pinkeln
to pee
A colloquial expression for urinating or relieving oneself.
EXAMPLE
Der kleine Junge musste dringend pinkeln.
The little boy urgently had to pee.
pinkeln
to pee / to drizzle
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Meanings
pinkeln
to drizzle
Colloquial for raining lightly or finely.
EXAMPLE
Es ist nicht richtig nass draußen, es pinkelt nur ein bisschen.
It's not really wet outside; it's just drizzling a little.
Usage tips
Colloquial word
'Pinkeln' (to pee) is a colloquial word. It is used in informal conversations with friends or family, but not in formal situations or in written language.
EXAMPLE
Kann ich kurz auf die Toilette? Ich muss mal pinkeln.
Can I quickly go to the bathroom? I need to pee.
Typical expressions
Common and natural combinations are 'pinkeln gehen' (to go pee) or the phrase 'dringend pinkeln müssen' (to urgently need to pee) when you need a toilet quickly.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder müssen vor der langen Autofahrt noch schnell pinkeln gehen.
The children need to quickly go pee before the long car ride.
Context clue: weather
When 'pinkeln' (to drizzle) describes the weather, the subject is always 'es' (it). It then means that it is only raining very lightly.
EXAMPLE
Ich glaube, wir brauchen keinen Schirm, es pinkelt nur ganz leicht.
I think we don't need an umbrella; it's only drizzling very lightly.
Compare with
pinkeln vs regnen
to rain
Both words can describe light rain. “Regnen” is the neutral and generally appropriate term, whereas “pinkeln” sounds crude and colloquial in this figurative sense. Use “regnen” in a normal weather description; “pinkeln” is more likely to be heard jokingly or in very casual conversation.
pinkeln
Mein Nachbar sagt scherzhaft, dass es heute nur ein bisschen pinkelt.
My neighbor jokes that it's only peeing a little today.
regnen
Heute regnet es nur leicht, deshalb nehmen wir keinen Regenschirm mit.
It's only raining lightly today, so we're not taking an umbrella.
In real life
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