Italian · Home, Clothes & Daily Life
"Toilet" in Italian: water
il water
Note: also: il gabinetto
Toilet (the fixture) in Italian is often il water (eel VAH-ter), masculine—an English loan pronounced the Italian way. Gabinetto and bagno are also common; bagno often means the whole bathroom.
At a café
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How to pronounce water
Say it
eel VAH-ter
/il ˈva.ter/
Water is VAH-ter in Italian, not the English "water". Stress VAH. Soft t.
"Toilet" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| il water | the toilet (fixture) Common spoken noun. | Common spoken noun. |
| il gabinetto | the toilet / WC Alternative. | Alternative. |
| il bagno | the bathroom Whole room. | Whole room. |
| dov'è il water? | where is the toilet? Practical question. | Practical question. |
How to use water in real life
- 1At a café
Dov'è il water, per favore?
Where is the toilet, please?
Il water in a request.
- 2Home repair
Il water perde un filo d'acqua.
The toilet is leaking a trickle of water.
Il water as fixture.
- 3Hotel room
Il water è in bagno a sinistra.
The toilet is in the bathroom on the left.
Il water location.
Mistakes English speakers make with water
Incorrect: La water è rotta.
Correct: Il water è rotto.
Water is masculine in Italian.
Incorrect: Dov'è il toilette inglese?
Correct: Dov'è il water? / Dov'è il bagno?
Prefer water, gabinetto, or bagno.
Good to know
Il water sounds odd to English ears but is normal Italian for the bowl. Signs may say WC, bagno, or toilette. In a bar, asking for il bagno is always understood.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Finding the facilities in a restaurant
ChatPal
Scusa, dov'è il water?
Excuse me, where is the toilet?
You
Credo il water sia in fondo a destra.
I think the toilet is at the back on the right.
ChatPal
Grazie. Tu hai già visto il water?
Thanks. Have you already seen the toilet?
You
Sì, il water è pulito e libero.
Yes, the toilet is clean and free.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Toilet" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Toilet" in Italian
Why water?
Italian borrowed the English word for the fixture; pronounce VAH-ter.
Bagno vs water?
Bagno = bathroom; water = toilet bowl.
Polite ask?
Dov'è il bagno, per favore? also works.
Gender?
Masculine: il water.
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