X
xWhitePonyx
Member
Italiano
- Jun 21, 2014
- #1
Hello everyone,
I am writing a project about some differences in the description of some hotels.
Could someone explain me the difference between bathroom amenities and toiletries,please?
I thought it was a mistranslation, then my teacher has told me I have to correct it.
Thank you in advance.
Florentia52
Modwoman in the attic
Wisconsin
English - United States
- Jun 21, 2014
- #2
Please provide the sentence in which "bathroom amenities" or "toiletries" was used, so we can give you better answers.
X
xWhitePonyx
Member
Italiano
- Jun 21, 2014
- #3
Here you are the text:
"Rooms are all spacious and comfortable and are equipped with Minibar, Shower, Safety Box, the latest generation of LCD TV, Telephone, Air Conditioning, Bathroom Amenities, Toilet [...]".
Andygc
Senior Member
Devon
British English
- Jun 21, 2014
- #4
The complete sentence would help, then we can tell what things aren't classed as bathroom amenities. It would also help to know where it came from - for example, from which country - so we can tell which version of English it is. The scattering of capitals and the term Safety Box make it look like English from a non-English-speaking land.
Keith Bradford
Senior Member
Brittany, NW France
English (Midlands UK)
- Jun 21, 2014
- #5
The point is, that the word "amenities" is so vague. I only use it when I'm translating from French and I really don't know what the French means, so I put "amenities". It's equivalent to "things" or "stuff".
On the other hand, "toiletries" means soap, shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, body lotion, etc.
Cenzontle
Senior Member
English, U.S.
- Jun 21, 2014
- #6
On the other hand, "toiletries" means soap, shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, body lotion, etc.
It's the same in the U.S.
X
xWhitePonyx
Member
Italiano
- Jun 21, 2014
- #7
For Andygc: the description is taken from the English version of an Italian website.
For Keith Bradford: in the wordreference dictionary, the entry "amenities" is translated in Italian as "facilites". So, may "bathroom amenities" refer to bathrooms facilites as shower, Jacuzzi, emergency phone,etc? If so, I suppose that the hoteliers mistranslated toiletries with bathroom amenities!
Andygc
Senior Member
Devon
British English
- Jun 21, 2014
- #8
If a room has bathroom facilities it has, in normal (British) English, a bathroom. It would be very odd for those facilities not to include a toilet. I'd expect the description to make clear if there is a shower or a bath (or both), but not to put the shower between the minibar and the safe.
Greyfriar
Senior Member
Isle of Wight, Southern England
British English
- Jun 21, 2014
- #9
Well, since the shower is already mentioned, I can only think that 'bathroom amenities' is the American usage of 'the bathroom' to mean what in BE is 'the lavatory/toilet''. I would assume that there is an en-suite room with shower and toilet. I have been in hotels with heated towel rails in the shower room - these would also count as an amenity.
Keith is obviously correct in his description of toiletries. 
Andygc
Senior Member
Devon
British English
- Jun 21, 2014
- #10
Greyfriar said:
Well, since the shower is already mentioned, I can only think that 'bathroom amenities' is the American usage of 'the bathroom' to mean what in BE is 'the lavatory/toilet''
Sorry, you can't have that. The text reads
Air Conditioning, Bathroom Amenities, Toilet [...]"
That's why I wondered what came next.
Greyfriar
Senior Member
Isle of Wight, Southern England
British English
- Jun 21, 2014
- #11
Rooms are all spacious and comfortable and are equipped with Minibar, Shower, Safety Box, the latest generation of LCD TV, Telephone, Air Conditioning, Bathroom Amenities, Toilet [...]". Looking back at the original text, I would re-write it as follows -
Rooms are all spacious and comfortable and are equipped with minibar, safety box, the latest generation of LCD TV, telephone and air conditioning.
The en suite bathroom is equipped with a toilet and shower. A range of toiletries is also provided.
Otherwise I've reached an impasse.
Loob
Senior Member
English UK
- Jun 21, 2014
- #12
Hi xWhitePonyx
I've found the hotel site concerned and, yes, you're absolutely right that "bathroom amenities" is a mistranslation of the original Italian, which has the literal equivalent of "bath products".
If your teacher is asking you to correct the mistake, then it's straightforward: just replace "bathroom amenities" with "toiletries", as you suggested.
If your teacher is asking you to explain why "bathroom amenities" is a mistake, then, yes, the answer is because "bathroom amenities" would normally mean "bathroom facilities": bath, shower, toilet etc.
Good luck!
Last edited:
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Parla
Member Emeritus
New York City
English - US
- Jun 21, 2014
- #13
Just to confirm that the problems and suggestions posted by our BE-speaking colleagues hold for AE as well.
london calling
Senior Member
Salerno, Italy
UK English
- Jun 22, 2014
- #14
Loob is correct. I have just had a look at the website. I am bilingual: when they say amenities they mean toiletries.
Greyfriar
Senior Member
Isle of Wight, Southern England
British English
- Jun 22, 2014
- #15
Good old Loob! Well done.
X
xWhitePonyx
Member
Italiano
- Jun 22, 2014
- #16
Thanks a lot everyone for your help, especially Loob!!
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