Gabinetto

Gabinetto is an Italian noun with several related meanings that share a common lineage in the sense of a small room or private space. The etymology traces to the French cabinet, via Italian, with the suffix -etto forming a diminutive.

In contemporary usage, the most common sense is a bathroom or toilet in a home or public facility; the expression il gabinetto is understood as the restroom in many contexts, though signs may use bagno or servizi. The phrase andare al gabinetto is used more in spoken Italian, while more formal signage might say servizi or bagno.

The term also designates a small private room used as an office, study, or workspace within a residence or building, as in gabinetto di consultazione or gabinetto del direttore. In architectural contexts, it can refer to a compact office or cabinet-like room.

Gabinetto also denotes a piece of furniture: a cabinet or small cupboard used to store items, often with drawers or shelves, sometimes in antique or decorative contexts.

In governmental usage, gabinetto refers to the executive office or the body comprising ministers serving under a head of government, for example il gabinetto del Ministro or il Gabinetto del Presidente del Consiglio. The sense emphasizes the administrative function rather than a physical room.