How to say "dog" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe children's word for a dog, matching English 'doggy' or 'bow-wow'; it is the common choice when speaking to or like a small child, and is normally written in kana alone.
- nounA katakana borrowing of 'dog'. It is less common and seldom the everyday word you want, turning up mostly in set phrases and compound words rather than as a standalone name for the animal.
- ワン公ワンこうnounA colloquial 'dog', often rough, teasing or dismissive in tone; it can come across as insulting, so it fits casual banter about a dog rather than polite speech.
- 犬の顔いぬのかおexpression, nounLiterally 'a dog's face' or 'a dog's head'; it also names a sake-bottle-like shape. It is not how you would say 'dog' for the animal itself.
- トックリ形とっくりけいexpression, nounLiterally 'sake-bottle shape': it names the form of a tokkuri sake bottle, also likened to a dog's face or head, and is not a word for the animal itself.
For the animal, 「ワンこ」 is the common children's word, 「ドッグ」 a less common loanword, and 「ワン公」 a rough colloquial one; 「犬の顔」 and 「トックリ形」 are shape terms, not words for a dog.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
