Answered Jan 14 Depends on the country: in the UK and continental Europe using the word toilet is not considered rude. In polite company in the US using toilet would as best raise eyebrows because very few Americans would say “can I use your toilet”? and at worst (we ALWAYS say bathroom or maybe washroom, though the latter is rare), and if it was a formal situation it would be considered somewhat distasteful. Which is silly since it’s not as though anyone is going into their friends bathroom to do anything but use the toilet; it’s simply a deeply ingrained euphemism. The only rule I’d say is important is never say “I want to”, much better to ask if they could direct you to the bathroom *please* or just say excuse me in a polite tone and All that said unless you’re invited to a presidential dinner or meeting your girlfriends old money family for the first time, no need to worry. Americans in general are quite casual when it comes to language, and if you’re a foreigner and trying your best to speak English no one’s going to be offended by your using the word toilet.