Many travelers notice the letters WC on restroom doors but rarely know their origin. The abbreviation stands for Water Closet, a term used in 19th-century England to describe a small room containing a flushing toilet. Although the phrase itself has largely disappeared from daily speech, the initials remain widely used, especially across Europe and Asia. Different countries use different terms for the same place — Americans say restroom or bathroom, Canadians often say washroom, the British commonly use toilet or loo, and in the Philippines people say comfort room. Because of these variations, international spaces rely heavily on standardized signage to help travelers quickly locate facilities without confusion.

To make communication even clearer, public restrooms often use simple universal icons: one figure representing men and another representing women. These minimal stick figures are designed to be understood instantly, no matter the language spoken. Some cafes and restaurants use creative or artistic symbols, which can sometimes confuse visitors, so airports and major public locations usually keep signage simple and direct. In recent years, gender-neutral bathroom signs have also become more common, using symbols that welcome everyone. Ultimately, restroom signs demonstrate how design and language work together to meet a universal human need. Whether you see WC, toilet, restroom, or another term, the purpose is the same: to guide people clearly and politely. Next time you travel, you may notice that these small signs are part of a global system helping people navigate unfamiliar places with ease.