🇯🇵 Japanese phrases

How to Say "Dog" in Japanese

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
"Dog" in Japanese · say it like ee-noo

The most natural way to say "Dog" in Japanese is . Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

いぬ
This is the hiragana representation, often used in children's books.

When to use it

Use this word when referring to a dog in general. It can be used in both casual and formal contexts. You can also use it when talking about your own dog or someone else's dog.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "Dog" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Japanese

JapaneseEnglish
私の犬はとてもかわいいです。My dog is very cute.
公園で犬を散歩させました。I took my dog for a walk in the park.
Common mistake
Some learners might confuse the word for dog with the word for wolf, which is '狼' (おおかみ).

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear 犬, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Japanese with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say 'puppy' in Japanese?

'Puppy' is '子犬' (こいぬ) in Japanese.

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