цуценя́
cucenjáneuter
The Ukrainian word for puppy is цуценя́ (cucenjá). Wiktionary also lists щеня́ (ščenjá) and собача́ (sobačá).
Meaning: young dog (noun)
Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| цуценя́ | cucenjá | neuter |
| щеня́ | ščenjá | neuter |
| собача́ | sobačá | neuter |
The term refers to a young dog. цуценя́ is the most widely used term for puppy in Ukrainian.
Which one should you use?
щеня́ is another way to say puppy, and собача́ is also a neuter term used for a young dog. цуцік is an informal term used to refer to a cute, little puppy.
How does it change in a sentence?
The neuter noun цуценя́ follows a specific declension pattern where the plural genitive ending is цуценят.
How do you pronounce it?
cucenjá
Did you know?
- The informal diminutive цуцік is not just for puppies, but is often used as a term of endearment for any beloved person or small creature.
- Ukrainian has a rich system of diminutives, meaning you can add further suffixes to цуценя́ to make the puppy sound even smaller and cuter.
- The word щеня́ is used in many Slavic languages, making it a recognizable 'cousin' to the word for 'cub' or 'youngling' in other contexts.
Examples in context
- Ой який же він слухняний цуцень.Oh, what a well-behaved little puppy!
Example conversation
Dmytro and Olena are looking at a pet store window.
- Дмитро DmytroОлено, подивись на те цуценя́!Oleno, podyvys' na te tsutsenya!Olena, look at that puppy!
- Олена OlenaОй, воно таке маленьке й пухнасте.Oy, vono take malen'ke y pukhnaste.Oh, it is so small and fluffy.
- Дмитро DmytroЯ мрію про таке цуценя́ вже давно.Ya mriyu pro take tsutsenya vzhe davno.I have been dreaming of such a puppy for a long time.
- Олена OlenaДавай зайдемо всередину і запитаємо про нього.Davay zaidemo vseredynu i zapytamo pro nyoho.Let's go inside and ask about it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “puppy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
