carlin
/kaʁ.lɛ̃/masculine
The French word for 'pug' is carlin.
carlin is a noun used to refer to the specific breed of small dog known as a pug.
Meaning: small dog (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word carlin is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /kaʁ.lɛ̃/.
Did you know?
- The word carlin likely comes from the nickname of Carlo Bestinazzi, an 18th-century Italian actor whose costume mask resembled the nose of the dog.
- The term carlin is closely linked to the 'Harlequin' character from the Italian Commedia dell'arte. Both names refer to the exaggerated facial features and costumes used in these theatrical performances.
- While carlin refers to the breed, the feminine form carline is actually the name of a wild thistle plant.
Examples in context
- J'adore les carlins, ils sont tellement mignons!I adore pugs, they are so cute!
- Mon ami possède un magnifique carlin.My friend owns a magnificent pug.
- Regarde son chien bouledogue, il est adorable!Look at his pug, it's adorable!
- J'ai un chien bouledogue carlin qui s'appelle Lulu.I have a pug bulldog named Lulu.
- Ce carlin est très mignon.This pug is very cute.
- Je cherche un carlin à adopter.I am looking for a pug to adopt.
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are walking in a park.
- EmmaRegarde ce petit carlin !Look at this little pug!
- HugoOh, il est vraiment adorable.Oh, he is really adorable.
- EmmaEst-ce que tu veux le caresser ?Do you want to pet him?
- HugoOui, il a l'air très gentil.Yes, he looks very friendly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pug” translations and entries carlin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carlin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
