dog
gb/dˈɔɡ/ us/dˈɔɡ/
A1
English
~ 900
kutya, üldöz, zaklat, vacak, ronda alak, lazsál, kibújik
NOUN
A1
1
kutya
A1
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] dog
Their dog barked loudly at the mail carrier.
A kutyájuk hangosan ugatott a postásra.
She adopted a rescue dog from the shelter.
Örökbe fogadott egy menhelyi kutyát.
The farmer uses a dog to herd sheep.
That dog is very friendly with children.
Learner examples
I have a big dog.
Van egy nagy kutyám.
The dog is in the garden.
A kutya a kertben van.
That dog likes to play.
My friend has a white dog.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'dog' with 'puppy', but 'puppy' means a young dog.
Meaning
Domesticated animal kept as pet
Collocations
pet dog
|guard dog
|stray dog
|guide dog
|dog breed
Synonyms
canine (More formal or technical term for a dog, often used in scientific or official contexts.)
Antonyms
cat (Another common domesticated pet, often contrasted with dogs.)
Themes
animals
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
An animal with four legs, fur, and a tail, often kept by people as a pet or for work.
A domesticated carnivorous mammal (Canis familiaris) typically kept as a pet or for work such as guarding or hunting.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
to dog [someone]
Reporters dogged the actor wherever she went.
A riporterek mindenhová követték a színésznőt, bárhová ment.
His career was dogged by bad luck.
Pályafutása során végig üldözte a balszerencse.
Protesters dogged the politician during the campaign.
Learner examples
The police dogged the thief.
A rendőrség kitartóan követte a tolvajt.
Fans dogged the singer after the show.
A rajongók a fellépés után sem hagyták békén az énekest.
Bad luck dogged him for years.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with 'walk the dog', which is unrelated.
Meaning
Follow or bother persistently
Collocations
dogged pursuit
|dog someone's steps
Synonyms
pursue (Neutral term for following, not necessarily implying annoyance.)
Antonyms
ignore (To deliberately not pay attention to or follow someone.)
Themes
movement
|social
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go after someone all the time and not leave them alone.
To follow someone closely and persistently, often in an annoying or unwanted way.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
3
vacak
B1
ronda alak
B2
Usage pattern:
a real dog
That car is a real dog—it breaks down every week.
Az az autó igazi vacak – minden héten lerobban.
He called the old building a dog compared to the new one.
Azt mondta, hogy a régi épület csak egy vacak az újhoz képest.
She felt hurt when he called her a dog.
Learner examples
This phone is a dog. It is very slow.
Ez a telefon egy vacak. Nagyon lassú.
That movie was a dog. I did not like it.
Az a film vacak volt. Nem tetszett.
He said my shoes are dogs. They are ugly.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this refers to the animal; in this sense it is slang and figurative.
Meaning
Unattractive person or thing
Collocations
ugly dog
|that movie was a dog
Synonyms
loser (Informal term for an unsuccessful person; broader than appearance.)
Antonyms
beauty (Someone or something that is very attractive.)
Themes
appearance
|informal speech
|core_vocabulary
|emotions
Definition
A person or thing that looks bad or is not nice (informal).
An unattractive or unpleasant person or thing (informal, often offensive when used about people).
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
to dog [one's] duties
He’s been dogging it all week instead of finishing the project.
Egész héten lazsált, ahelyett hogy befejezte volna a projektet.
They accused him of dogging his duties.
Azzal vádolták, hogy kibújik a kötelességei alól.
Stop dogging it and help us clean up.
Learner examples
He dogs his work every day.
Mindennap lazsál a munkahelyén.
I don't want to dog my job.
Nem akarok lazsálni a munkahelyemen.
They say I am dogging it, but I am tired.
Meaning
Avoid work or duty
Collocations
dog it at work
Synonyms
shirk (More formal term for avoiding duties.)
Antonyms
fulfill (To do what you are expected to do.)
Themes
work
|informal speech
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To not do your work when you should (informal).
To avoid doing work or fulfilling responsibilities (informal).
Grammar
Dictionary form
dog
IPA
GB/dˈɔɡ/
US/dˈɔɡ/
Syllables & stress
dog (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (dog)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: dog
- Plural: dog, dogs
Verb
- Base: dog
- 3rd Person Singular: dogs
- Present Participle: dogging
- Past: dogged
Word family
Forms
dogs
noun
dogging
verb
dogged
verb
Related words
puppy
noun A2
doggy
noun
Advanced or less common
doggedly
adverb
canine
adjective B2
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: dogging Verb
- Irregular past: dogged Verb
Expressions
dog days
1/dˈɔɡ dˈeɪz/
fixed phrase
Hottest summer period
The hottest days in summer, usually in July or August.
Examples
- We stayed indoors during the dog days of August.
- The flowers wilted in the dog days of summer.
every dog has its day
1/ˈɛvɹi dˈɔɡ hˈæz ˈɪts dˈeɪ/
idiom
Everyone gets chance at success eventually
Everyone will have a time when they succeed or are lucky, even if they usually are not.
Examples
- Don’t worry—you’ll win someday. Every dog has its day.
- He finally got recognition for his work; every dog has its day.
go to the dogs
1/ɡˈoʊ tə ðə dˈɔɡz/
idiom
informal
Become worse in quality/condition
To get worse in quality, condition, or value.
Examples
- Since the new owner took over, the restaurant has gone to the dogs.
- The neighborhood has really gone to the dogs lately.
let sleeping dogs lie
1/lˈɛt slˈipɪŋ dˈɔɡz lˈaɪ/
idiom
Avoid old conflicts/problems
To not talk about old problems because it might cause trouble again.
Examples
- I decided to let sleeping dogs lie and not bring up the argument.
- It’s best to let sleeping dogs lie when dealing with sensitive issues.
work like a dog
1/wˈɚk lˈaɪk ə dˈɔɡ/
idiom
informal
Work very hard for long hours
To work very hard for a long time without much rest.
Examples
- She’s been working like a dog to finish her degree.
- He worked like a dog all week to meet the deadline.