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Our Dictionary of Dog Slang: 23 Words the Pet Parents Should Know

Written by: Nicole Cosgrove

Last Updated on July 25, 2024 by Dogster Team

a happy woman with her jack russell terrier dog

Our Dictionary of Dog Slang: 23 Words the Pet Parents Should Know

You have the dog and the gear, so the only thing left to become an authentic pet parent is to pick up the vocabulary! Dog ownership is a world of slang, nicknames, and verbal shorthand, a whole new language you must learn to communicate effectively with your community of canine lovers.

If you already walk the walk, we’ll show you how to talk the talk of a devoted owner with this essential guide to dog lingo.

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What Is Doggo Lingo?

DoggoLingo, or “DoggoSpeak,” is an internet language that emerged in the 2010s. We commonly see new terms appear in memes or social media posts from loving dog owners to add silly humor and fun to the conversation.

Mispronunciations, dog memes, silly prefixes or suffixes, and onomatopoeias comprise much of the DoggoLingo dictionary. The vocabulary is constantly evolving, but many words are gaining enough renown to earn a spot in Merriam-Webster’s ever-changing dictionary.

The 23 Doggo Lingo Terms to Know

1. Awoo

Pronunciation: Ah-WOO
Definition: A dog’s howling to indicate fear, stress, or excitement
In a Sentence: “When she really likes it, she’ll awoo while she eats her food.”
dog sitting on grass and howling
Image Credit: BIGANDT.COM, Shutterstock

2. Blep

Pronunciation: Blep
Definition: A noun or verb referring to a dog sticking out a small portion of their tongue between closed lips
In a Sentence: “You can tell when he’s happy because he’ll let a little blep show.”

According to some DoggoLingo purists, “blep” is a term for cats, while “blop” is the dog equivalent.


3. Boi

Pronunciation: Boy
Definition: A playful misspelling of boy referring to a male dog
In a Sentence: “This pup is such a clever boi.”

4. Boof

Pronunciation: Boof
Definition: Low, anxious vocalizations often coming before a bark
In a Sentence: “A few quick boofs are all I need to know my dog is ready to go outside.”
dog barking at home
Image Credit: Zivica Kerkez, Shutterstock

5. Boofer

Pronunciation: BOO-fer
Definition: A massive dog
In a Sentence: “My friend’s St. Bernard was quite the boofer.”

“Woofer” is a well-accepted alternative to “boofer.”


6. Boop

Pronunciation: Boop
Definition: To gently tap a dog’s nose with your finger or hand
In a Sentence: “Our dog’s nose is so cute; we can’t resist giving it a boop.”

7. Bork

Pronunciation: Bork
Definition: A fun alternative for “bark”
In a Sentence: “My dog will bork all day and night if she spots that cat nearby.”
two dogs looking out the window
Image Credit: Euan Schmid, Shutterstock

8. Chimkin

Pronunciation: CHIM-kin
Definition: A humorous way to pronounce “chicken”
In a Sentence: “If he’s really good, I’ll give my boi some boiled chimkin after his walk.”

9. Chonky

Pronunciation: CHAWN-kee
Definition: A large, possibly overweight dog
In a Sentence: “I don’t know what she was eating, but that boofer was CHONKY!”

10. Doggo

Pronunciation: DOG-oh
Definition: An affectionate nickname for a dog
In a Sentence: “After lunch, we’re thinking about taking the doggo for a stroll.”
man stroking dog's head
Image Credit: DibasUA, Shutterstock

11. Doin’ (Someone) a Frighten

Definition: To scare someone, usually the speaker
In a Sentence: “My boy sure was doin’ me a frighten when he ran out the door like that.”

The comedic phrase appeared in the “Stop It, Son, You Are Doing Me a Frighten” meme in 2015. In the series, the repeating borking of another dog causes startled dogs to respond with the phrase.


12. Floof

Pronunciation: Floof
Definition: A word referring to an incredibly fluffy dog, like an Olde English Sheepdog or Spitz-type dog, or the thick fur on their bodies
In a Sentence: “My Pom is all floof, the perfect snuggle buddy!”

13. Fren

Pronunciation: Fren
Definition: A cute way of saying “friend,” usually referring to a canine best bud
In a Sentence: “I couldn’t ask for a better fren than my dog!”
owner petting happy dog
Image Credit: Bachkova Natalia, Shutterstock

14. Fur Baby

Pronunciation: Fer BAY-bee
Definition: A pet parent term for their canine family member
In a Sentence: “My fur baby is so picky; she’ll only eat homemade meals.”

15. Heckin’

Pronunciation: HEK-in
Definition: To an extreme degree
In a Sentence: “I saw this heckin’ fast Whippet at the flyball event.”

As a semi-curse word in DoggoLingo, heckin’ is sometimes censored as h*ckin.’


16. Hooman

Pronunciation: HOO-man
Definition: A meme-worthy term referring to a dog’s owner
In a Sentence: “I may be her owner, but my dog’s favorite hooman has always been my dad.”
golden retriever dog leaning to owner's leg
Image Credit: trofalenaRV, Shutterstock

17. Mlem

Pronunciation: Mlem
Definition: A noun or verb referring to a dog sticking out a large part of their tongue, often in a more intentional manner than a blep
In a Sentence: “Whenever my dog will mlem, it is my cue to feed him.”

Mlem is meant to mimic the sound of a dog sticking out their tongue. The onomatopoeia has been in regular use since 2013.


18. Pupper

Pronunciation: PUH-per
Definition: A small dog, typically a puppy, though it can apply to any beloved dog
In a Sentence: “We’ve got to pick up the pupper from daycare later.”

For even more flair, you can lengthen this to “pupperino” when referring to a cute dog.


19. Smol

Pronunciation: Smawl
Definition: An adjective for an adorably undersized dog
In a Sentence: “Who could resist giving this smol pupper some snuggles?”
owner cuddling and hugging her pet pomeranian dog
Image Credit: Image Credit: Alina Kruk, Shutterstock

20. Snoot

Pronunciation: Snoot
Definition: A silly term for a dog’s nose or snout
In a Sentence: “You can tell my boy’s getting nervous when he licks his snoot like that.”

21. Sploot

Pronunciation: Sploot
Definition: A dog’s body position with their belly on the ground and all legs spread out in front and behind them
In a Sentence: “She was so exhausted after the walk; my fur baby did a sploot as soon as she walked in the door.”

Sploot may come from the word “splat,” referencing how dogs look like they landed in position. Alternatively, it could stem from the word “split,” as pups look like they are doing the doggy equivalent of the human gymnastic move.


22. Yapper

Pronunciation: YAP-per
Definition: A larger-than-life little dog that likes to vocalize
In a Sentence: “My Chi is the biggest yapper ever, especially when guests arrive.”
pomeranian puppy barking on the couch
Image Credit: nadisja, Shutterstock

23. Zoomies

Pronunciation: ZOO-mees
Definition: A frantic, energized state where a dog runs around the house or spins rapidly in circles
In a Sentence: “My dog had such a bad case of the zoomies, I thought he was going to burn a hole in my carpet!”

“Zoomies” isn’t unique to DoggoLingo and has been used since at least the early to mid-2000s. The more scientific term for zoomies is frenetic random activity periods (FARPs).

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Conclusion

The DoggoLingo dictionary is still a work in progress as global dog fans form the ever-growing lexicon. Keeping up can be hard work, but it is necessary for anyone trying to contribute to the online community of adoring owners. Study up on these essential parts of dog slang to ensure you fit right in and are never misunderstood.


Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock

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