Do you use the word “commode?”

37 comments

1. My grandmother did.

2. In reference to the toilet. Grew up with my dad saying so now I occasionally do out of habit.

3. It was common for people of the Silent Generation (one before boomers) but is not really common with most of those in the generations after them.

4. Nope.

5. Like for the shitter? No. I say the bathroom, restroom, or head.

6. No

7. The only place in the US I’ve heard this used regularly is in hospitals in reference to the portable chair toilets they use. Of course even in the hospital they call the actual bathroom fixture a toilet.

8. Never heard of it before.

   Apparently it has quite a few meanings, not all of which are similar, but all are marked archaic.

   Are you referring to a specific usage? The toilet meaning seems to be most common.

9. Yes. For toilet, not for a dresser.

10. Very familiar with the term, not commonly used though.

11. My mom did, but I just call it the toilet.

12. Only when it refers to durable medical equipment.

13. No. Sometimes I call the washroom/toilet/bathroom/restroom “The Necessary Room”.

14. Only ironically

15. I hear it in Tennessee.

16. My grandma does. I haven’t heard anyone else use it.

17. only if I’m singing along with the song Bulls on Parade by Rage against the Machine

18. Any time I feel the need to spontaneously belt out Bulls On Parade, sure.

    Either drop the hits like de la O or get the fuck off the commode.

19. No

20. Commode is a perfectly cromulent word

21. No, never. Sounds like something you have in the Navy.

22. No but my mom does

23. only ironically

24. My grandpa used to say it

25. Only because i work at the hospital, when referring to the beside commode. Otherwise no

26. I’ve heard it used for a portable potty-chair used for people who have difficulty using the regular toilet.

    In the past, I’ve also heard older people use ‘commode’ for the actual toilet, but it’s uncommon.

27. My grandmother does

28. My grandmother did. That’s about it I’ve heard.

29. I’ve only heard it from old people and in movies about the military

30. Widely used in my area. I use it several times a day.

31. no.

32. My grandmother does

33. Once a decade or so and it’s usually to make fun of the word

34. Occasionally, but I have noticed that it’s more common amongst older people in my area.

35. South Mississippi. My mother uses it often, along with “pot” but the polite term here is still commode

36. Only by those who call grasshoppers “katydids” and say it’s “close outside” when it’s humid.

37. Generally only when quoting Reservoir Dogs: “Where’s the commode in this dungeon, I gotta take a squirt.”