A common term in Portuguese for a dog.

Origin: The word 'cachorro' comes from the Latin word 'catulus', meaning 'young animal'. In Old Portuguese, it referred to a puppy or a young dog. Over time, it came to mean any dog in modern Portuguese.Historical and Cultural Context: The term 'catulus' was used in Latin to describe young animals, not limited to dogs. In medieval Iberia, the word evolved through contact with Latin texts and the everyday language of the people, where 'cachorro' became associated specifically with dogs.Evolution: While originally referring to young dogs, the term expanded its meaning over time. In Spanish, a similar form, 'cachorro', refers to a cub or a young mammal, showing a divergent semantic path.Modern Relevance: Today, 'cachorro' is a widely used term for dogs in Portuguese-speaking countries. It is also used in various idiomatic expressions, such as 'vida de cachorro', meaning a difficult life.

The word 'cachorro' was once used to refer to a whelp or a young wolf in earlier times, showing the close relationship humans had with these animals.