shower and bathe

English translation: take a shower /take a bath

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

English term or phrase:	shower and bathe
Selected answer:	take a shower /take a bath
Entered by:	Kim Metzger

01:47 Dec 2, 2004

English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Other

English term or phrase: shower and bathe

When is the best time for me to shower or bathe?

Are shower and bathe different things? If so, what is the difference between them. I understand if one uses a shower, he is taking a bath. But I feel some difference is definitely there. Please explain. Thanks

Ketan

Explanation

Explanation:
To take a shower is to stand under water coming out of a pipe above your head. To take a bath (to bathe) is to sit in a tub full of water.

Selected response from:

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 21:23

Grading comment

I thank both of you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

4 +14

Explanation

Kim Metzger

5 +7

Shower is more specific

Judith Kerman

Answers

2 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +14

Explanation

Explanation:
To take a shower is to stand under water coming out of a pipe above your head. To take a bath (to bathe) is to sit in a tub full of water.

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 21:23
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 36

Grading comment

I thank both of you.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

RHELLER: or coming out of a "shower head" ; some people say they have bathed after a shower, meaning they have washed themselves

2 mins

-> Yes, in most countries they have shower heads, but not everywhere.

agree

Ltemes

6 mins

neutral

Richard Benham: That's how I use the terms, but there are people who distinguish "shower bath" from "plunge bath". And then there is the use of "bathe" to mean to go swmming.... It's not entirely simple.

9 mins

-> True, it's a matter of culture and variety of English.

agree

Bo Smith

49 mins

agree

Jörgen Slet

59 mins

agree

Refugio: If one uses a shower, he is NOT taking a bath.

1 hr

agree

Pawel Gromek

2 hrs

agree

humbird: One is standing under splinking water, another is sitting in the water unless the water is very deep. What is common? Cleansing.

2 hrs

agree

Java Cafe

3 hrs

agree

Kurt Porter

4 hrs

agree

Olga B

6 hrs

agree

chica nueva: shower is have a shower (in a shower cabinet or under a shower over the bath), bathe is have a bath in a bathtub.

7 hrs

agree

vankovak

8 hrs

agree

Orla Ryan

8 hrs

agree

yumcentenari (X)

5 days

4 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +7

Shower is more specific

Explanation:
You can only shower in a shower. You can bathe in a shower, a bathtub, with a sponge or even (especially if you're British) in the sea. Hence "bathing suits" in the US, although we usually say "go swimming" rather than "bathe".

Judith Kerman

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

RHELLER: good one! bathing in the sea :-)

0 min

-> Thanks!

agree

Ltemes: also a good explanation.

19 mins

-> Thanks!

agree

Jörgen Slet

56 mins

-> Thanks!

neutral

humbird: Purpose of both is cleansing of the body. We don't shower or bathe for swimming. What is a relavance of bathing suits here?

2 hrs

-> The questioner asked about the differences in meaning between the two words.

agree

Francina: There are countries where people still use the word "bathe" when going swimming

3 hrs

-> Thanks, Francina.

agree

Java Cafe

3 hrs

-> Thanks!

neutral

Kurt Porter: For Susan - don't try to go into the swimming pool here in Germany without showering first! When I lived in Japan, I certainly showered before I bathed. :) :) :)

4 hrs

-> Thanks!

agree

Lisa Frideborg Eddy (X)

5 hrs

-> Thanks!

neutral

chica nueva: As far as I know, you don't bathe in a shower...

7 hrs

-> True, but if someone smells, we will probably say they need to bathe more often, whether it's in a shower or some other way...

agree

yumcentenari (X)

5 days

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations