కుక్క
kukka/kukːa/
The English word dog is translated into Telugu as కుక్క (kukka). Wiktionary also lists శునకము (śunakamu).
Meaning: animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Telugu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| కుక్క | kukka | /kukːa/ |
| శునకము | śunakamu |
The term refers to the animal known as a dog.
Which one should you use?
The form కుక్క is the common, everyday word for dog used in speech and casual writing. The form శునకము is a formal or literary term for dog, often used in scientific, technical or highly formal contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
When the dog is the direct object of a verb, the suffix -ను is added to the base form కుక్క to become కుక్కను.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is kukka. The IPA is /kukːa/.
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'dog' to describe a loyal companion, calling someone a కుక్క in Telugu suggests they are a person of low dignity or completely subservient.
- The formal word శునకము originally described specifically a 'young' or 'small' dog in Sanskrit.
- Using the casual word కుక్క in a professional or formal setting can make you sound unintentionally aggressive or disrespectful to your listeners.
Examples in context
- దయచేసి కుక్కను వదిలిపెట్టకుండ జాగ్రత్త వహించండి.Please be careful not to let the dog loose.The sentence is useful for practicing the accusative form కుక్క.Tatoeba #9253659 by Hari, translation #38529 by CK
- ఆ కుక్క చాలా చిన్నది.Aa kukka chaalaa chinnadi.That dog is very small.
- మా ఇంట్లో ఒక కుక్క ఉంది.Maa intlo oka kukka undi.There is a dog in our house.
Example conversation
Kavya and Venkat are walking in a park.
- కావ్య Kavyaఅక్కడ చూడు, ఒక తెల్లని కుక్క ఉంది.Akkaada choodu, oka tellani kukka undi.Look there, there is a white dog.
- వెంకట్ Venkatఅవును, అది చాలా అందంగా ఉంది.Avunu, adi chaalaa andangaa undi.Yes, it is very beautiful.
- కావ్య Kavyaవెంకట్, ఆ కుక్క నీ వైపు చూస్తోంది.Venkat, aa kukka nee vaipu choostondi.Venkat, that dog is looking at you.
- వెంకట్ Venkatఅవును, అది నన్ను చూస్తోంది.Avunu, adi nannu choostondi.Yes, it is looking at me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dog” translations and entries కుక్క, శునకము, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries కుక్క, శునకము, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
