orinar en un vaso
/oɾinaɾ en un baso/from spelling rules
To pee in a cup in Spanish is orinar en un vaso.
This phrase is used to describe the action of urinating into a small container for a medical test.
Which one should you use?
If a specific cup is not being used, orinar en un recipiente is a more general way to say 'urinate in a container'. Changing the indefinite article 'un' (a) to the definite article 'el' (the) changes the phrase from 'pee in a cup' to 'pee in the cup' as orinar en el vaso.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal way to say 'pee in a cup' in Spanish, you might say Recoger or Tomar una Muestra de Orina (collecting or taking a sample of urine). In colloquial settings, you can use Hacer pipí en un vasito (pee in a little cup) or hacer pis en un vasito (to pee in a little cup).
Did you know?
- The Latin ancestor of orinar originally meant 'to dive or plunge into water'.
- If you use the colloquial hacer pis, you are using a term that is much more common in Spain than in many parts of Latin America, where 'hacer pipí' or more formal terms are preferred.
- While orinar is the direct translation, medical professionals often avoid the verb entirely and use recoger una muestra to be more discreet.
Examples in context
- Por favor, necesitamos que recoja una muestra de orina antes de su consulta.Please, we need you to collect a urine sample before your appointment.
- Oye, necesito que hagas pipí en un vasito para que podamos analizarlo.Hey, I need you to pee in a little cup so we can analyze it.
- Tiene que orinar en un vaso para el análisis.You have to pee in a cup for the analysis.
- El enfermero me pidió orinar en un vaso.The nurse asked me to pee in a cup.
Example conversation
A patient is at a medical clinic.
- JavierHola, María. Necesito que orine en un vaso.Hello, María. I need you to pee in a cup.
- María¿Dónde está el vaso, Javier?Where is the cup, Javier?
- JavierEstá en el baño, sobre la mesa.It is in the bathroom, on the table.
- MaríaEstá bien, voy a orinar en un vaso ahora.Alright, I am going to pee in a cup now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries en, orinar, un, vaso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
