This is a word I struggled with as a non native speaker. Strictly speaking, the word refers to the little one of any animal, especially mammals, so I was also using ‘puppy’ for everything until someone pointed out that it worked only for dogs! I also discovered that the word ‘cub’ doesn’t work either. Additionally, in Italian you would use ‘cucciolo’ to refer to a little one (I certainly do so often with my little Jonah!) or to express affection towards a loved one (you can address your significant other as cucciolo [m] or cucciola [f]). I am inclined to consider ‘sweetheart’ as the closest translation, but I believe it lacks the depth of the Italian word. In the Disney world, Dopey of the Seven Dwarfs is known as Cucciolo in the Italian version for his childlike appearance and behavior.
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