the ‘water closet,’ or toilet, was the place to go.
The revelation has left many bewildered, including a number of social media users who shared their amazement. One exclaimed, “What do you mean wc stands for water closet…” Another shared, “I was 23 y/o when I learned that WC is called water closet.” Imagine that surprise at 27!
One individual said, “I call MINE a bathroom and the ones in public, restrooms. Though I’ve heard ‘water closet,’ I never use the term, but the place, yes.”
On another interesting note related to bathrooms, a TikTok user recently went viral for discussing the unspoken rule of urinal etiquette that supposedly ‘every guy knows.’
Stand-up comedian Freddy Quinne introduced this unwritten rule. Nobody has formally told men about this, yet it seems universally understood where they should ideally relieve themselves in a row of urinals.
Freddie explains, “Imagine walking into a space with five empty urinals. The logical choice would be to use either the first one on the left or the last one on the right.”
If those two urinals are occupied, the next option is urinal number three, the central one. This system leaves empty spaces between users, ensuring a comfortable buffer for privacy.
Different Spaces, Same Purpose
The places we retreat to for a bit of solitude, and sometimes a much-needed break to check our messages, are known by many names: loo, toilet, bathroom, restroom, or even bog. But ‘WC’ remains a curious abbreviation.
This historical reference to the ‘water closet’ stems from the times when people associated each term with different bathroom activities. Bathrooms were for bathing, restrooms were for resting and grooming, and the water closet was the actual utility room for the toilet.
As word spreads about what ‘WC’ truly means, some still find themselves perplexed, discovering only recently that these letters stand for ‘Water Closet.’
One person mentioned, “At least you’re not 27,” in a comment, humorously suggesting how eye-opening the realization can be, regardless of age.
This fun tidbit once again highlights the fascinating little things we learn about aspects of daily life that we usually take for granted.
Freddie reiterates there’s no other rational occasion for choosing urinals two and four, except if one, three, and five are already occupied. It’s an unspoken wisdom that seems to just make sense. And as many men can attest, Freddie’s advice hits the nail on the head.
