Why do Americans "Go to the bathroom" when they mean "Go to the lavatory"?

Question

Why do Americans "Go to the bathroom" when they mean "Go to the lavatory"?

Answer 1

Semantics vary worldwide.  

As long as an understanding has occurred, communication has been established and the only wrong done is when someone turns a blatantly blind eye to what has been communicated simply on the basis of semantics.

Answer 2

Because we don't use Victorian words, like Lavatory!

Why do bloody Brits, go to the "Loo"?!

Answer 3

In America, a lavatory is the sink in the bathroom.

I'm a plumber, I know this.

Answer 4

I know what you mean; it just implies that they go into the bathroom, as opposed to actually do anything.

Answer 5

Because we do.  The only time I've ever heard an American say that they're going to the lavatory, is when on a plane.

Same reason that we refer to the tarmac as the runway, or why we refer to a Lorry as a truck.

Of course there are other examples like when we call Autumn, Fall, or a nappy a diaper.  But that's because a long time ago that's what the British called it.  That vocab stuck over here, whereas in Britain, it fell out of use.  

Answer 6

l suspect that originally,most loos were located in the bathroom.In england,historically the loo was seperate.Always remember that thomas crapper (an American) invented the flush toilet

Answer 7

there are many ways to express this and not many brits say lavatory.............

it's often the loo

some say lav

males may say gents

and females the ladies

and then there are those of us who say  toilet

and in the end does it really matter   we are all mature enough to know where someone is going ................

Answer 8

Because we don't pee in the lavatory. We wash our hands there.

Answer 9

I'm UK all my life and would NEVER say I was going to the lavatory. It is a horrible, tacky outdated word, used mostly in the 18th century. "Going to the bathroom or toilet " is what I always say.

Answer 10

In the U.S., it's a bathroom- complete with a toilet, shower/bathtub.

Answer 11

in america its called a bathroom. so thats where we go.. if we were going to the lavatory we would be performing science experiments.  

Answer 12

I'm Irish and I never said lavatory in my life.

Is either bathroom or jax. lol

Answer 13

I don't mind that - it's when they say they need to go to the 'John' that i get annoyed!

Answer 14

Lavatory is a horrible word.  I think they have it right.  The former makes you think of POO where as the latter makes you think of soap.

Answer 15

To us, it's all the same thing. There are many ways you can say the same thing.

I don't see any reason for people to change. I call my bathroom at home a bathroom. At work, it's the rest room. At the beach, it's the sh*it house. In a fancy venue, it's the ladies' room.

See what I mean?

EMT

Answer 16

Because in the US..they are called bathrooms or restrooms.

Answer 17

Why would I want to say lavatory?  Isn't a lavatory a place to wash your hands?  That's not what I intend to do in there, is it?

I mean, I will wash my hands there, of course, after I finish my other business.  But, I don't go in there for the specific reason of simply washing my hands.  (Usually.)

Americans say bathroom because there's usually a tub or shower in there.  One of the purposes of going into that room.  Or, we say restroom, because ... well, just because.

Answer 18

I think they p*ss in the bath  

Answer 19

I'M IN THE UK,BORN AND BREED. I HAVE ALWAYS SAID BATHROOM.I DON'T LIKE THE SAYING  GOING TO TOILET/LOO/BOG/WHAT EVER ELSE THAT I CAN'T WRITE DOWN.  

Answer 20

Everyone has different words for things.  I'm Scottish and just say I'm going to the toilet.  I've heard people say bog or loo but never actually heard anyone saying lavatory.  

Answer 21

Because we don't call bathrooms lavatories, we call them bathrooms.

In many European countries, the room in which the bathtub or shower and sink are in is separate from the room in which the toilet is in. When the US was in it's early days, most immigrants did not have any such room specifically for washing and relieving themselves. They used chamber pots in their bedrooms or some private area for that matter, and would toss the waste out the window if they could not pay to have it collected.

And so, when they arrived in the new world, and went about building their houses and decided to build a room for bathing, they simply called it a bathroom, not having used any other word for it in their native country. At this point of course, most people had outhouses but when they grew wealthy enough to install indoor plumbing and toilets, they naturally put it in the same room as the bath tub, and being the somewhat uneducated and somewhat puritanical people they were, naturally, they wouldn't consider it anything but rude to say "I'm going to the toilet" and thus we say "I'm going to the bathroom" because you might actually just be going there to wash up.

Answer 22

Actually what is mean is "go to the toilet".  In Europe it's not at all out of place to say the word toilet; but in the US it seems to be some kind of taboo word.  Who knows why this is.  I've never been able to figure these things out.  There is nothing rude of out of place in saying the word toilet.  Fancying it up doesn't remove the certain knowledge that we're headed for the #1 and #2 department.

Answer 23

A lavatory at home has a bath in it, hence why it is call the bathroom. Doesn't mean we pee in it though.  If I have to go to the bedroom to get some socks, I'm not going to lay down and take a nap in the bed or search for socks between my mattress and box spring.

My parents have a half-bath (which is contradictory since a half-bath has no bathtub) which we all refer to as the powder room (goes back to when women would go "freshen up" I believe).

When out in public, I call it a restroom.  Why it is called a restroom, I don't know.  Maybe it is because I am emptying my bladder and resting the muscles in the bladder.  I certainly try not to actually sit on the toilet (sitting down would be resting) unless I have to p**p.

So, that's pretty much my experience with the term "bathroom."

Answer 24

Because, in the US, it's usually called a bathroom.  Our bathrooms have a toilet in them, unlike European bathrooms which are just for bathing.  No one under 50 or outside of the military calls it a lavatory anymore!  You actually hear restroom more than bathroom.

Edit: Americans don't say toilet because our prudish ancsetors have made us ashamed of our normal bodily functions!

Answer 25

Hmm. Surely it's "The Bog".

Answer 26

They have a problem with dimensions. Flying over the Pacific, the pilot announced that we were flying into turbulence and requested everyone on board to return to their seats and fasten their safety belts. A large USA citizen stood up. The stewardess asked him to remain in his seat. He said, 'I have to go to the bathroom.' It was a 747 and there is no way you could describe the toilet/lavatory/WC as a bathroom.

Answer 27

lavatory sounds too s****....i think most people say bathroom, restroom, or jax like another answerer said lol (i'm irish too)

Answer 28

Because that's what we call it. Why do English people call it a boot, when they put their luggage in the trunk?

We could do this all day really.

We also call the bathroom a restroom, John, pisser, toilet, can.

Just words.