# loo

/ˈɫu/ (US) · /lˈuː/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/loo
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a common word for a toilet. It is mostly used in British English and is a bit more casual than 'bathroom' or 'restroom'.

For teachers: a toilet or a room containing a toilet. Primarily British in usage; informal in register but generally considered polite enough for most social situations.

## Examples

- I'll be back in a minute; I'm just going to the loo.
- The pub was crowded, and there was a long queue for the ladies' loo near the back entrance.
- While 'toilet' can sometimes sound overly direct in British social circles, 'loo' serves as a widely accepted euphemism that avoids the clinical tone of 'lavatory' or the Americanism 'restroom'.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used with the definite article ('the loo') even when the specific location is unknown to the listener.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.