What does pooh mean?
Pooh is an informal North American word for feces or excrement, and it can also be used as a verb meaning to defecate. As a noun, it often appears in straightforward references to bodily waste, especially in speech involving children, although adults may use it playfully or as a mild euphemism. As a verb, pooh describes the act of passing excrement and is often used when discussing children, puppies, or other animals. The word has no matching opposite: unlike verbs such as “clean” or “remove,” it does not name an action that can simply be reversed. In formal writing, “feces,” “excrement,” or “stool” will usually be more appropriate, while “poop” is a closely related and somewhat more broadly informal alternative. The word’s long-standing use is informal rather than literary or technical.
Feces or excrement.
"There was pooh all over the floor."
Informal; especially common in child-directed speech.
To defecate.
"The puppy poohed beside the fence."
Informal and often used when describing children or animals.
The plural is uncommon because the word is usually used informally in singular contexts.
"The puppies left several poos on the grass."
In its everyday noun use, pooh is a deliberately plain-worded name for feces, while the verb pooh can also mean to defecate.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pooh come from?
The word appeared in English during the nineteenth century, but its precise origin is uncertain. It is probably related to the similarly informal “poop,” though the historical connection is not certain enough to establish a secure derivation. Its established senses have remained associated with excrement and defecation.
Related word forms
How pooh is actually used
Both the noun and verb are informal. The noun is especially common in child-directed speech and may sound childish when used by adults; the verb likewise has a casual, familiar tone.
Easily confused with pooh
Pooh refers to excrement or the act of defecating, whereas puke means vomit or the act of vomiting.