Is it really rude to use the terms "the john" and "the loo" in lieu of "the restroom"?

Solution 1:

In the UK:

'Loo' is perfectly polite. You could even use it with the Queen. I think the etymology is French (l'eau = water).

'Toilet' Also polite and an everyday term. Sometimes people (with sense of irony) will refer to the 'little boys room', or 'little girls room', or ask 'to use the facilities'. 'May I inspect the plumbing', some will say. A male will always raise a smile if he asks 'where can I powder my nose'?

'Bathroom' and 'restroom' are seldom, if ever, used in Britain unless you need a bath or a rest! Sometimes people will ask for the 'cloakroom' - meaning toilet. 'The John' is never used and many in Britain wouldn't even know what it meant. Although the 'Water Closet' was invented in Britain, and it is an English name, the initials WC are seldom seen in Britain, though remarkably they are often used in France.

'Lavatory' is the 'matter of fact' term that sanitary engineers would us if planning some of the public variety - 'public lavatories'. Aircraft toilets are often called 'lavatories'. I'm not sure why.

'Public convenience' (a bit dated) is the euphemism for a public lavatory.

'The Bog', is the sort of name that might be applied in a rather macho all-male environment, such at the army or the local cricket club. At school in the fifties we always called them 'the bogs'.

At the vulgar end there are others which I shall leave to the imagination.

Solution 2:

The word loo is not rude, as you can tell from this link http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/loo?q=loo. It's just an informal/colloquial word in the UK. It's as simple as that.

The word restroom is not really used in the UK, as is John in this context. They are unfamiliar.

Solution 3:

In New Zealand, Loo is common and considered fairly formal also. 'The Dunny' is common here in an informal setting. Restroom is not used at all but people generally would know it and make the connection.

In conversation:

The toilets are down the hall and first left.

Where is the Loo? or Can I use the Loo?

Where's the Dunny? (informal)

Solution 4:

I'm sorry, I don't know the protocol in the UK. In the US it proper and polite to say the "restroom," "ladies'/gentlemen's room," "bathroom," or "washroom." In the U.S. both of the other phrases are not common, but would be considered very rude in a formal setting. Having said that, since they are not common if you do use them you probably wouldn't run into too many problems because etiquette dictates certain cultural allowances. You would also be understood.

Solution 5:

"Loo" is not at all rude in British English; it's not even particularly informal.

In American English, "toilet" refers nearly always to the piece of furniture and not the room that contains it. It would feel weird to say "I'm going to the cooker" instead of "I'm going to the kitchen"; "I'm going to the toilet" is kind of the same, with the bonus discomfort that toilets are rather more personal than cookers.