chihuahua

Everyday

1. A chihuahua is a very small breed of dog with big ears and big eyes, the smallest dog breed in the world. tree →
2. (a name) Chihuahua is a large state in northern Mexico and a city there, after which the dog is named. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life chihuahuas are popular pets, often carried in bags; they are lively, loyal and can be noisy and bossy for their size. In geography lessons about Mexico, Chihuahua is the largest state, with deserts and the Copper Canyon. In stories a chihuahua is often a small dog that thinks it is big. Phrases: a tiny chihuahua, a long-haired chihuahua.

Examples

• A chihuahua is small enough to fit in a handbag. tree →
• Our neighbour's chihuahua barks at the postman. tree →
• The chihuahua shivered, so they put a little coat on it. tree →
• Chihuahuas are named after a place in Mexico. tree →
• Even though it is tiny, the chihuahua acts like a guard dog. tree →
• The chihuahua weighed less than two bags of sugar. tree →
• Chihuahua is the biggest state in Mexico. tree →
• My aunt's chihuahua sleeps on a cushion by the fire. tree →

Note

Countable: a chihuahua, chihuahuas. Pronounced «chi-WAH-wah»; the spelling is hard: c-h-i-h-u-a-h-u-a (the h in the middle is silent). Often spelt with a capital C because it comes from a place name. Small dogs still need walks, training and gentle handling.