perrito
/peˈrito/
In Spanish, "little puppy" is perrito.
The term is used to describe a young dog or a small dog. While perro means dog, using the diminutive perrito is the most common way to express affection or to emphasize that the dog is small or young.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is formed by the root perro (dog) and the diminutive suffix -ito (little).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the word cachorro is often used when referring to a puppy. The term chucho is a colloquialism used in many Latin American countries for dogs or puppies.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify that the puppy is female, change the ending from -o to -a to get perrita. To make the word plural, add -s to the end to get perritos.
How do you pronounce it?
/peˈrito/
Did you know?
- The word chucho can be used as an adjective to describe a person who is stingy or miserly in certain dialects, far removed from its meaning as a puppy.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, adding the diminutive '-ito' to a word can express intense affection even if the object is actually quite large. A massive, hundred-pound dog could still be called a perrito to show how much you love it.
- Be careful with the word chucho in different regions. While it is a colloquial way to say 'puppy' in some places, in other Latin American areas it can be a derogatory term for a scruffy or stray animal.
Examples in context
- ¡Mira qué perrito pequeño tan bonito!Look at that beautiful little puppy!
- Vamos a pasear al perrito.Let's take the little puppy for a walk.
- El perrito es muy juguetón.The little puppy is very playful.
- Mira ese perrito blanco.Look at that little white puppy.
- Quiero un perrito de mascota.I want a little puppy as a pet.
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are visiting a pet store.
- María¡Alejandro, mira este perrito!Alejandro, look at this puppy!
- AlejandroEs muy lindo y pequeño.He is very cute and small.
- MaríaCreo que el perrito es perfecto.I think the puppy is perfect.
- AlejandroEstá bien, vamos a comprarlo.Alright, let's buy him.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry perrito, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
