Fur baby
Meaning: A pet — especially a dog or cat — that someone treats and loves like their own child.
Calling your pet a fur baby means you see them as a family member, not just an animal. Fur baby parents buy their pets birthday cakes, take them on vacations, and include them in family photos. The term reflects a broader trend of pet humanization in America, especially among millennials who are having fewer children.
Examples
- I don't have kids, but I have two fur babies who are my whole world. 我没有孩子,但我有两个毛孩子,它们就是我的全世界。No tengo hijos, pero tengo dos peluditos que son todo mi mundo.子どもはいないけど、私の全世界であるファーベビーが2匹いるの。아이는 없지만 내 전부인 퍼베이비가 두 마리 있어.
- She treats her fur baby better than most people treat their actual children. 她对毛孩子比大多数人对亲生孩子还好。Ella trata a su peludito mejor de lo que la mayoría de la gente trata a sus hijos de verdad.彼女はファーベビーを、普通の人が自分の子どもを扱うよりも大事にしてるよ。그녀는 퍼베이비를 보통 사람들이 자기 아이를 대하는 것보다 더 잘 대해.
- Can't come out tonight — my fur baby has a vet appointment in the morning. 今晚出不了门——明天一早我的毛孩子要去看兽医。No puedo salir esta noche — mi peludito tiene cita con el veterinario mañana por la mañana.今夜は出かけられないの——明日の朝、ファーベビーの獣医の予約があるから。오늘 밤은 못 나가 — 내일 아침에 퍼베이비 병원 예약이 있어서.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: pet ownership, social media, daily life
Tone: affectionate, cute
✓ Do Say
- Come meet my fur baby!快来认识一下我的毛孩子!¡Ven a conocer a mi peludito!うちのファーベビーに会いに来て!우리 퍼베이비 보러 와!
- My fur babies are the best thing in my life.我的毛孩子们是我人生中最美好的存在。Mis peluditos son lo mejor de mi vida.ファーベビーたちが私の人生で一番の存在なの。내 퍼베이비들은 내 인생 최고의 존재야.
✗ Don't Say
- Some parents find it annoying when people compare pets to human children — read the room有些家长觉得拿宠物和亲生孩子比很烦——注意看场合A algunos padres les molesta que la gente compare mascotas con hijos humanos — lee la situación子持ちの親の中には、ペットと人間の子どもを比べられるのを嫌がる人もいる——空気を読むこと일부 부모들은 반려동물을 아이와 비교하는 것을 불쾌하게 여긴다 — 분위기를 살펴보자
Origin & History
Emerged in the 2000s as pet culture became increasingly humanized in America. Driven by millennials delaying or forgoing parenthood and channeling parental instincts toward pets. The pet industry's growth to over $100 billion reflects this cultural shift.
Cultural Context
Era: 2000s
Generation: Millennials and Gen Z
Social background: Universal
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