Dog in Different Languages
Discover 'Dog' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word dog is a common term used to describe a domesticated carnivore, often a loyal companion to humans across the globe. From ancient Egypt, where dogs were revered for their hunting skills, to modern-day pop culture, where they're celebrated for their companionship and humor, dogs have held significant cultural importance.
Understanding the translation of dog in different languages can provide unique insights into various cultures and their relationships with these cherished animals. For instance, in Spanish, a dog is a perro, while in German, it's a Hund.
Did you know that the English word dog comes from the Old English docga, a term used for a powerful breed of dog? Or that the ancient Egyptians believed that dogs possessed certain protective qualities, often associating them with their god Anubis, who had the head of a jackal?
Join us as we explore the many translations of the word dog in different languages, shedding light on the fascinating history and cultural significance of our furry friends.
Dog
Dog in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | hond | ||
| The Afrikaans word "hond" (dog) likely derives from the Middle Dutch "hont" (dog), which is itself derived from the Old High German "hunt", meaning "to hunt". The word "hond" can also refer to a hound, a type of dog used for hunting. | |||
| Amharic | ውሻ | ||
| In Amharic, the word "ውሻ" (dog) is also used to refer to "a person who spies or informs on others, especially for a government or organization" | |||
| Hausa | kare | ||
| The word "kare" in Hausa also means "a person who is not circumcised". | |||
| Igbo | nkịta | ||
| The word "nkịta" in Igbo has roots in the Proto-Benue-Congo word "*kindi" (dog). | |||
| Malagasy | amboa | ||
| "Amboa" is also used to refer to a type of traditional Malagasy wrestling. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | galu | ||
| The Nyanja word "galu" can also refer to a male child or a person of low status. | |||
| Shona | imbwa | ||
| The Shona word "imbwa" not only means "dog" but can also refer to a person who is always quarreling. | |||
| Somali | eey | ||
| The word "Eey" in Somali is also used to refer to a wild animal, such as a wolf or a fox. | |||
| Sesotho | ntja | ||
| The word "ntja" can also refer to a "person of low character" in Sesotho. | |||
| Swahili | mbwa | ||
| "Mbwa" also means "crazy" or "mad" in Swahili. | |||
| Xhosa | inja | ||
| The word "inja" in Xhosa has an alternate meaning of "thief" or "robber". | |||
| Yoruba | aja | ||
| The Yoruba word "aja" can also refer to a type of traditional African dance that is often performed at festivals and celebrations. | |||
| Zulu | inja | ||
| The word "inja" also means "slave" or "servant" in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | wulu | ||
| Ewe | avu | ||
| Kinyarwanda | imbwa | ||
| Lingala | mbwa | ||
| Luganda | embwa | ||
| Sepedi | mpša | ||
| Twi (Akan) | kraman | ||
Dog in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | الكلب | ||
| The word "الكلب" in Arabic has also been used to mean "hyena" or "wolf" in some historical contexts. | |||
| Hebrew | כֶּלֶב | ||
| In Aramaic, the word "כֶּלֶב" can also mean "servant" or "slave." | |||
| Pashto | سپی | ||
| In Farsi, the term "سپی" can also refer to a wolf or a jackal. | |||
| Arabic | الكلب | ||
| The word "الكلب" in Arabic has also been used to mean "hyena" or "wolf" in some historical contexts. | |||
Dog in Western European Languages
| Albanian | qen | ||
| Qen is a word of Illyrian origin, cognate with Greek κῡών (kyōn).} | |||
| Basque | txakurra | ||
| The word 'txakurra' is cognate with the Proto-Basque word 'zakur', and may be related to the Proto-Indo-European word 'ḱwṓn' (hound). | |||
| Catalan | gos | ||
| The word "gos" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *ḱwṓs, also found in "canis" in Latin and "hound" in English. | |||
| Croatian | pas | ||
| The word 'pas' derived from Proto-Slavic *pьsь, a cognate of Latin canis 'dog,' and has also been used to refer to other canines, such as wolves or jackals. | |||
| Danish | hund | ||
| The term 'hund' can also refer to a group of 100 in Danish, such as a 'hundred' of fish. | |||
| Dutch | hond | ||
| The word "hond" also means "bee" or "honey" in archaic contexts. | |||
| English | dog | ||
| The word “dog” derives from the Middle English term “dogge”, which was likely derived from an Old English word “docga” meaning “powerful”. | |||
| French | chien | ||
| Chien can also refer to a "rogue, cheat, or swindler". | |||
| Frisian | hûn | ||
| The word | |||
| Galician | can | ||
| The Galician word 'can' can also mean 'white' or refer to a male dog. | |||
| German | hund | ||
| The Middle High German word 'hunt' referred to packs of dogs used for hunting. | |||
| Icelandic | hundur | ||
| The word "hundur" in Icelandic is cognate with the English word "hound", ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ḱwṓn-. | |||
| Irish | madra | ||
| Irish word "madra" (dog) also means "mother". | |||
| Italian | cane | ||
| In Italian, the word "cane" can also refer to a stick or staff. | |||
| Luxembourgish | hond | ||
| While 'Hond' is cognate with its English counterpart, it can also mean 'hundred' in Luxembourgish. | |||
| Maltese | kelb | ||
| Despite meaning "dog" in Maltese, "kelb" also means "bastard". | |||
| Norwegian | hund | ||
| In Swedish, "hund" also means "hundred". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | cão | ||
| "Cão" originated from the Latin "canis," meaning "domesticated dog." In some rural dialects in Brazil, it can also refer to other canines like wolves. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | cù | ||
| The word "cù" also means "wolf" or "young deer" in Scots Gaelic. | |||
| Spanish | perro | ||
| The word "perro" can also refer to a "rag" or a "fool" in Spanish. | |||
| Swedish | hund | ||
| Hund also means 'hundred' in Swedish. | |||
| Welsh | ci | ||
| "Ci" also has archaic meanings from the Old Welsh meaning "lord" and the Middle Welsh "a chief" | |||
Dog in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | сабака | ||
| Bosnian | pas | ||
| Pas in Bosnian also has the meaning of a male of large stature and weight. | |||
| Bulgarian | куче | ||
| The word "куче" (dog) in Bulgarian is thought to be of Proto-Slavic origin and may be related to the word "кача" (to jump). | |||
| Czech | pes | ||
| The word "pes" (dog) in Czech also refers to the male foot and "a step". | |||
| Estonian | koer | ||
| "Koer" derives from an ancient Indo-European root likely related to an extinct word for "wolf" and "wild beast." | |||
| Finnish | koira | ||
| The word "koira" may have derived from Proto-Finnic "*koiwa," itself from Proto-Uralic "*koje," a common name for a "canine." | |||
| Hungarian | kutya | ||
| The word "kutya" may also refer to a traditional Hungarian dish made with wheat berries, poppy seeds, honey, and ground walnuts. | |||
| Latvian | suns | ||
| The word "suns" in Latvian is derived from the Proto-Baltic word "*šuns", meaning "dog" or "canine". | |||
| Lithuanian | šuo | ||
| Likely derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ḱwó | |||
| Macedonian | куче | ||
| Polish | pies | ||
| The Polish word "pies" can refer to not only a dog, but also a pawn in chess or a foot soldier. | |||
| Romanian | câine | ||
| The Romanian word "câine" is of Latin origin, possibly derived from "canis" (dog) or "caninus" (canine). | |||
| Russian | собака | ||
| The word "собака" (dog) is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *sobaka, which is thought to be onomatopoeic. | |||
| Serbian | пас | ||
| The word 'пас' also stands for a male sheep in Serbian language, especially a leading one in a herd. | |||
| Slovak | pes | ||
| The word "pes" in Slovak comes from Proto-Slavic "pьsъ", which also means "male". | |||
| Slovenian | pes | ||
| In some old Slovenian dialects, 'pes' could also mean 'male duck' while in the modern language, it can also mean 'pawn' (in chess) | |||
| Ukrainian | пес | ||
| The word "пес" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "pьsъ", which also meant "devil". | |||
Dog in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | কুকুর | ||
| The word "কুকুর" (dog) is derived from the Sanskrit word "kukkuri", which also means "jackal". | |||
| Gujarati | કૂતરો | ||
| In Gujarati, the word 'કૂતરો' ('kūtro' also refers to the lower end of sugarcane, or a certain kind of clay jar. | |||
| Hindi | कुत्ता | ||
| The word "कुत्ता" also means "hunchback" in Hindi. | |||
| Kannada | ನಾಯಿ | ||
| In ancient Kannada, "ನಾಯಿ" (`nāyi`) meant "lord" or "master". | |||
| Malayalam | നായ | ||
| The word 'നായ' (nāya) is also used to refer to certain castes and social groups in Kerala, and has alternate meanings in other Dravidian languages. | |||
| Marathi | कुत्रा | ||
| The word "कुत्रा" in Marathi may also refer to a type of tree. | |||
| Nepali | कुकुर | ||
| The word "कुकुर" derives from the Sanskrit word "कुक्कुर," which also means "cockerel" or "rooster" | |||
| Punjabi | ਕੁੱਤਾ | ||
| The word "ਕੁੱਤਾ" is also used as a term of endearment for a young child or a beloved pet. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | බල්ලා | ||
| The word | |||
| Tamil | நாய் | ||
| The word 'நாய்' or 'naay' in Tamil is derived from the Proto-Dravidian word 'nay' or 'nayin,' which means 'dog' or 'hound'. | |||
| Telugu | కుక్క | ||
| The Telugu word "కుక్క" can also refer to a "jackal" or "wolf". | |||
| Urdu | کتا | ||
| The word "کتا" can also mean "puppy" or "bitch" in Urdu. | |||
Dog in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 狗 | ||
| The character '狗' can also mean 'servant' and was once used to refer to slaves in ancient China. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 狗 | ||
| The Chinese character "狗" (dog) is also used as a slang term for "naughty" or "playful". | |||
| Japanese | 犬 | ||
| The Japanese word "犬" (inu) originally referred to a specific breed of dog, the Japanese Shiba Inu, and has since expanded to include all breeds of dogs. | |||
| Korean | 개 | ||
| "개" (dog) is homophonous with "개" (return), "개" (opening), and many other words, leading to various puns and wordplays. | |||
| Mongolian | нохой | ||
| In Old Mongol, 'нохой' also meant 'wolf' and was etymologically rooted in ancient Turkic, where 'kök' meant 'light blue,' 'grey' and 'wolf' | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ခွေး | ||
| The word chwe (ခွေး), meaning 'dog' in Burmese, also means 'follower' or 'disciple' and is sometimes prefixed to the names of high-ranking monks and members of the royal family. | |||
Dog in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | anjing | ||
| The Indonesian word "anjing" is related to the Malay "anjiang" and Tagalog "aso". The root may be from an Austroasiatic word for "domestic animal". | |||
| Javanese | asu | ||
| The Javanese word "asu" also has alternate meanings such as "bad person" and "insult". | |||
| Khmer | ឆ្កែ | ||
| The word "ឆ្កែ" in Khmer can also be used to refer to certain breeds of large, aggressive cats, such as lions or tigers. | |||
| Lao | ໝາ | ||
| Malay | anjing | ||
| "Anjing" is also a term of endearment used to refer to someone who is close or familiar. | |||
| Thai | หมา | ||
| The word "หมา" in Thai can also refer to a male deer or a wolf. | |||
| Vietnamese | chó | ||
| The word "chó" in Vietnamese also means "gambler" or "pawn" in chess. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | aso | ||
Dog in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | it | ||
| In Azerbaijani, "it" means "dog," it's also used as a term of affection towards animals, and even people. | |||
| Kazakh | ит | ||
| The word "ит" also means "male horse" in Kazakh | |||
| Kyrgyz | ит | ||
| The word "ит" is used in Kyrgyz folklore to represent a loyal and brave companion. | |||
| Tajik | саг | ||
| The word "саг" can also refer to a constellation in Tajik, known as the Canis Major (Big Dog). | |||
| Turkmen | it | ||
| Uzbek | it | ||
| In Uzbek, the word "it" can also refer to a small horse or a donkey. | |||
| Uyghur | ئىت | ||
Dog in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ʻīlio | ||
| 'Īlio' in Hawaiian also referred to a particular species of hawk. | |||
| Maori | kurī | ||
| The word "kurī" in Māori can also refer to a pet or a servant. | |||
| Samoan | maile | ||
| Samoan maile shares a linguistic root with the Malay word anjing, also meaning 'dog'. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | aso | ||
| "Aso" is also a Filipino slang term for a person who is loyal or dependable. | |||
Dog in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | anu | ||
| Guarani | jagua | ||
Dog in International Languages
| Esperanto | hundo | ||
| The Esperanto word "hundo" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ḱwṓ, meaning "dog; wolf". | |||
| Latin | canis | ||
| In ancient Latin, "canis" also referred to a type of trumpet made from a dog's horn. | |||
Dog in Others Languages
| Greek | σκύλος | ||
| The word | |||
| Hmong | aub | ||
| The word "aub" refers to the domestic dog; however, in the context of folklore, it may also describe the guardian spirit of a clan of the "White Hmong" people. | |||
| Kurdish | seh | ||
| The word "seh" can also refer to a "fox" or "jackal" in Kurdish. | |||
| Turkish | köpek | ||
| The word "köpek" also means "coward" in Turkish, which stems from the idea of a dog running away from a fight. | |||
| Xhosa | inja | ||
| The word "inja" in Xhosa has an alternate meaning of "thief" or "robber". | |||
| Yiddish | הונט | ||
| "הונט" (hunt) is cognate with German "hund" (dog) and English "hound." | |||
| Zulu | inja | ||
| The word "inja" also means "slave" or "servant" in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | কুকুৰ | ||
| Aymara | anu | ||
| Bhojpuri | कुकुर | ||
| Dhivehi | ކުއްތާ | ||
| Dogri | कुत्ता | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | aso | ||
| Guarani | jagua | ||
| Ilocano | aso | ||
| Krio | dɔg | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | سەگ | ||
| Maithili | कुकुर | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯍꯨꯏ | ||
| Mizo | ui | ||
| Oromo | saree | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | କୁକୁର | ||
| Quechua | allqu | ||
| Sanskrit | कुक्कुरः | ||
| Tatar | эт | ||
| Tigrinya | ከልቢ | ||
| Tsonga | mbyana | ||