chien

Chien is the French noun for a domesticated dog. It is masculine, and the plural form is chiens. In everyday usage, chien refers to any dog, regardless of breed, size, or purpose, including pets, working dogs, and stray animals.

The word derives from Latin canis and entered French through Old French forms that developed into chien. In this sense, it is related to cognates in other Romance languages such as Italian cane, Portuguese cão, and Romanian câine, all ultimately from canis. Spanish uses perro for dog, reflecting a different etymological path.

In French, the term covers a wide range of dogs and is used in many compound expressions, such as chien de compagnie (pet dog), chien de garde (guard dog), and chien de chasse (hunting dog). It also appears in idioms and everyday speech to describe dogs of various temperaments or states.

Biology and domestication: Dogs are classified as Canis lupus familiaris, descended from gray wolves and domesticated by humans at least several thousand years ago, with estimates often placing origin anywhere from about 15,000 to 40,000 years ago. Over time, selective breeding produced hundreds of breeds with diverse sizes, shapes, and behaviors. Across cultures, dogs serve a wide array of roles, including companionship, herding, guarding, service work, and detection.

See also: dog, Canis lupus familiaris, list of dog breeds.