What exactly does it mean when your urine smells like ammonia?

Infection Possibly: Strong urine odors can arise from foods, medications, alterations in your metabolism or infection. An ammoniac smell to the urine can occur with dehydration. However, there are certain bacteria that can create a similar pungent smell. If the odor is associated with urinary symptoms such as urgency, frequency and burning, it would be best to have the urine checked for infection.