pup
B1Informal (when referring to people), Neutral (for animals).
Definition
Meaning
A young dog; a puppy.
The young of certain other animals (e.g., seals). Informally, a cheeky or arrogant young person.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily associated with dogs, but used in zoology for other canids and some marine mammals. The informal human sense is often mildly derogatory or playful.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'pup' is the standard short form for 'puppy' and is used for seal young. In the US, 'pup' is common but 'puppy' is more frequent in everyday speech for dogs. The phrase 'sell someone a pup' (to swindle) is chiefly British.
Connotations
Similar core connotations. The British informal human use (e.g., 'cheeky pup') is slightly more established.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English as the default short form.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [ANIMAL] had/gave birth to [NUMBER] pups.She bought/raised a pup.He's a cheeky young pup.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sell someone a pup (BrE: to swindle)”
- “in pup (pregnant, of a dog)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in pet industry contexts (e.g., 'pup sales').
Academic
Used in zoology/biology texts (e.g., 'observations on grey seal pups').
Everyday
Very common for discussing pets. Informal for people.
Technical
Standard term in veterinary medicine and zoology for young of specific species.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Our dog is due to pup next week.
- The vixen pupped in the old shed.
American English
- The stray dog pupped under our porch.
- The wolf pack pupped earlier this season.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial use.
American English
- No standard adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- This is a pup-friendly pub garden.
- They attended a pup socialization class.
American English
- She bought a pup tent for the hike.
- The shelter has a pup adoption event.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I want a small, black pup.
- Look at the cute seal pup!
- Our dog had six healthy pups.
- That cheeky pup broke my favourite mug.
- The marine biologists are monitoring the weaning of the elephant seal pups.
- He felt like a mere pup among the experienced journalists.
- The new legislation aims to curb the unethical sale of poorly bred pups.
- Despite being the pup of the investment team, her analysis was the most astute.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PUP sounds like 'cup' – imagine a tiny puppy trying to drink from a cup.
Conceptual Metaphor
YOUTH IS SMALLNESS / INEXPERIENCE (e.g., 'a young pup in the office').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'щенок' (puppy) for non-dog contexts without checking the specific animal. 'Pup' for a seal is 'детеныш тюленя'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'pup' for the young of all animals (it's specific).
- Confusing 'pup' (noun) with 'pup' as a verb (to give birth to pups).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a PRIMARY meaning of 'pup'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for dogs, they are synonyms. 'Pup' is the standard short form and is also used in scientific/formal contexts.
No, it's specific. It's standard for dogs, foxes, wolves, seals, and some other canids and marine mammals. For cats, use 'kitten'; for bears, use 'cub'.
It's usually playful or mildly cheeky, suggesting youth and inexperience (e.g., 'You cheeky pup!'). Context determines if it's affectionate or derogatory.
It's an idiom meaning a female dog is pregnant (e.g., 'The bitch is in pup').