Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sikać | /ˈɕi.kat͡ɕ/ | |
| siusiać | /ˈɕu.ɕat͡ɕ/ | imperfective |
The term is used to describe the act of urinating in a colloquial manner, similar to the English word 'pee'. Related nouns include siki (urine) and the childish/diminutive siusiu, which is often used by parents when talking to toddlers.
Which one should you use?
While both words refer to the act of peeing, sikać is a standard colloquial verb, whereas siusiać is the imperfective form and is the standard term used when speaking to or about small children, often translated as 'to wee'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Sikać is a common, colloquial term for everyday conversation. For a much more formal or academic way to express the idea of attending to physiological needs, one would use the phrase Zatroszczyć się o potrzeby fizjologiczne. In a very informal context, the euphemism Puścić wodę (literally 'to release water') is sometimes used.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables with the stress on the first syllable: /ˈɕi.katɕ/.
Did you know?
- Depending on the region, some Polish speakers use sikać to describe a light drizzle of rain, treating the weather as if it were peeing.
- The childish word siusiać is actually an onomatopoeic imitation of the sound of liquid flowing, rather than a word with a formal root.
- Polish children often use the diminutive siusiu to refer to the private parts of the body as well as the act of urinating.
Examples in context
- Mój pies uwielbia sikać na opony aut.My dog loves to pee on car tires.This sentence shows how to use sikać when describing a dog's behavior.Tatoeba #10465531 by hecko, translation #6587083 by popball
- Przepraszam, czy jest tu toaleta? Muszę się wypróżnić.Excuse me, is there a restroom here? I need to relieve myself.
- Czy mogę skorzystać z łazienki? Muszę sikać.Can I use the bathroom? I need to pee.
- Pies zaczął sikać na trawnik.The dog started peeing on the lawn.
Example conversation
Paweł and Małgorzata are taking a long walk in the park.
- PawełMałgorzata, muszę sikać.Małgorzata, I need to pee.
- MałgorzataWidzę toaletę tam za drzewami.I see a toilet there behind the trees.
- PawełSikać muszę bardzo szybko!I need to pee very quickly!
- MałgorzataNo to chodźmy szybko tam.Well, let's go there quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pee” translations and entries sikać, siusiać, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sikać, siusiać, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
