Word
bitch
US/ˈbɪtʃ/
UK/bˈɪtʃ/
Definitions
01female dog
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Technical
n. the technical name for a female dog or other canine.
n. a female dog, wolf, fox, or otter. Used neutrally in professional breeding and veterinary contexts.
“The breeder confirmed that the bitch was healthy and ready to have her first litter of puppies.”
“The veterinarian noted that the bitch had successfully whelped six healthy pups without any surgical intervention.”
Usage
In modern English, this is the only sense that is not considered rude or informal.
Synonyms
02a complaint
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal · Slang
n. a complaint about something, often one that seems annoying or unnecessary.
n. a grievance or complaint, typically one expressed in a spiteful or persistent manner.
“My only bitch about the new job is that the commute is too long.”
“Despite the high salary, the constant overtime remained a major bitch among the junior associates.”
03something difficult
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal · Slang · Vulgar
n. a situation or task that is very difficult, unpleasant, or painful.
n. an extremely difficult, unpleasant, or challenging task or circumstance.
“That chemistry exam was a real bitch; I don't think I passed.”
“Driving through the mountain pass during a blizzard is a total bitch even for experienced truckers.”
04to complain
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal · Slang · Vulgar
v. to complain in a mean or annoying way about something.
v. to complain or find fault in a spiteful or persistent manner. Often used with 'about'.
Español:quejarse
“Stop bitching about the weather and just put on a coat.”
“They spent the entire lunch hour bitching about the new management's policy on remote work.”
Usage
Usually intransitive; frequently followed by the preposition 'about'.
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“But not as cool as me, bitch!” she shouted as she wrapped up her set.” Etymology
From Middle English biche, bicche, from Old English biċċe, from Proto-West Germanic bikkjā, from Proto-Germanic bikjǭ (“female dog”), compare Norwegian bikkje (“dog, bitch”), Old Danish bikke (“bitch”), from Proto-Germanic bikjaną (“to thrust, attack”), compare Old Norse bikkja (“to plunge into water”), Dutch bikken (“to hack”). Related to bicker.
The term’s trajectory is a chain of consonants and vowels, each stage a linguistic fossil pressed between the jaws of a dog and the syntax of its speakers. The Proto-Germanic root bikjaną, meaning “to thrust, attack,” is the pivot: it survives in Old Norse bikkja (to plunge into water) and Dutch bikken (to hack), while its descendant in English took a more specific turn, narrowing to the female dog. The comparison to bicker is phonetic rather than semantic, a shared glottal fricative and a shared tendency to fray social edges.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/bitch
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0