Last Updated on June 11, 2021 by Dogs Vets
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How to say the word dogs in Spanish
If you are a dog lover and are learning Spanish, then you must be already to know how to say dog. However, as you may have noticed, in most cases in Spanish, we have other popular terms for the same word.
So even if perro is the standard term for “dog” in Spanish, you can actually use other very common words for the same purpose. So, in this article, we say “dog” in Spanish in 11 different ways.
Although these terms are very common, some of them are only applicable to certain situations or certain types of dogs.
In addition, some words may only be used in a few Spanish-speaking countries, while others will be standard terms. Please read the following instructions and examples carefully and then choose the best choice for you and your four-legged friend.
By this point, you will know how to say dog in Spanish in many different ways just like a native Spanish-speaking dog.
1. Perro – Dog
As you probably already know, “Perro” is one of the most popular and standard terms for “dog” in Spanish. This word can also be used in formal and informal situations, and as a standard term, it is popular in all Spanish-speaking countries.
“Perro” is a generic term that Spanish speakers will use to refer to any type of dog. However, keep in mind that in Spanish, gender is very important. Therefore, if you are referring to a female dog, you will need to use the term ” perra“.
Here are some examples of how “perro” and “perra” are used in real life.
Please note that the basic structure below is very general and you can add or remove adjectives to describe your dog.
[Subject] + [Verb conjugated] + [determiner] + perro/perra + (adjective)
¿No te gustan los perros grandes?
You don’t like big dogs?
Nuestros perros son muy tranquilos
Our dogs are very quiet
En mi casa tenemos muchos perros
We have a lot of dogs in my house
La vecina tiene un perro muy bonito
The neighbor has a very pretty dog
Mis primas tienen una perra blanca y un perro gris
My cousins have a white female dog and a grey male dog
2. Cachorro – Puppy
In Spanish, “cachorro” is a direct translation of “puppy”. As a result, the word is only used when referring to a puppy. In addition, you can use its small form “cachorrito” as a more affectionate way to talk about your dog.
Just like “Perro“, “cachorro” is used as a generic term for male puppies. However, if you want to talk about females, you need to use “cachorra” or “cachorrita“. Here are some examples.
Mira qué cachorros tan bonitos
Look, what beautiful puppies
Mi papá nos regaló unos cachorritos
My dad gave us some puppies
Nuestra perra tuvo tres cachorritas
Our dog had three puppies
Agustín tiene un cachorro muy juguetón
Agustin has a very playful puppy
¿Qué comen los cachorros?
What do puppies eat?
Take Note: In Spanish, cachorro is a general term that can be used to refer to some baby mammals such as lions, tigers, dogs, wolves, and bears. So depending on the type of animal, ‘cachorro’ could be translated as ‘puppy’ or ‘cub’.
La leona cuida a sus cachorros
The lioness takes care of her cubs
3. Firulais – Dog
In Mexico, Firulais is an informal and fun word that people often use to say the word “dog”. Although the word is more commonly used to refer to a stray or street dogs, Mexican speakers still use it as a fun and cute way to refer to their dogs.
Firulais was (and still is) a popular name for a dog, and it became so common that people used it as a generic and casual way to say “dog” in Mexican Spanish. In addition, it can be used to call a dog whose name is unknown.
Because it is a name, the word may not always translate directly. In some cases, it is simply translated as “dog”.
Firulais, siéntate
Firulais, sit
Corre, Firulais, ve por la pelota
Run, Firulais, go for the ball
Annie, ¿dónde está el firulais?
Annie, where is the dog?
El firulais rompió el jarrón de mi mamá
The dog broke my mom’s jar
Pobrecito firulais debe tener hambre
Poor dog, he must be hungry
Funny Fact: Firulaiscomes from the expression ‘free of lice’ a phrase that American custom agents used to ask Mexicans if their dogs had lice. This mispronunciation became so popular that Mexican speakers adopted it as a term.
4. Chucho – Cur / Dog
The word “Chucho” is a common and informal word that means “dog” in Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America. Usually, the term is used to refer to stray dogs, but pet owners can also use it with their own dogs if they are upset with them or if it is just a fun way to refer to them.
As a result, depending on the context, Chucho and its feminine form “chucha” may not be very dog-friendly words. In addition, since the word is used to talk about stray dogs, “chucho” could be translated as.
- Cur
- Mongrel
- Mutt
- Dog
- Pooch
Los chuchos de mi cuadra no me dejaron dormir
The mongrel on my street didn’t let me sleep
¡Baja a tu chucho de mi cama!
Get your pooch off my bed!
¡Qué chucha tan desobediente tiene tu hermana!
Your sister has such a disobedient dog!
Mamá, tus chuchos mordieron mis zapatos
Mom, your pooches bit my shoes
El chucho del vecino mordió a mi hermana
The neighbor’s mutt bit my sister
Take Note: Chucho can or may only be used in an informal situations. Additionally, keep in mind that ‘Chucho’ is also a very popular Spanish nickname just like the name ‘Jesús’. So don’t be surprised incase you hear someone calling a person ‘Chucho’.
5. Can – Hound / Dog
The word “Can” is a very formal way of saying “dog” in Spanish, so it is a popular term used in written contexts, news, dog races or any other kind of occasion. Even if “can” is a direct translation of “hound”, in Spanish we can use this word to refer to any type of dog.
Unlike the other words in this list, “can” can be used to refer to both female and male dogs. Here are some examples of how the word is used in real life.
Los canes atacaron a una persona
The dogs attacked a person
¿Cuál es el nombre de su can, señorita?
What’s the name of your dog, Miss?
¿Qué tipo de can me recomienda tener en una granja?
What type of dog do you recommend me to have on a farm?
Señor, le recomiendo que lleve a su can al veterinario
Sir, I recommend you to take your dog to the veterinarian
Creo que es uno de los canes más bonitos que he visto
I think it’s one of the most beautiful hounds that I’ve ever seen
6. Perrito – Doggy / Dog
Perrito is the lowercase form of “perro”, which is a very friendly and cute word in Spanish. The literal meaning of “perrito” is “puppy”. However, depending on the context, it can also be translated as “puppy” or “dog”.
Since it is a word of deep affection, “perrito” and “perrita” can be used to refer to both small dogs, puppies and big dogs. Usually, dog lovers use these words when talking about their own dogs or referring to other people’s dogs. “Perrito” and “perrita” can be used in both formal and informal settings.
Mi perrita tuvo cinco perritos
My dog had five doggies
Nuestra perrita se llama Chocolata
Our dog’s name is Chocolata
¿Cuántos perritos te gustaría tener?
How many little dogs would you like to have?
Christian y yo queremos adoptar un perrito
Christian and I want to adopt a dog
Las perritas de mis primos tienen tres meses
My cousin’s doggies are three months old
7. El guau guau – Dog
In Spanish, guau guau (you pronounce it ɡwau̯ – ɡwau̯) is an onomatopoeia for a dog barking. Therefore, some people may use this group of words as a humorous and informal way to say “dog” in Spanish. Because it is not difficult to pronounce, el guau guau is a popular noun among small Spanish speakers who cannot say “perro” and its parents.
This term is very well known in all Spanish-speaking countries because more than one child in our family has problems pronouncing it. Although “guau guau” is a direct translation of “woof-woof”, in this case, “el guau guau” means “dog”.
8. Peludo / Peludito – Hairy / Furry
Nowadays, peludo or peludito has become a common term for dog lovers, a Spanish way of saying “dog” in an affectionate, casual and cute way.
Although the word means to talk about any pet with fur, people associate it more with dogs and, generally speaking, it’s only popular on social media or among dog owners.
Unlike the other words in the list, peludo and peludito are words that can be used to refer to both male and female dogs. Keep in mind that these terms are usually used in very casual conversations.
In addition, these words are direct translations of “hairy” and “furry”, but in this case they can also be translated as “dog” or “dogs”.
Adopta a un peludo
Adopt a dog
Linda extraña a su peludito
Linda misses her furry
Mi peludito está en el veterinario
My doggy is at the vet
¿Ya viste que bonito está ese peludo?
Did you already see how pretty that doggy is?
Este grupo es para compartir consejos sobre nuestros peluditos
This group is meant to share tips about our dogs
Please note: In standard Spanish, peludo is an adjective used to describe a person with hair or a beard. Please note that when used as an informal synonym for “dog”, “peludo” is a noun. Make sure you pay attention to the context and the sentence in which it is used.
¡Córtate el cabello! Te ves muy peludo
Cut your hair! You look very hairy
9. Perrihijo – Dog-son
In Spanish, “perrihijo” is a fusion of the words “perro” and “hijo”. This attractive word is very popular among owners who love their dogs very much.
Depending on the context, the word may be a mocking noun used to refer to owners who treat their dogs like dogs, but it may also be a cute and funny way to refer to your dog.
Read also: Top 10 best dog breeds for seniors in 2021
Since this is a new term, perrihijo tends to be used more often in casual conversation. Also, there is no direct translation of the word, but it means “dog son” or “dog”.
¿Cómo está tu perrihijo?
How is your dog-son?
¿No trajiste a tu perrihija?
You didn’t bring your dog-daughter?
No quiero que tus perrihijos se suban al sillón
I don’t want your dogs to get on the couch
Mira los juguetes que le compré a mis perrihijos
Look at the toys that I bought for my dogs
Samuel quiere llevarse a sus perrihijos a España
Samuel wants to take his dogs-children to Spain
10. Lomito – Dog
Like “peludo” and “peludito”, lomito has become a popular word for “dog” in Spanish on social media. This expression is very affectionate, cute, and common among dog lovers. In this case, “lomito” can be used to refer to any type of dog: puppy, small, large, female or male.
Since it has no direct translation, the meaning of lomito is closer to “dog” or “dog”.
- Mi perrito es el lomito más tierno del mundo
- My dog is the cutest doggy in the world
¿No te gustaría tener un lomito?
Wouldn’t you like to have a dog?
Gustavo va con su lomito a todos lados
Gustavo goes everywhere with his doggy
Este lomito está perdido, ¿alguien sabe quién es su dueño?
This doggy is lost, does anybody know who is its owner?
Oigan, ¿alguien me recomienda un buen veterinario para mi lomito?
Hey, guys, can someone recommend a good vet for my doggy?
Wrap-it-up
Saying “dog” in Spanish with different words not only allows you to expand your vocabulary but also allows you to communicate better with other dog lovers.
Therefore, in this list, we have written 11 different Spanish words for “dog”. Please keep in mind that some of these terms may only apply to certain situations or countries.
If you want to know how to say “dog” in Spanish, now you can use the 10 different terms when you call Firulais.
Names for dogs in spanish
There are many reasons to consider a Spanish dog name for your puppy. Perhaps you are proud of your family heritage or have recently adopted a dog of Spanish or Latin descent, such as a Spaniel, Andalusian Hound, or Chihuahua.
Maybe you have fond memories of sightseeing in Barcelona, chasing bulls in Pamplona, or soaking up the sun in Catalonia. Or maybe you just really like Mexican food and Spanish wine (hey, we get it!)…
Whatever the reason, there are plenty of Spanish dog names to test the newest member of your family. They will be named after Spanish and will make great companions – more than 450 million people speak Spanish (making it the second most spoken language in the world after Chinese!).
Our Top Spanish Dog Names
Some Spanish dog names are simply timeless. Here are some of our top choices.
Benito / One (Blessing): Because when you gaze into her eyes, you know your dog is blessed. And, if you rescued her, she is blessed to be yours for life.
Corazón (heart): The message is simple: this dog stole your heart.
Diego : As it turns out, Diego is the Spanish equivalent of James (surprise!) equivalent, and is one of the most popular dog names in Spain. We love his playful, light-hearted voice, making him an ideal choice for a high-energy boy dog.
Pequeño/ a (Small): Whether you have a Chihuahua or a Great Dane, this name means they will always be your baby.
Mullido / a (fluffy): With their thick, wavy coats, breeds like the Spanish Water Dog and the Catalan Shepherd are super hybrids – a fluffy name to match.
Here are some other popular dog names that we like:
- Almo/a (Soul)
- Amor (Love)
- Brisa (Breeze—for your high-speed puppy)
- Dulce (Sweet)
- Diez (For the perfect ten)
- Feliz (Happy)
- Hermoso (Handsome)
- Mariposa (Butterfly)
- Pablo/a (Paul/a)
- Querida (Dear one)
- Rojo/a (Red—for a fiery pup)
- Risa (Laughter)
- Soleado/a (Sunny)
- Uno (For your #1)
- Zorro (Fox)
Looking for something more specific? Read on for a slew of different Spanish dog names, from famous historical figures and celebrities to food-inspired names and color-specific picks.
Take your time deciding. After all, you’ll be saying this name quite a lot from now on.
Male Spanish Dog Names
Got a perro coming home with you? Consider these top Spanish boy dog names:
Carlos. A super popular Spanish dog name, Carlos means “free man.” This could be a fun name for a dog that’s not-so-easy to guide through obedience training! You might also consider it for a pup with poofy, curly hair like soccer legend Carlos Valderrama.
Fernando. Another classic, Fernando—a variation of Ferdinand—makes for a cool name for a dog that’s not afraid of anything, as it translates to “bold voyager.”
Inigo. Inigo, meaning fiery, and could be a great pick for a male puppy that loves to challenge you. And for fans of The Princess Bride, it’s a fun name in honor of master swordsman Inigo Montoya.
Here are a handful of other popular male Spanish dog names to try out for your new pup:
- Alejandro (This one comes with an ultra-catchy theme song thanks to Lady Gaga)
- Antonio (Banderas!)
- Armando (Army man, for your ever-vigilant guard dog)
- Chico (Boy)
- Chiquito (Tiny one)
- Dali (For Salvador, the famous surrealist painter)
- Domingo (Sunday)
- Enrique (Meaning “head of the household”—for a stubborn pup or a particularly handsome one with the last name of Iglesias, perhaps?)
- Federico (For your peaceful warrior)
- Felipe (Lover of horses)
- Hernando (Adventurer)
- José (Joseph)
- Marco (Meaning “warlike”)
- Mario (Marius)
- Paco (Free)
Female Spanish Dog Names
For your perrita, try to consider these romantic and sweet Spanish female dog names.
Bella: No wonder Bella is such a popular Spanish dog name – simple and short, its meaning applies to all dogs: beautiful!
Frida: For a small dog that you just feel at ease with, Frida (meaning “peace”) might be a good choice. It’s also a good choice if you’re a fan of the bold, colorful paintings of the late, great Frida Kahlo.
Esperanto Esperanza: is a very romantic name that means “hope”. Consider it for a puppy that can always lift the mood.
Here, we prefer the following names for female Spanish dogs:
- Boni/Bonita (Pretty)
- Carina (Beloved)
- Carissa (Caress… for the especially cuddly pup)
- Chica (Girl)
- Chiquita (Tiny one)
- Consuela (Comfort)
- Coqueta (Flirt)
- Dahlia (Flower)
- Elena (Splendor)
- Emilia (Emily)
- Estrella (Star)
- Eva (Life)
- Gitana (Gypsy)
- María (Mary)
- Rosa (Rose)
Funny Spanish Dog Names
If you’ve got a fool’s ball on your hands, there’s no shortage of interesting Spanish dog names. Here are some of our favorites.
Bandido (Bandit): Consider the name Bandido for the invisible puppy who always manages to fit into shoes, socks or anything that keeps his paws on.
Gordito / a (chubby): If your puppy’s hunger is never satisfied, or if he is a -bony M-dog or Great Pyrenees, then Gordito can be a very fun and appropriate name.
La Reina (Queen): Some dogs just know that the world revolves around them. Lareina is a perfect name for your little heroine with a diamond encrusted collar.
Here are some funny dog names that are sure to make your Spanish-speaking friends laugh out loud.
- Albondiga (Meatball)
- Canijo (Stumpy)
- Chaparro/a (Shorty)
- Chorizo (a spicy Spanish sausage—for the weiner dog in your life)
- Delgado/a (Skinny)
- Descarado/a (Sassy)
- Gordo/a (Fat)
- Grande (Big)
- Fiero/a (Fierce)
- Fiesta (Party)
- Leon (Lion)
- Loco/a (Crazy)
- Tonto/a (Silly)
- Toro (Bull)
- Torpe (Clumsy)
White Dog Names in Spanish
If you have a light-colored or white dog (such as an American Eskimo or Poodle), consider some creative names with a Spanish twist.
Relámpago: For the Podenco Canario, the super-fast spirit lion or rabbit hunter, Relámpago (meaning flash) represents a stellar star.
Fantasy (ghost): Have a puppy that’s always sneaking up on you or has a ghostly white sheen on his coat? Consider the romantic name “fantasy”.
Lucia (Light): This is a classic name for humans and dogs alike. For a sweet pup with a cheerful personality, you can’t go wrong with Lucia.
Here are some other popular Spanish names for white dogs.
- Bombón (Marshmallow)
- Chispa (Spark)
- Cielo (Sky)
- Corderito (Little Lamb)
- Diamante (Diamond)
- Luna (Moon)
- Luz (Light)
- Paloma (Dove)
- Perla (Pearl)
- Santana (Saintly—or the Latin rock band!)
Brown Dog Names in Spanish
Sure, you could name your brown pup Mocha or Moose, but for a Spanish dog name, check out these stellar suggestions:
Churro. Name your sweet pup after one of the tastiest Spanish desserts—fried dough twists covered in cinnamon sugar.
Galleta. Is your puppy so cute you could eat her up? Give her a name to match, the Spanish word for “cookie.”
Lobo/a. Is it wild? The name Lobo (meaning “wolf”) was used to honor his ancestors. Interesting fact: In ancient civilizations, wolves represented the Aztec gods of war and the sun, and it was believed that they guided the fallen warriors through the underworld.
Here, a handful of other brown dog names in Spanish to consider for your caramel-coated dog:
- Avellana (Hazel)
- Barro (Mud)
- Canela (Cinnamon)
- Caramelo (Caramel)
- Castaña/o (Chestnut)
- Maní (Peanut)
- Oro (Gold)
- Oso (Bear)
- Pepita (Nugget)
- Sierra (After the mountain range)
Spanish Dog Names for Black Dogs
Whether you’re a black-and-black AlanoEspañol, a slender Spaniel, or the world’s best dappled mutt, here are some Spanish names for black dogs to inspire you.
Cuervo (Raven). If your dog has a mysterious, brooding look (or you’re just a big tequila fan), Cuervo could make for a unique name choice.
Pimiento/a (Pepper). For your pup with the salt-and-pepper coat, Pimiento makes for an adorable name.
Ocaso (Twilight). Got a black beauty? Ocaso is a beautiful name that brings to mind nightfall.
Here, a few other Spanish dog names for a black pup:
- Diablo/a (Devil)
- Diablito/a (Little devil)
- Frijol (Bean)
- Ensueño (Dream)
- Mora (Blackberry)
- Moreno/a (Dark-haired)
- Noche (Night)
- Pantera (Panther)
- Rebelde (Rebel)
- Regaliz (Licorice)
If you’re still having trouble picking the perfect name for your dog, try our pet name generator for personalized suggestions for your new family member!
Fact Check
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Reference: Tellmeinspanish.com
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