Why is this bathroom symbol in Germany "00"?
I'm sitting in the Hofbräuhaus in Munich and just noticed that the signs for the bathroom are a symbol of a man and woman with a "00".
Why is this the case?
Best Answer
According to the legend this tradition was started by hotels in the 19th century. Unlike today there was a single bathroom for a whole floor. This room was at the beginning of the hallway and not a real guest room. Hoteliers therefore used the room number "00".
Other common explanations include the shape of an opened toilet seat but as far as I know that question has not been finally settled yet. The hotel explanation seems like the most likely one.
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Why is the bathroom labeled WC?
In the late 19th century, when indoor plumbing began being installed in homes, people had to make room for the fixtures that were going to be used. One common place to install a toilet was a remodeled clothing closet. Since it was the one place in the home that had indoor water, it was called the \u201cwater closet.\u201dWhat do the Germans call the bathroom?
Das WC (vay-tsay) is borrowed from English \u201cwater closet\u201d (WC). A bit more on the slang side is das Klo (toilet or toilet bowl), short for das Klosett, which in turn is short for \u201cwater closet.\u201d In modern German today, the most common word for restroom or toilet is die Toilette.Why do we use restroom symbols?
The premise of the \u201cwoman/man\u201d symbol is that bathrooms are primarily for people who conform to gender norms. This message promotes exclusion and discrimination. For trans and gender non-conforming people, using the restroom can be a fearful experience.Why does 00 mean toilet?
00, an abbreviation used on signs to indicate a public toilet (particularly in Germany and Eastern Europe) 00, a common international call prefix. 00, a wire diameter defined by the American wire gauge standard. 00, a fine grade of steel wool.My American Boyfriend’s First Impressions of Germany | Feli from Germany
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Answer 2
The German children’s show die Sendung mit der Maus once talked about that. Their explanation was:
Weil da 0 arbeiten und 0 wohnen.
Because 0 work there and 0 live there.
I am aware that the explanation is a little sketchy but it was broadcasted on national TV so …
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