хороший пёс
khoroshiy pyos
In Russian, "good dog" is translated as хороший пёс (khoroshiy pyos).
The phrase is used to praise a dog for behaving well or following a command.
Which one should you use?
хороший пёс is the masculine form, typically used for male dogs or as a general term. The phrase can be changed to the feminine form хорошая собака if the dog is female.
How do you pronounce it?
khoroshiy pyos
When do people say it?
While хороший пёс describes the dog, Russians often use the word Молодец! to praise a dog for doing something well, similar to saying "Good boy!" or "Well done!" in English.
Did you know?
- In Russian literature and folklore, calling someone a пёс can actually be a harsh insult, whereas in this phrase, it is purely positive.
- The adjective хороший is etymologically rooted in the Proto-Slavic word for 'beauty', meaning the phrase is historically linked to the idea of 'beautiful' or 'pleasant'.
- The word пёс is often considered more 'rugged' or 'tough' than the common word собака, making хороший пёс sound like you are praising a sturdy working dog.
Examples in context
- Хороший пёс!Good dog!This example shows how to use the phrase хороший пёс to praise a dog.Tatoeba #4781243 by marafon, translation #4769857 by Hybrid
- Молодец, собака!Good job, dog!
- Какой хороший пёс, молодец!Kakoy khoroshiy pyos, molodets!What a good dog, well done!
Example conversation
Andrey is teaching his dog to sit in the park.
- Екатерина EkaterinaСидеть! Вот так, хороший пёс.Sidet'! Vot tak, khoroshiy pyos.Sit! That's it, good dog.
- Андрей AndreyОн быстро учится.On bystro uchitsya.He is learning quickly.
- Екатерина EkaterinaДа, он действительно хороший пёс.Da, on deystvitel'no khoroshiy pyos.Yes, he really is a good dog.
- Андрей AndreyДай ему вкусняшку.Day emu vkusnyashku.Give him a treat.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries пёс, хороший, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
