You may have noticed the letters “WC” on public restroom signs, but do you know what it actually stands for? You’re not alone if you’ve never given it much thought. Despite seeing it everywhere, many people are only now discovering the real meaning behind this abbreviation.

In the U.S., we have plenty of names for public restrooms – the bathroom, the restroom, the lavatory, or even the throne. But that little “WC” sign? It’s a bit of a mystery for most. Well, not anymore.

Thanks to the internet, a treasure trove of weird yet interesting facts, we’re always learning something new. Whether it’s discovering the hidden uses for everyday items like shopping cart hooks or finding out what the “M&M” initials stand for, the web keeps delivering. And now, it’s shed light on this long-standing WC mystery.

Recently, a revelation about the term “WC” left people baffled. One person commented, “I’m so glad someone finally asked about this. I’ve been curious for years but never bothered to look it up.” Another chimed in, “How is it possible that I’ve had a WC sign in my house and never knew what it meant?” Someone else remarked, “I was 23 years old when I finally found out.”

Still, some can’t believe others didn’t already know the meaning. One person asked, “What? How can anyone not know this?” Another added, “I thought it was common knowledge!”

So, what does “WC” actually stand for? When you break it down, it’s surprisingly simple – and logical.

The origin of “WC” dates back to the early days of indoor plumbing. As plumbing started to become common in homes, many people converted small closets into spaces for toilets. Back then, running water was a luxury, and only certain parts of the house had it. These converted closets, which featured toilets, were one of those rare places.

Now, most people refer to these spaces as bathrooms. But originally, the bathroom was just that – a room for bathing. There wasn’t a toilet in there at all. In fact, in older homes, the toilet was often located in a completely different room from the bathtub.

A popular TikToker, @itsnathannyc, explained in a now-deleted video, “Before indoor plumbing, the bathroom was just for the bathtub. Water was fetched from outside, heated up, and poured into the tub. When plumbing came along, they already had the bathroom, so they put the toilet in a closet. It was the easiest place to install it.”

These tiny, water-equipped closets soon became known as “water closets.” That’s right – “WC” stands for “water closet,” a term coined in the early 1900s when toilets were commonly fitted into spare closets or cupboards. Over time, the phrase stuck, and “WC” became shorthand for a room with a toilet – but no bath.

So, there you have it. The next time you see a “WC” sign, you’ll know exactly what it means – and why it’s still used today, long after water closets became a thing of the past.