Meaning & use
borzoi
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A tall, slender dog with a long silky coat, a narrow head, and a curved tail, originally bred in Russia for hunting wolves.
Grammar: Countable: use a/an or the plural. The plural is usually borzois, but borzoi is also accepted.
Patterns
- a borzoi
- the borzoi
- borzois
The borzoi stood motionless in the field, its long coat shining in the sun.
She owns two borzois and takes them to dog shows every summer.
In the 19th century, Russian nobles kept borzois for hunting.
Word forms
| plural | borzois |
|---|---|
| plural (alternative) | borzoi |
Common combinations
- a borzoi puppy
- The borzoi puppy was already taller than most adult dogs.
- breed borzois
- They breed borzois on a small farm in the countryside.
- borzoi coat
- A borzoi coat needs regular brushing to prevent tangles.
- borzoi rescue
- She volunteers for a borzoi rescue organization.
- show a borzoi
- He plans to show his borzoi at the national championship.
- borzoi hound
- The borzoi hound is known for its speed and grace.
Synonyms and how they differ
- Russian wolfhound
- An older English name for the same breed; less common now, but still used in historical contexts.
- sighthound
- A broader category that includes borzois and other dogs that hunt by sight rather than smell.
Word family
- borzoi owner noun
- A person who owns a borzoi.
Commonly confused: borzoi or borsoi?
borzoi vs borsoi
A misspelling; the correct spelling is borzoi.
Practice
Which sentence uses the word 'borzoi' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Borzoi are tall, slender dogs often kept as pets or show dogs, so 'adopted a borzoi' is correct. Option 0 is wrong because borzois are not small or from Mexico. Option 2 is wrong because borzois are not typically loud barkers or guard dogs. Option 3 is wrong because borzois eat dog food, not hay and oats.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “borzoi”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.