Pea vs pee

Photo of author

Grammarist

Pea and pee are two commonly confused words that are pronounced in the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. We will examine the different meanings of the homophonic words pea and pee, the word origin of the terms, and some examples of their English usage in sentences.

A pea is a plant that belongs to the pea family or the edible seed or pod produced by such a plant. A pea is usually green and spherical. Many varieties of legumes are called peas in various parts of the world. Varieties include the familiar English green pea, black-eyed pea, sugar snap pea, snow pea, Crowder pea, field pea, purple hull pea, etc. Many peas grow in inedible pods, but some pods are tender and are meant to be consumed. The word pea is derived from the Latin word pisum, which means pea.

Pee is an informal term that means urine or to urinate. Related words are pees, peed, peeing. The word pee should not be used in formal or business conversation. Pee is a euphemism for the word piss, and only came into use in the latter 1800s.

Examples

Hands up if you’re a pea lover – these tasty little veg are full heart healthy vitamins and minerals. (The Courier)

To make them, whir cooked sweet peas with a brightening splash of lemon juice and zest in a food processor, along with olive oil, salt and pepper, to transform the vegetable into a gorgeous, green spread. (The Oakland Press)

In one, she’s accused of hitting a man with her BMW — although she told deputies she was too high on cocaine to remember doing so — and in another, she tried to pee on a deputy arresting her for a domestic violence incident, arrest reports show. (The Tampa Bay Times)

That will only turn the smell of cat pee into cat pee with an overtone of freshly baked cookies! (The Times Record)