Kutya

Kutya is the Hungarian word for dog. It denotes the domesticated canid, Canis lupus familiaris, kept as a pet, working animal, or guardian. In everyday Hungarian, kutya is used for both mixed-breed and purebred dogs, and its forms appear in phrases and idioms. Hungary has several historically notable dog breeds, such as the vizsla and the mudi, which reflect the country’s hunting, herding, and companion-dog traditions. The word kutya is a general term and does not indicate a specific breed.

In other languages or transliterations, kutya may refer to a traditional Eastern European dish: kutia (also transliterated kutya or kutia), a ceremonial Christmas Eve porridge made from wheat berries, honey, poppy seeds, nuts, and dried fruit. The dish is tied to customs of remembrance and family reunion in Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and parts of Poland and Russia. Spelling varies by language; in English sources it is usually rendered as kutia, while some transliterations write kutya.

Because of its different uses, kutya typically requires context to determine meaning. When referring to animals or conversation in Hungarian, it means dog; when encountered in discussions of Eastern European cuisine or holiday traditions, it is often the porridge dish known as kutia.