Ways to say it
| Croatian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pas | /pâs/ /pâːs/ |
Latin, masculine |
| psić | /psît͡ɕ/ | Latin, diminutive, feminine |
| kučka | /kût͡ʃka/ | Latin, feminine |
| kuče | /kût͡ʃe/ | Latin, masculine |
| džukela | /d͡ʒǔkela/ | Latin, derogatory, feminine |
The term pas is the standard, neutral word for the species and is used in a general context regardless of whether the dog is male or female.
Which one should you use?
While pas is the general term, you can be more specific using other forms. To specify biological sex, use kučka for a female dog. To refer to a dog's age, specifically a puppy or a young dog, use kuče. The form psić is a diminutive used for a little dog. In contrast, džukela is a derogatory term used to describe a dog, often implying it is a stray or a low-quality mongrel.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Pas is the neutral and standard term. Džukela is a derogatory way to describe a dog.
How does it change in a sentence?
The diminutive form psić changes its ending to psića when it functions as the direct object of a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
/pâs/
Did you know?
- While pas means 'dog', the exact same spelling is also used for words meaning 'belt' or 'pass', depending on the pronunciation.
- The word kučka for a female dog is actually a linguistic loan from a Turkic language.
- In certain contexts, calling someone a pas can be a strong insult, mirroring the English use of 'dog' to describe a person without honor.
Examples in context
- Tomov pas je napao Mary.Tom's dog attacked Mary.This sentence shows how to use pas to describe an animal that performed an action.Tatoeba #3957045 by krofna, translation #3956447 by CK
- Gdje je tvoj pas?Where is your dog?This sentence uses pas to ask about the location of a dog.Tatoeba #1393528 by Shishir, translation #461908 by regisb
- Tvoj pas je ovdje.Your dog is here.This sentence uses pas to state a dog's location.Tatoeba #1393510 by Shishir, translation #449111 by CK
- Moji susjedi imaju prekrasnog psa.My neighbors have a beautiful dog.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Petra and Mateo are walking in a park.
- PetraPogledaj onog velikog psa!Look at that big dog!
- MateoDa, taj pas izgleda jako ljubazno.Yes, that dog looks very friendly.
- PetraŽelim imati takvog psa kod kuće.I want to have a dog like that at home.
- MateoMožda tvoji roditelji pristanu.Maybe your parents will agree.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dog” translations and entries pas, psić, kučka, kuče, džukela, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kuče, kučka, pas, psić, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
