canile
/kaˈni.le/masculine
The English word kennel can be translated into Italian as canile or cuccia.
Meaning: shelter (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| canile | /kaˈni.le/ | masculine |
| cuccia | /ˈkut.t͡ʃa/ | feminine |
The term canile is used in official contexts or when referring to commercial establishments for housing dogs. In contrast, cuccia generally refers to a smaller, individual structure like a doghouse or a cozy bed for dogs.
What does it mean word for word?
The word canile is derived from cane (dog) and the suffix -ile (denoting a place or collection).
Which one should you use?
Use canile when you mean a professional facility, a municipal shelter or an animal shelter. Use cuccia when you are referring to a small, individual dog bed or a small wooden structure for a single dog.
How do you pronounce it?
The word canile is pronounced /kaˈni.le/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd of 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- While cuccia refers to a dog house, it is also the word used for a 'bunk' or 'berth' on a train or ship.
- The word cuccia is a linguistic cousin of the English word 'couch', as both derive from the French word for lying down.
- While canile refers to a facility, the word cuccia can also be used metaphorically in Italian to describe a very small, cramped, or uncomfortable living space for humans.
Examples in context
- Sono stato aiutato da mio padre a pitturare la cuccia.I was helped by my father to paint the kennel.The first sentence is useful for describing a task involving the word cuccia.Tatoeba #3603809 by Guybrush88, translation #246726 by sundown
- Il nostro cane è nel canile.Our dog is in the kennel.The second sentence is useful for describing the location of a dog using canile.Tatoeba #5141897 by Balinto, translation #65559 by CK
- Ho fatto questo canile da solo.I made this kennel by myself.The third sentence is useful for describing the creation of a canile.Tatoeba #1957924 by hitori37, translation #252199 by sundown
- Nel canile sono presenti molte razze di cani.In the kennel, there are many dog breeds.
- Mi piacerebbe fare del volontariato in un canile.I would like to volunteer at a kennel.
- Il cane si rilassa nella sua cuccia.The dog relaxes in its kennel / doghouse.
- Ho comprato una cuccia accogliente per il mio amico a quattro zampe.I bought a cozy dog bed for my four-legged friend.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alessandro and Giulia are discussing where to adopt a new dog.
- AlessandroConosci un buon canile in questa zona?Do you know a good kennel in this area?
- GiuliaSì, il canile comunale è molto serio.Yes, the municipal kennel is very reliable.
- AlessandroPossiamo andare a trovarlo domani?Can we go visit it tomorrow?
- GiuliaCerto, Alessandro, andiamo sicuramente!Of course, Alessandro, let's definitely go!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kennel” translations and entries canile, cuccia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries canile, cuccia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
