puppy
B1Informal, but standard in everyday and descriptive contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A young domestic dog, typically under one year old, before reaching adulthood.
1) Affectionate term for a young dog of any breed; 2) Sometimes used metaphorically for an inexperienced, naive, or overly enthusiastic person; 3) In rare contexts, refers to the young of certain other animals (e.g., seal).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used for canines; evokes connotations of cuteness, playfulness, and vulnerability. The metaphorical use for a person is slightly dated or literary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. The metaphorical use ('puppy love' for adolescent infatuation) is common in both.
Connotations
Uniformly positive, associated with affection and endearment.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have + a puppyget + a puppytrain + a puppyadopt + a puppyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “puppy love”
- “sell someone a puppy (BrE, informal, to deceive)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in pet industry contexts (e.g., 'puppy sales', 'puppy supplies').
Academic
Rare, mainly in veterinary or zoological contexts.
Everyday
Very common, the standard term for a young pet dog.
Technical
Used in veterinary medicine and animal husbandry.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- She gave him a puppy-like look of innocence.
American English
- He has a sort of puppy enthusiasm for the project.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We have a new black and white puppy.
- The puppy is very small and cute.
- We're thinking of getting a puppy from a local shelter.
- The puppy chewed my favourite slippers.
- Training a puppy requires considerable patience and consistency.
- His affection for her was dismissed as mere puppy love.
- The documentary exposed the grim reality of unregulated puppy farms.
- He was a political puppy, eager but hopelessly naive about the party machinery.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a small, 'pup'-py dog that might 'pup'-ate into a larger one.
Conceptual Metaphor
YOUTH IS A PUPPY (inexperienced, playful, growing).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'щенок' (shchenok) which is a direct equivalent. No significant trap.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'puppy' for adult small-breed dogs (incorrect, it's age-specific).
- Spelling: 'pupy', 'puppey'.
- Using as a verb (not standard).
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is NOT a typical collocation with 'puppy'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but it can be used for the young of some other species like seals or rats, though 'pup' is more common in those cases.
'Pup' is slightly more informal and can refer to the young of a wider variety of animals (e.g., wolf pup, seal pup). 'Puppy' is almost exclusively for domestic dogs.
There's no strict rule, but typically a dog is no longer called a puppy after reaching sexual maturity, around 6-12 months for smaller breeds and up to 18-24 months for giant breeds.
Yes. You can have one puppy, two puppies, etc.