Usage Note
Cucciolo means the young of any animal — a puppy (cucciolo di cane), a kitten (cucciolo di gatto), or a bear cub (cucciolo di orso). Used affectionately for a person, it means 'little one' or 'sweetheart'. The feminine is la cucciola; the plural is i cuccioli.
Examples
"Il cucciolo di cane giocava in giardino."
Natural Translation
The puppy was playing in the garden.

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