What is a dog called in Sanskrit

It is very surprising to know that Dog has more than 20 names in Sanskrit! To be frank, I also did not know about them and came to know only when I thought of creating this post. Many of them are based on the unique qualities that this ‘best friend of man’ possesses. You will be surprised to know the literal meaning of these names. Some, of course, have their etymological origin as the words have in any language.

I have tried to provide the literal meaning of some of these names too but I could not get all the meanings. I have also provided the transliteration in the English language so that people who can’t read or understand Devnagiri script could easily know these Sanskrit names of a dog.

If you would like to provide feedback or suggest any meaning, please feel free to write the comment section.

Meaning of Dog in Sanskrit

Sanskrit (Devnagiri)	English (Transliteration)	Literal Meaning
श्वा	Śvā
श्वन्	Śvan
कुक्कुरः	Kukkuraḥ
कुकुरः	Kukuraḥ
शुनकः	Śunakaḥ
भषकः	Bhaṣakaḥ
मृगदशकः	Mṛgadaśakaḥ
वक्रपुच्छः	Vakrapucchaḥ	Whose tail is distorted
वक्रबालधिः	Vakrabāladhiḥ
ललजिव्हः	Lalajivhaḥ	Whose tongue is lolling
जिव्हालिट्	Jivhāliṭ
वृकारिः	Vṛkāriḥ
ग्रामसिंहः	Grāmsiṁhaḥ	Village lion
शीघ्रचेतनः	Śīghracetanaḥ	Who awakes early
रात्रिजागरः	Rātrijāgaraḥ	Who keeps awake during night
कृतज्ञः	Kṛtajñaḥ	Who is grateful
सारमेयः	Sārmeyaḥ
वान्तादः	Vāntādaḥ
शरत्कामी	Śaratkāmī
शवकाम्यः	Śavakāmyaḥ
कौलेयकः	Kouleyakaḥ