If you're learning Ukrainian, you'll eventually need to know how to ask where the bathroom is. This isn't optional. Here's what you need to know.
Basic Bathroom Phrases
- Де туалет? (De toalet?) – Where is the toilet?
- Можна в туалет? (Mozhna v toalet?) – Can I use the toilet?
- Чи є тут туалет? (Chy ye tut toalet?) – Is there a toilet here?
Туалет
[tʊɐˈɫɛt]“Toilet”
Gendered Toilets
Ukrainian bathrooms are often gendered. Here's how to tell which is which:
| Sign | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ч (Ch) | Women’s (short for 'жінки' – zhin'ky) |
| M (M) | Men’s (short for 'чоловіки' – choloviky) |
Emergency Situations
Sometimes, you can't wait. Here’s how to communicate urgency:
- Мені дуже треба! (Meni duzhe treba!) – I really need to go!
- Це терміново! (Tse terminovo!) – It’s urgent!
For more emergency phrases, check out our guide on Survival Croatian: Essential Phrases for Emergency Situations (some phrases are cross-linguistically useful).
Asking for Supplies
Sometimes, you’ll need more than just directions. Here’s how to ask for toilet paper, soap, or other essentials:
- У вас є туалетний папір? (U vas ye toaletnyy papir?) – Do you have toilet paper?
- Де мило? (De mylo?) – Where is the soap?
- Чи працює сушилка? (Chy pratsiuye sushylka?) – Is the hand dryer working?
Туалетний папір
[tʊɐˈɫɛtnei̯ pɐˈpʲir]“Toilet paper”
Cultural Notes
In Ukraine, public toilets aren’t always free. Carry small change (5-10 UAH) for attendants. Also, some older buildings might have squat toilets. Deal with it.
For more travel-related Ukrainian, see Essential Ukrainian Phrases for Hitchhiking Across Ukraine.
