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In many societies and in many social classes, even mentioning the need to urinate is seen as a social transgression, despite it being a universal need. Many adults avoid stating that they need to urinate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.thefreedictionary.com/postst48621_excuse-yourself-to-go-to-the-toilet-politely.aspx|title=excuse yourself to go to the toilet politely - English Vocabulary - English - The Free Dictionary Language Forums|website=forum.thefreedictionary.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/148362/is-there-a-formal-way-to-say-we-want-to-go-to-the-toilet|title=Is there a formal way to say we want to go to the toilet?|website=english.stackexchange.com}}</ref>
Many expressions exist, some [[euphemism|euphemistic]] and some vulgar. For example, centuries ago the standard English word (both noun and verb, for the product and the activity) was "[[wiktionary:piss|piss]]", but subsequently "pee", formerly associated with children, has become more common in general public speech. Since elimination of bodily wastes is, of necessity, a subject talked about with toddlers during [[toilet training]], other expressions considered suitable for use by and with children exist, and some continue to be used by adults, e.g. "weeing", "doing/having a wee-wee", "to tinkle", "[[wiktionary:go potty|go potty]]", "go pee pee".{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}
Other expressions include "squirting" and "taking a leak", and, predominantly by younger persons for outdoor female urination, "popping a squat", referring to the position many women adopt in such circumstances. National [[varieties of English]] show creativity. [[American English]] uses "to whiz".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whiz|title=Definition of WHIZ|website=www.merriam-webster.com|date=17 March 2024 }}</ref> [[Australian English]] has coined "I am off to take a [[Music of China|Chinese singing]] lesson", derived from the tinkling sound of urination against the China porcelain of a toilet bowl.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.definition-of.com/have+Chinese+singing+lesson |title=have Chinese singing lesson |publisher=Definition-of.com |access-date=10 February 2013}}</ref> [[British English]] uses "going to see my aunt", "going to [[see a man about a dog]]", "to piddle", "to splash (one's) boots", as well as "to have a slash", which originates from the [[Scottish English|Scottish term]] for a large splash of liquid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sex-lexis.com/Sex-Dictionary/have%20a%20slash |title=have a slash – Dictionary of sexual terms |publisher=Sex-lexis.com |access-date=10 February 2013}}</ref> One of the most common, albeit old-fashioned, euphemisms in British English is "to spend a penny", a reference to coin-operated [[pay toilet]]s, which used ([[Decimal Day|pre-decimalisation]]) to charge that sum.<ref>{{cite web|last=Martin |first=Gary |url=http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/spend-a-penny.html |title=Spend a penny |publisher=Phrases.org.uk |access-date=10 February 2013}}</ref>
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