In the past, the word ‘toilet’ was considered rude to say aloud in public so in came the term WC – but people have been left stunned after realising what the letters actually stand for
People have been left flabbergasted after learning what WC actually stands for, despite having seen the letters countless times before when nipping to the loo while out and about.
Chances are if you’ve ever had to use the loo while out in a public place, you’ll have seen the letters WC on the door – but you may not have given much consideration to what they actually stand for. A number of social media users have now been left positively astounded after learning the true meaning behind WC – some thought it is used to describe something completely different. “I can’t believe I’ve been living with a WC sign and had no idea why it was called WC,” one individual said. The truth offers a fascinating little insight into the history of toilets and sanitation.
In response to a query about what the term ‘WC’ actually means, one history buff explained that the letters actually stand for ‘water closet’, which was a way to spare blushes back in the early days of public bathrooms.
Taking to Quora, they explained: “In the 19th Century, the word toilet was not uttered in polite society, nor were the bodily functions associated with the use of a toilet. In order to avoid that, the term ‘water closet’ was invented to describe the then-new flush lavatory, particularly in public places.
“The acronym WC was seen as being far enough from its function to be uttered, albeit with some embarrassment and reticence.”
According to the plumbing website Plumbworld, the phrase ‘water closet’ was first used in England back in the 1870s. Originally known as ‘wash-down closet’, this soon became water closet through popular usage, before evolving once again into ‘WC’.
The 19th century was a period of great innovation for the modern toilet, and advances helped vastly improve public health and hygiene. One of the most famous sanitary engineers of the day Thomas Crapper was hired by The Royal Household to replace the toilets at Sandringham House with newer models in 1886.
In another social media post discussing the term’s origins, several people were left positively amazed to discover the real meaning, with one follower admitting they’d assumed it had stood for “wheelchair”.
Another person wrote: “I can’t believe I’ve been living with a WC sign and had no idea why it was called WC.” A third commented: “I’m glad someone asked because I’ve been wondering this for years but never Googled it.”
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A version of this story was first published on April 23, 2023.
