Kuce 🔊

Usage examples

• Ej projām, kuce!
  Get lost, bitch!
• Viņa izturējās kā īsta kuce.
  She behaved like a real bitch.

Etymology

From Proto-Baltic *kucē, cognate with Lithuanian "kalė" (female dog). "Kuce" is the standard Latvian word for a female dog and has been repurposed as a human insult in exactly the same way as English "bitch" — the animal sense is fully lexicalised and the insult sense is broadly understood. The shift from zoological descriptor to gendered invective is attested in Latvian at least since the nineteenth century.

Cultural notes

"Kuce" is one of the most common vulgar insults in Latvian, functionally identical to English "bitch" in both its literal (female dog) and figurative (contemptible or aggressive woman) senses. It appears frequently in cinema subtitles, online forums, and colloquial speech. Although strong by Latvian standards, it ranks below the most severe taboo terms. In some online contexts, especially gaming and social media, younger speakers use it with reduced emotional force, but it remains offensive in formal settings.

Same meaning, other languages

Accuracy

96% of 23 voters say this translation is accurate.