aller au pot
The French phrase for "go potty" is aller au pot.
aller au pot is used in a child-directed or infantile context to describe a child's need to use the toilet. While aller au pot refers to the general act of using the potty, the phrase faire caca is a more common and slightly more blunt way for children or parents to describe the actual bowel movement.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb aller (to go) and au pot (to the pot).
Which one should you use?
The expression aller faire pipi is an informal way to say "go pee" in English and is a related way to express a need to use the toilet.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
aller au pot is an informal phrase.
Did you know?
- While aller au pot describes the destination, French parents often use propre (clean) as a milestone, asking if a child is propre to mean they are potty trained.
- If a French person refers to a 'pot' in a different context, such as pot de colle, they are not talking about a toilet but rather a 'sticky person' or someone clingy.
- The word pot in the phrase aller au pot shares the same Germanic roots as the English word 'pot', both tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European word for a vessel.
Examples in context
- Attends une seconde, je dois aller faire pipi.Wait a second, I have to go pee.
- Je veux aller au pot.I want to go potty.
- Est-ce que tu dois aller au pot ?Do you need to go potty?
- Il est temps d'aller au pot.It is time to go potty.
Example conversation
A mother is talking to her toddler in the living room.
- EmmaLucas, est-ce que tu veux aller au pot ?Lucas, do you want to go potty?
- LucasOui, je veux aller au pot !Yes, I want to go potty!
- EmmaD'accord, allons-y ensemble.Okay, let's go together.
- LucasMerci, maman.Thank you, mommy.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aller, pot, CC BY-SA 4.0.
