כלבלב
klavláv/klavˈlav/masculine
The English word 'puppy' is translated into Hebrew as כלבלב (klavláv). Wiktionary also lists גּוּר (gur).
Meaning: young dog (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| כלבלב | klavláv | /klavˈlav/ (Modern Israeli) | masculine |
| גּוּר | gur | masculine |
The term refers to a young dog.
What does it mean word for word?
The word כלבלב is a diminutive form of the word for dog, meaning 'little dog'.
Which one should you use?
While כלבלב specifically refers to a puppy, the word גור is a more general term used for the young of any animal, such as a cub, pup or offspring.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of כלבלב is כלבלבים.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is klavláv. The IPA pronunciation is /klavˈlav/.
Did you know?
- In modern Israeli slang, the word כלבלב is sometimes used metaphorically to describe someone who is overly subservient or a 'lapdog' to a boss.
- The Hebrew word for 'puppy', כלבלב, is a linguistic mirror of the word for 'dog', כלב, through a process called partial reduplication.
- The word גור is used in the Bible to describe the young of animals, showing that this general term for offspring is thousands of years old.
Examples in context
- תמיד רציתי לאמץ כלבלב.I've always wanted to adopt a puppy.This sentence shows how to express a desire to adopt a כלבלב.Tatoeba #4865804 by fekundulo, translation #4864565 by jarbv
- אמא שלנו הביאה לנו כלבלב.Our mother bought us a puppy.This sentence describes someone buying a כלבלב.Tatoeba #1425176 by Eldad, translation #484055 by CK
- אני רוצה כלבלב לחג המולד.I want a puppy for Christmas.This sentence expresses wanting a כלבלב for a specific occasion.Tatoeba #5602847 by fekundulo, translation #5194623 by CK
- שמעת על הגור החדש של סמירה?Have you heard about Samira's new puppy?
- עם הגורי החדש אתה מתמודד טוב, בטח שיהיה לו חיים מדהימים אצלך!You're doing great with the new puppy, he's sure to have an amazing life with you!
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Noa are walking in a park and see a small dog.
- דניאל Danielתראי, איזה כלבלב חמוד!Tiraei, eize kalbalav hamud!Look, what a cute puppy!
- נועה Noaהוא באמת מתוק מאוד.Hu be'emet matok me'od.He really is very sweet.
- דניאל Danielאת חושבת שזה כלבלב גדיל?At hoshvet she-ze kalbalav gdil?Do you think it's a growing puppy?
- נועה Noaנראה שהוא עדיין קטן מאוד.Nira she-hu adayin katan me'od.It looks like he is still very small.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “puppy” translations and entries כלבלב, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries כלבלב, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
