faire pipi
/fɛʁ pi.pi/
To say 'pee' in French, you can use faire pipi, uriner or pisser depending on the context.
Meaning: urinate (verb)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| faire pipi | /fɛʁ pi.pi/ |
| uriner | /y.ʁi.ne/ |
| pisser | /pi.se/ |
You might use the noun pipi to refer to the urine itself, or pé when referring to the name of the letter P.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase faire pipi is literally composed of the verb faire (to do/make) and the childish noun pipi (pee).
Which one should you use?
faire pipi is a cute, childish way to speak, often used when talking to children. uriner is the formal, medical or technical term. pisser is a blunt and vulgar term equivalent to the English 'to piss'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun pipi is masculine, so it is used with le or un.
How do you pronounce it?
/fɛʁ pi.pi/
When do people say it?
When encouraging young children to use the toilet independently, you can use the expression faire pipi comme un(e) grand(e), which means 'to pee like a big kid'.
Did you know?
- In French, the word pisse can be used as an insult to describe a very weak or tasteless drink, such as a poor quality beer or wine.
- The childish term pipi is actually a rhythmic, doubled version of the vulgar verb pisser, essentially turning a rude word into a cute one.
- The vulgar verb pisser is thought to be echoic, meaning it was likely created to mimic the actual sound of the physical act.
Examples in context
- Je dois faire pipi.I need to go pee.This sentence shows how to express a personal need using faire pipi.Tatoeba #8619840 by Micsmithel, translation #5105775 by Catriona
- Nous avions envie d'uriner.We had to pee.This sentence demonstrates the use of the formal term uriner.Tatoeba #2562630 by Amastan, translation #10346550 by DJ_Saidez
- Gabriel s'est forcé à pisser.Gabriel forced himself to pee.This sentence shows the use of the vulgar verb pisser.Tatoeba #11756590 by Amastan, translation #11754787 by Amastan
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A parent and daughter are in a car during a long trip.
- HugoEmma, est-ce que tu dois faire pipi ?Emma, do you need to pee?
- EmmaOui, j'ai très envie de faire pipi.Yes, I really need to pee.
- HugoD'accord, on s'arrête bientôt pour que tu puisses faire pipi.Okay, we will stop soon so you can pee.
- EmmaMerci, papa !Thank you, Daddy!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pee” translations and entries faire pipi, uriner, pisser, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries faire, pipi, pisser, uriner, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
