kuku

See also: Kuku, kūkū, куку, and ку-ку

English

Kuku sabzi (herb kuku) topped with barberries and walnuts

Etymology 1

From Persian کوکو (kuku).

Noun

kuku (countable and uncountable, plural kukus)

1. An Iranian dish somewhat resembling a quiche or omelette.

Alternative forms

• kookoo

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Japanese くく (kuku, onomatopoeia for the sound of laughter).

Interjection

kuku

1. (fandom slang, chiefly in translations of Japanese works) Alternative form of kukuku (onomatopoeia for sinister laughter).

Aklanon

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kukuh.

Noun

kuku

1. (anatomy) nail (on fingers and toes)

Albanian

Etymology

Onomatopoeic.

Interjection

kuku

1. mourn
2. The sound of an owl singing.

Anguthimri

Noun

kuku

1. (Mpakwithi) maternal grandfather
2. (Mpakwithi) paternal aunt

References

• Terry Crowley, The Mpakwithi dialect of Anguthimri (1981), page 186

Basque

Kuku arrunta.

Etymology

Onomatopoeic, imitation of the bird’s call. Compare Spanish cuco, English cuckoo, Catalan cucut, Dutch koekoek, Russian кукушка (kukuška) etc.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

• IPA^(key): /kuku/, [ku.ku]

Noun

kuku anim

1. cuckoo
2. hidden, lurking

Declension

Declension of kuku (animate, ending in vowel)

	indefinite	singular	plural
absolutive	kuku	kukua	kukuak
ergative	kukuk	kukuak	kukuek
dative	kukuri	kukuari	kukuei
genitive	kukuren	kukuaren	kukuen
comitative	kukurekin	kukuarekin	kukuekin
causative	kukurengatik	kukuarengatik	kukuengatik
benefactive	kukurentzat	kukuarentzat	kukuentzat
instrumental	kukuz	kukuaz	kukuez
inessive	kukurengan	kukuarengan	kukuengan
locative	—	—	—
allative	kukurengana	kukuarengana	kukuengana
terminative	kukurenganaino	kukuarenganaino	kukuenganaino
directive	kukurenganantz	kukuarenganantz	kukuenganantz
destinative	kukurenganako	kukuarenganako	kukuenganako
ablative	kukurengandik	kukuarengandik	kukuengandik
partitive	kukurik	—	—
prolative	kukutzat	—	—

Further reading

• “kuku”, in Euskaltzaindiaren Hiztegia [Dictionary of the Basque Academy], Euskaltzaindia
• “kuku”, in Orotariko Euskal Hiztegia [General Basque Dictionary], Euskaltzaindia, 1987–2005

Bikol Central

Etymology 1

From Proto-Philippine *kukuh, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kukuh, from Proto-Austronesian *kuSkuS.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: ku‧ku
• IPA^(key): /ˈkuku/ [ˈku.ku]

Noun

kuku

1. Alternative form of kuko (“nails (fingers and toes)”)

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: ku‧ku
• IPA^(key): /kuʔˈku/ [kuʔˈku]

Noun

kùku

1. Alternative form of kuko (“chin”)

Brunei Malay

Etymology

From Proto-Malayic *kuku, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kukuh, from Proto-Austronesian *kuSkuS.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ku.ku/

Noun

kuku

1. (anatomy) nail (on fingers and toes)

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈkuku]

Interjection

kuku

1. cuckoo (the sound of cuckoo)

Related terms

• kukačka
• kukat

 

Further reading

• “kuku”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
• “kuku”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989

Fijian

Etymology

From Proto-Central-Pacific *kuku, from Proto-Oceanic *kuku, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kukuh, from Proto-Austronesian *kuSkuS.

Noun

kuku

1. (anatomy) nail (on fingers and toes)

Finnish

Etymology 1

Imitative of the sound made by a cuckoo/coua.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkuku/, [ˈkuku]
• Rhymes: -uku
• Hyphenation^(key): ku‧ku

Noun

kuku

1. coua (any terrestrial bird of the genus Coua, in the cuckoo family)

Declension

Inflection of kuku (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
nominative		kuku	kukut
genitive		kukun	kukujen
partitive		kukua	kukuja
illative		kukuun	kukuihin
		singular	plural
nominative		kuku	kukut
accusative	nom.	kuku	kukut
	gen.	kukun
genitive		kukun	kukujen
partitive		kukua	kukuja
inessive		kukussa	kukuissa
elative		kukusta	kukuista
illative		kukuun	kukuihin
adessive		kukulla	kukuilla
ablative		kukulta	kukuilta
allative		kukulle	kukuille
essive		kukuna	kukuina
translative		kukuksi	kukuiksi
abessive		kukutta	kukuitta
instructive		—	kukuin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of kuku (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative kukuni kukuni accusative nom. kukuni kukuni gen. kukuni genitive kukuni kukujeni partitive kukuani kukujani inessive kukussani kukuissani elative kukustani kukuistani illative kukuuni kukuihini adessive kukullani kukuillani ablative kukultani kukuiltani allative kukulleni kukuilleni essive kukunani kukuinani translative kukukseni kukuikseni abessive kukuttani kukuittani instructive — — comitative — kukuineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative kukusi kukusi accusative nom. kukusi kukusi gen. kukusi genitive kukusi kukujesi partitive kukuasi kukujasi inessive kukussasi kukuissasi elative kukustasi kukuistasi illative kukuusi kukuihisi adessive kukullasi kukuillasi ablative kukultasi kukuiltasi allative kukullesi kukuillesi essive kukunasi kukuinasi translative kukuksesi kukuiksesi abessive kukuttasi kukuittasi instructive — — comitative — kukuinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative kukumme kukumme accusative nom. kukumme kukumme gen. kukumme genitive kukumme kukujemme partitive kukuamme kukujamme inessive kukussamme kukuissamme elative kukustamme kukuistamme illative kukuumme kukuihimme adessive kukullamme kukuillamme ablative kukultamme kukuiltamme allative kukullemme kukuillemme essive kukunamme kukuinamme translative kukuksemme kukuiksemme abessive kukuttamme kukuittamme instructive — — comitative — kukuinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative kukunne kukunne accusative nom. kukunne kukunne gen. kukunne genitive kukunne kukujenne partitive kukuanne kukujanne inessive kukussanne kukuissanne elative kukustanne kukuistanne illative kukuunne kukuihinne adessive kukullanne kukuillanne ablative kukultanne kukuiltanne allative kukullenne kukuillenne essive kukunanne kukuinanne translative kukuksenne kukuiksenne abessive kukuttanne kukuittanne instructive — — comitative — kukuinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative kukunsa kukunsa accusative nom. kukunsa kukunsa gen. kukunsa genitive kukunsa kukujensa partitive kukuaan kukuansa kukujaan kukujansa inessive kukussaan kukussansa kukuissaan kukuissansa elative kukustaan kukustansa kukuistaan kukuistansa illative kukuunsa kukuihinsa adessive kukullaan kukullansa kukuillaan kukuillansa ablative kukultaan kukultansa kukuiltaan kukuiltansa allative kukulleen kukullensa kukuilleen kukuillensa essive kukunaan kukunansa kukuinaan kukuinansa translative kukukseen kukuksensa kukuikseen kukuiksensa abessive kukuttaan kukuttansa kukuittaan kukuittansa instructive — — comitative — kukuineen kukuinensa

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkukuˣ/, [ˈkuku(ʔ)]
• Rhymes: -uku
• Hyphenation^(key): ku‧ku

Verb

kuku

1. inflection of kukkua:
   1. present active indicative connegative
   2. second-person singular present imperative
   3. second-person singular present active imperative connegative

Iban

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Malayic *kuku, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kukuh, from Proto-Austronesian *kuSkuS.

Noun

kuku

1. (anatomy) claw

References

• Scott, N. C. (1956) A Dictionary of Sea Dayak‎^[1], School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

Indonesian

Etymology

From Malay kuku, from Proto-Malayic *kuku, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kukuh, from Proto-Austronesian *kuSkuS.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkuku/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ku‧ku

Noun

kuku (first-person possessive kukuku, second-person possessive kukumu, third-person possessive kukunya)

1. (anatomy) nail (on fingers and toes)
2. claw:

   Synonym: cakar

   1. (anatomy) a curved, pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot of a mammal, reptile, or bird.
   2. a mechanical device resembling a claw, used for gripping or lifting.
3. (anatomy) hoof: the tip of a toe of an ungulate such as a horse, ox or deer, strengthened by a thick keratin covering.
4. (figurative) synonym of kekuasaan

Derived terms

• berkuku
• sekuku

 

• kuku bajang
• kuku belah
• kuku kambing
• kuku maut
• kuku sauh
• kuku tunggal

 

Further reading

• “kuku” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

Javanese

Alternative forms

• Carakan: ꦏꦸꦏꦸ
• Roman: koekoe (dated)

Etymology

From Old Javanese kuku.

Noun

kuku (krama ngoko kuku, krama inggil kanaka)

1. (anatomy) nail

References

• The Linguistic Center of Yogyakarta (2011) “kuku”, in Kamus Basa Jawa (Bausastra Jawa) [Javanese Language Dictionary (Javanese Dictionary)] (in Javanese), 2nd edition, Yogyakarta: Kanisius, →ISBN

Kapampangan

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkukuʔ/ [ˈkuː.xuʔ]
• Hyphenation: ku‧ku

Noun

kúkû

1. cough

Etymology 2

Compare Tagalog kuko.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kʊˈkuʔ/ [kʊˈxuʔ]
• Hyphenation: ku‧ku

Noun

kukû

1. fingernail; toenail

Laboya

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kukuh, from Proto-Austronesian *kuSkuS₁.

Noun

kuku

1. claw

References

• Laboya in Austronesian Comparative Dictionary

Limos Kalinga

Noun

kukú

1. (anatomy) nail (on fingers and toes)

Malay

Etymology

From Proto-Malayic *kuku, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kukuh, from Proto-Austronesian *kuSkuS.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kuku/
• Rhymes: -uku, -ku, -u

• Audio (Malaysia):

  (file)

Noun

kuku (Jawi spelling کوکو, plural kuku-kuku, informal 1st possessive kukuku, 2nd possessive kukumu, 3rd possessive kukunya)

1. (anatomy) nail (on fingers and toes)

Descendants

• Indonesian: kuku

Further reading

• “kuku” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.

Mapudungun

Noun

kuku (Raguileo spelling)

1. paternal grandmother
2. grandchild

See also

• cucu

References

• Wixaleyiñ: Mapucezugun-wigkazugun pici hemvlcijka (Wixaleyiñ: Small Mapudungun-Spanish dictionary), Beretta, Marta; Cañumil, Dario; Cañumil, Tulio, 2008.

Old Javanese

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kukuh.

Noun

kuku

1. nail (anatomy)

Polish

Etymology

Onomatopoeic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈku.ku/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uku
• Syllabification: ku‧ku

Interjection

kuku

1. cuckoo (used to imitate the voice of a male cuckoo)

Noun

kuku n (indeclinable)

1. (childish, pathology) boo-boo (minor injury)

   Synonyms: ranka, skaleczenie

Derived terms

interjections

• a kuku

 

Further reading

• kuku in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• kuku in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology 1

Onomatopoeic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kûkuː/
• Hyphenation: ku‧ku

Interjection

kȕkū (Cyrillic spelling ку̏кӯ)

1. woe
2. The sound of a cuckoo singing.
3. Shout in a hide and seek game.

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Noun

kuku (Cyrillic spelling куку)

1. dative/locative singular of kuk

Noun

kuku (Cyrillic spelling куку)

1. accusative singular of kuka

References

• “kuku”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2024

Sranan Tongo

Etymology

Borrowed from Dutch koek.

Noun

kuku

1. cake, pastry

Sundanese

Romanization

kuku

1. Romanization of ᮊᮥᮊᮥ

Swahili

Etymology

From *nkʊ́kʊ́, a variant of Common Bantu *nkókó.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Noun

kuku (n class, plural kuku)

1. chicken, fowl

   Penye kuku wengi, usimwage mtama

   Where there are many fowls, do not spill millet

Descendants

• → Malagasy: akoho

See also

• jogoo (“rooster”)
• kifaranga (“chick”)

Tagal Murut

Noun

kuku

1. puppy (young dog)

Thao

Etymology

From Proto-Austronesian *kuSkuS.

Noun

kuku

1. (anatomy) fingernail; toenail

Turkish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kuˈku]

Noun

kuku (definite accusative kukuyu, plural kukular)

1. (child talk) female genitalia, vagina

Declension

Inflection
Nominative	kuku
Definite accusative	kukuyu
	Singular	Plural
Nominative	kuku	kukular
Definite accusative	kukuyu	kukuları
Dative	kukuya	kukulara
Locative	kukuda	kukularda
Ablative	kukudan	kukulardan
Genitive	kukunun	kukuların

See also

• vajina
• am (vulgar, very rude)
• amcık (vulgar, very rude)

Ye'kwana

Variant orthographies

ALIV	kuku
Brazilian standard	kuku
New Tribes	cucu

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kuku]

Noun

kuku

1. a life-sized figure constructed from tree branches and other natural materials, symbolically killed in the aji'choto weja'kadü ritual

References

• Lauer, Matthew Taylor (2005) Fertility in Amazonia: Indigenous Concepts of the Human Reproductive Process Among the Ye’kwana of Southern Venezuela‎^[2], Santa Barbara: University of California, pages 239–240: “cucu”

Yogad

Noun

kukú

1. nail; claw; hoof

Noun

kuku

1. possession