соба́ка
sobákafeminine, masculine
The English word 'dog' can be translated into Ukrainian as соба́ка (sobáka) or пес.
Meaning: animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| соба́ка | sobáka | feminine, masculine | |
| пес | pes | [pɛs] (narrow) | masculine |
Which one should you use?
соба́ка is the most common and neutral term, applicable to both male and female dogs. In contrast, пес is a masculine noun used specifically for a male dog or as a more poetic/literary term for a dog.
How does it change in a sentence?
When a male dog (пес) is the direct object of a sentence, the form changes to пса.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization for соба́ка is sobáka.
Did you know?
- In Ukrainian, the word собака is used for both male and female dogs, but its grammatical gender is masculine. This means adjectives describing a female собака will still use masculine endings.
- The word соба́ка is frequently used as a slang insult for a person, implying they are unpleasant or contemptible.
- The word пес is an ancient term inherited from the Proto-Slavic word *pьsъ.
Examples in context
- Це кіт чи пес?Is that a cat or a dog?This sentence is useful for asking whether an animal is a cat or a dog using the form пес.Tatoeba #551223 by aandrusiak, translation #67041 by Eldad
- Пес не їв м'яса.The dog didn't eat the meat.This sentence shows how to describe a dog that did not eat meat using the form пес.Tatoeba #2627572 by aandrusiak, translation #48226 by CK
- Пес гнався за котом.A dog was running after a cat.This sentence demonstrates a dog running after a cat using the form пес.Tatoeba #491371 by aandrusiak, translation #239123 by CK
- 59 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a park, Maria and Dmytro see a pet.
- Марія MariiaДивись, яка гарна соба́ка!Dyvys', yaka harna sobaka!Look, what a beautiful dog!
- Дмитро DmytroТак, ця соба́ка дуже привітна.Tak, tsya sobaka duzhe pryvitna.Yes, this dog is very friendly.
- Марія MariiaВона твій новий друг?Vona tviy novyi druh?Is she your new friend?
- Дмитро DmytroНі, це соба́ка мого сусіда.Ni, tse sobaka moho susida.No, it is my neighbor's dog.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dog” translations and entries пес, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries пес, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
