kokoš
/kôkoːʃ/Latin, feminine
The English word chicken translates to Croatian as kokoš, kokoška or pile depending on the context.
Meaning: bird (noun)
Ways to say it
| Croatian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| kokoš | /kôkoːʃ/ | Latin, feminine |
| kokoška | /kǒkoːʃka/ /kǒkoʃka/ |
Latin, feminine |
| pile | /pîle/ | Latin, neuter |
The term used depends on whether you are discussing the biological bird, the species or the meat. Use kokoš to refer specifically to a hen, kokoška to refer more broadly to the species or the bird and pile when referring to the bird as a young animal or as a source of food.
Which one should you use?
While kokoš and kokoška are both feminine nouns used for the bird, kokoš specifically means a hen. Kokoška is a more general synonym for the chicken species. Pile is a neuter noun used most commonly when referring to a chicken as a young bird or as meat. When talking about chicken as a culinary dish or meat, the specific term piletina is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
kokoš and kokoška are feminine nouns, while pile is a neuter noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/kôkoːʃ/
Did you know?
- While pile means 'chicken' or 'chick', it can also be used as a gentle term of endearment for a small child in certain regional dialects.
- In Croatian idioms, kokoš is frequently used to describe someone who is fussy or loves to gossip, similar to the English concept of 'clucking'.
- The word pile is inherited from the Proto-Slavic word *pilę, which specifically meant 'chick'.
Examples in context
- Htio bih napraviti piletinu večeras.I'd like to cook chicken tonight.This sentence demonstrates how to express a desire to cook chicken using the form pile.Tatoeba #955704 by akvo, translation #799859 by CM
- Molim vas, mogu li dobiti porciju piletine?Excuse me, may I have a portion of chicken?
- Kako pripremate piletinu?How do you prepare chicken?
- Idemo li večeras na roštilj? Hoću piletinu!Are we going for a barbecue tonight? I want chicken!
- Kupio sam dva pileta za ručak.I bought two chickens for lunch.
- Kokoš je na ogradi.The chicken is on the fence.
Example conversation
Marko and Mia are visiting a farm.
- MarkoPogledaj kako ta kokoš trči!Look at how that chicken runs!
- MiaBaš je smiješna i brza.She is really funny and fast.
- MarkoŽeliš li joj dati nešto hrane?Do you want to give her some food?
- MiaDa, sigurno će se razveseliti.Yes, she will surely be happy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chicken” translations and entries kokoš, kokoška, pile, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kokoš, pile, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
