I've always been confused by the terms washroom, restroom, bathroom, lavatory, toilet and toilet room. My impression is that Canadians would rather say washroom while Americans would probably say
I have a specific question: Are Americans more inclined to use "bathroom" or "restroom" about a bathroom/restroom with several sinks and stalls in a company building?
If the room only has sinks for washing, it's a washroom. If it has toilets, it's a restroom. If the room is in your home, it's a bathroom. Here's an odd idiom of the US. If someone asks, "May I use your bathroom," the person is asking to use the room to eliminate, not to bathe. So, a room in the home with a toilet & sink is called a bathroom, even if it lacks a tub or shower.
word usage - Which to use, 'washroom' or 'restroom'? - English Language ...
Also, why would it sound crass in just the US to use the word that literally all the other countries use? Ladies room and mens room arent that formal in the US. I do agree I heard bathroom and restroom used the most there, with restroom for the public toilets and bathroom for the ones with a bath.
FWIW, for toilets in public establishments, "washroom" is more of a Canadian term; Americans would say "restroom." "Bathroom" is for private homes.
I usually use the term "restroom" (or "toilet" if I want to make sure that everyone in the Czech Republic understands me at once), and, while I've always understood that the terms "john" and "loo" ...
Usually we don't label the bathrooms with "restroom" or "bathroom" either. it's normally labeled with the word "men" or "women" and an accompanying stick figure representation of the gender. I wouldn't say it's unacceptable, but if you asked someone where their comfort room was, they'd probably ask what you're talking about (if they're American).