Privies Meaning in English
word · lemma: privy
ˈpɹɪvi
PRIV-eez
pɹˈɪviz
pr-IV-eez
Definition
'Privies' are outdoor toilets, often small buildings separate from the main house, used before houses had indoor plumbing.
Usage & Nuances
Old-fashioned and formal; 'privy' is rarely used today, except when talking about history, rural life, or old buildings. Typical collocation: 'outdoor privies'. Do not confuse with 'privy to', which means 'aware of'.
Spanish: letrinas - retretes exterioresPortuguese (BR): latrinas - privadas (banheiros externos)Portuguese (PT): latrinas - privadas (casas de banho exteriores)Chinese (Simplified): 户外厕所 - 茅厕Chinese (Traditional): 戶外廁所 - 茅廁Hindi: बाहर के शौचालय - पिट शौचालयArabic: مراحيض خارجية - حمامات بسيطةBengali: পায়খানা (বাহিরে) - টয়লেট (পুরান ধাঁচের)Russian: сортиры (уличные) - отхожие местаJapanese: 屋外トイレ - 便所（屋外）Vietnamese: nhà vệ sinh ngoài trời - hố xíKorean: 야외 화장실 - 재래식 화장실Turkish: dış tuvalet - hela (eski tip)Urdu: باہر کا بیت الخلاIndonesian: WC luar ruangan - jamban (tradisional)
Example Sentences
The farm had two old privies behind the barn.
basic
Children were afraid to use the privies at night.
basic
In the past, most houses in the village had privies.
basic
The old privies are now just used for storage.
natural
You had to walk through the snow to reach the privies in winter.
natural
My grandparents remember a time when privies were the only option.
natural