लघुशंका (laghushankaa)

noun A polite/euphemistic compound noun meaning 'urination'; literally 'small doubt/need,' used to talk about the need to pass urine without being blunt about it.
Sense 1 : urination (euphemism)
noun, feminine Almost always used with जाना (jaanaa) or करना (karnaa) in the pattern लघुशंका जाना/करना (laghushankaa jaanaa/laghushankaa karnaa, 'to go urinate').
Synonyms: पेशाब (peshaab, more direct/clinical), सुसु (susu, childish/informal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the word you say to sound genteel -- at a family gathering or in front of your in-laws, you'd excuse yourself with लघुशंका (laghushankaa) rather than the blunter पेशाब (peshaab). It literally means 'small urge/doubt,' with its counterpart दीर्घशंका (diirghshankaa) meaning 'the big urge,' i.e. needing to defecate -- together they're a classic pair of Sanskritic euphemisms still used on Indian Railways signage and in polite conversation.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for पेशाब (peshaab) in all contexts, not realizing लघुशंका (laghushankaa) is the more polite option used in front of elders, in mixed company, or in formal/public settings like offices and trains. 2) This word pairs with जाना (jaanaa) ('to go') rather than an action verb alone -- लघुशंका जाना (laghushankaa jaanaa) is the natural phrase, not just लघुशंका करना (laghushankaa karnaa) though both are heard.
Sample Sentences:
मुझे लघुशंका के लिए जाना है। I need to go urinate.
(mujhe laghushankaa ke lie jaanaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्षमा कीजिए, मुझे लघुशंका के लिए जाना है। Excuse me, I need to go urinate.
(kshamaa kiijie, mujhe laghushankaa ke lie jaanaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बच्चा लघुशंका करते हुए रो रहा था। The child was crying while urinating.
(bachchaa laghushankaa karte hue ro rahaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कृपया लघुशंका के लिए निर्धारित स्थान का ही प्रयोग करें। Please use only the designated place for urination.
(kripyaa laghushankaa ke lie nirdhaarit sthaan kaa hii prayog karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
स्टेशन की दीवार पर लिखा था, "यहाँ लघुशंका करना मना है।" It was written on the station wall, "Urinating here is prohibited."
(steshan kii diivaar par likhaa thaa, "yahaan laghushankaa karnaa manaa hai।")
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
अगर वह लघुशंका के लिए रुकता, तो ट्रेन छूट जाती। If he had stopped to urinate, he would have missed the train.
(agar vah laghushankaa ke lie ruktaa, to tren chhoot jaatii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
दादी जी ने मेहमानों के सामने बड़े शालीन ढंग से कहा कि उन्हें लघुशंका के लिए जाना है। Grandmother said very politely in front of the guests that she needed to go urinate.
(daadii jii ne mehmaanon ke saamne bade shaaliin dhang se kahaa ki unhen laghushankaa ke lie jaanaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यात्रियों से अनुरोध है कि लघुशंका के लिए शौचालय का प्रयोग करें, प्लेटफॉर्म का नहीं। Passengers are requested to use the toilet for urination, not the platform.
(yaatriyon se anurodh hai ki laghushankaa ke lie shauchaalay kaa prayog karen, pletphorm kaa nahiin।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या यहाँ आसपास लघुशंका करने की कोई जगह है? Is there some place nearby to urinate?
(kyaa yahaan aaspaas laghushankaa karne kii koii jagah hai?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सफर के दौरान बीच-बीच में लघुशंका के लिए रुकना पड़ता है। During the journey, one has to stop now and then to urinate.
(saphar ke dauraan biich-biich men laghushankaa ke lie ruknaa padtaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): लघुशंका (laghushankaa)
(sg.f.oblique): लघुशंका (laghushankaa)
(pl.f.direct): लघुशंकाएँ (laghushankaaen)
(pl.f.oblique): लघुशंकाओं (laghushankaaon)