ਪਿਸ਼ਾਬ
piśāb
The English word "pee" is translated into Punjabi as ਪਿਸ਼ਾਬ (piśāb).
ਪਿਸ਼ਾਬ is a term used to refer to urine as a noun or to describe the act of urinating. While it translates to the substance itself, it is used in formal contexts to describe the act of urinating.
Meaning: urinate (verb)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ਪਿਸ਼ਾਬ is a formal or medical term.
How do you pronounce it?
piśāb
Did you know?
- The word ਪਿਸ਼ਾਬ literally means 'front-water' because it is derived from Persian, where 'peš' means 'front' and 'āb' means 'water'.
- While ਪਿਸ਼ਾਬ is the correct formal term, using it in a casual setting with friends or family might sound strangely clinical or overly dramatic.
- The Persian root of ਪਿਸ਼ਾਬ is shared with several other languages across Central Asia, reflecting the historical influence of Persian as a court language.
Examples in context
- ਉਸਨੂੰ ਪਿਸ਼ਾਬ ਲੱਗ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।Usnu pishab lagg riha hai.He needs to urinate.
- ਮੈਨੂੰ ਪਿਸ਼ਾਬ ਆ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।Mainu pishab aa riha hai.I need to pee.
- ਪਿਸ਼ਾਬ ਰੋਕਣਾ ਸਿਹਤ ਲਈ ਮਾੜਾ ਹੈ।Pishab rokna sehat lai mada hai.Holding urine is bad for health.
Example conversation
Manpreet and Harman are taking a break during a long car trip.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਹਰਮਨ, ਮੈਨੂੰ ਪਿਸ਼ਾਬ ਆਇਆ ਹੈ।Harman, mainū pishāb āyā hai.Harman, I need to pee.
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਠੀਕ ਹੈ, ਮੈਂ ਗੱਡੀ ਰੋਕਦਾ ਹਾਂ।Thīk hai, maĩ gaddī rōkadā hā̃.Okay, I will stop the car.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਕੋਈ ਬਾਥਰੂਮ ਨੇੜੇ ਹੈ?Kōī bāthrūm nēṛē hai?Is there a bathroom nearby?
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਹਾਂ, ਅੱਗੇ ਇੱਕ ਪੰਪ ਹੈ।Hā̃, aggē ik pamp hai.Yes, there is a pump ahead.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ਪਿਸ਼ਾਬ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਪਿਸ਼ਾਬ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
