Maura: And when you’re in someone’s home, you wanna use only washroom or bathroom. You wouldn’t say restroom in someone’s home. It just doesn’t work.
Harp: It’s really only for public spaces.
Maura: Right. So, what about the word toilet, when people say they are going to the toilet?
Harp: We don’t really say that very often in Canada.
Maura: Yeah, it’s not that common. Sometimes you might hear it, though; some people might say it.
Harp: Some people might use it, but it really does lead to a visual picture, which…
Maura: It’s a bit direct for Canadians, and I think a lot of Americans to the south of us too, because we usually say washroom or bathroom.
Harp: Yeah, exactly. If you say, Oh, where is the toilet? It’s very clear what you’re going there to do.
Maura: Yeah. It is true, though, that in England and Australia, they do say toilet and it’s very common.
Harp: Because it’s common, I think it’s not a big deal there, but because it’s not common here, it sounds strange when people say it.
