Have you ever thought about what the “WC” on toilet signs means? It turns out that this very common acronym has a very interesting past. “WC” stands for “water closet.” This word comes from the time when bathrooms were used for bathing and restrooms were used for, well, sitting.
In the past, people would go to the bathroom to clean up, and the water closet was meant for, uh, other business. This difference may seem silly now, but it’s the reason why “WC” is the usual abbreviation for bathroom doors around the world.
People on social media were shocked to learn what “WC” really means, and many said they had no idea. One person said, “I was 23 years old when I learned that WC stands for water closet.” Some people joked that they would use different words, like “restroom,” “bathroom,” or just “loo.”
It gets more interesting after that, though. Stand-up comic Freddy Quinne recently went viral on TikTok for showing people how to use public urinals without breaking the rules. Freddie says that guys have an unwritten rule that they should leave personal space when they use the bathroom.
Simple rules say to use the first or last toilet if all of them are empty. If someone is already using one of those, choose the one in the middle. Also, don’t use the second or fourth urinals unless the first ones are already being used. It’s all about staying away from awkward situations.
It turns out that Freddie’s rules are surprisingly right, and a lot of guys agree with him. One thing is for sure: these signs aren’t what they seem to be. They could be called a toilet, bathroom, or water closet.
When you see “WC” on a door, remember the long past and well-kept rules that go along with it. Who knew that something so ordinary as a toilet sign could hide such things?
