If you’ve traveled abroad, you’ve likely seen the letters WC on bathroom signs. WC means Water Closet, a 19th-century English term for a flushing toilet. While the phrase is no longer common in English, the abbreviation remains widespread, especially in Europe and Asia.
Bathroom terms differ worldwide: Americans say restroom or bathroom, Canadians prefer washroom, the British use toilet or loo, and in the Philippines, it’s CR (comfort room). To avoid confusion, international signs rely on universal icons: a figure in pants for men, a skirt for women.
Some venues use playful symbols, but airports usually keep WC and simple graphics for clarity. Increasingly, gender-neutral signs reflect inclusivity. Wherever you go, these signs speak a universal language.
