Can Dogs Understand Humans? Here’s What The Science Says

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I talk to my dog all day, about emails, snacks, and why the mailman is not a villain. But does any of it land? Beyond “sit” and “walk,” can he actually understand me?

Turns out, science says he might catch more than I think, from certain words to the way I say them. And honestly, he’s been studying me, too: the jingle of the leash clip, my 5 p.m. fridge wander, the “you’re-so-cute-I-forgive-you” tone that ruins all training plans.

Over the last decade, scientists have conducted several experiments to uncover how our canine counterparts interpret our speech. We’ll share some of the most recent discoveries on how our pups process human language.

From “good boy” to bilingual households, here’s what science says your dog truly understands (and where we humans still fill in the blanks).

Can Dogs Really Understand Human Language?

It’s widely accepted that dogs can learn a variety of verbal commands and other words or phrases. A scientific survey of pup parents found that the average family dog recognizes about 90 words. And 90 percent of these dogs recognized 10 commonly trained words, such as the dog’s name, “sit,” “no,” and “stay.”

Far less commonly recognized words or phrases included “whisper,” “wipe your feet,” and “loud.” Survey analysis also found that dogs’ professional work status (e.g., service dogs), breed type, and how quickly the dog learns new tricks were all reliable predictors of the number of words reportedly recognized.

Some experts, however, say our family pups have an even greater “vocabulary” capacity. Stanley Coren, Ph.D., a well-recognized expert on human-dog interactions and author of “The Intelligence Of Dogs,” believes that the average domesticated dog can learn an estimated 165 words and phrases.

However, Coren has found that the most intelligent dog breeds (Border Collies, Poodles, and German Shepherds top his list) can learn around 250 words with extensive training.

Short answer: Yes, most dogs learn a modest vocabulary. Many pet dogs reliably respond to a few dozen words (often in the ~80–100 range). It’s not grammar, but it’s real, useful meaning.

Which Words Stick With Dogs the Most?

Dogs may not understand language like we do, but they absolutely associate certain words with actions, objects, and routines, especially when reinforced consistently. Here’s how different word types register with your dog:

1. Action Commands

Words like “sit,” “down,” “stay,” “come,” and “leave it” are often the first to stick. These commands work best when:

• They are short, distinct, and used consistently
• Each word is paired with a specific behavior and a reward
• Training takes place in calm, low-distraction environments

2. Object Words (Nouns)

Some dogs can learn the names of specific items such as “ball,” “leash,” or “toy.”

• These dogs often form mental associations between the word and the item
• Learning improves when the word is used as the object is introduced or handled (e.g., “Get your ball”)

3. Routine and Context Cues

Words like “walk,” “dinner,” “outside,” “car,” and “bath” become meaningful when tied to familiar patterns or sensory triggers:

• Repeated use at the same time of day
• Associated sounds or rituals (like the jingle of a leash or the sight of shoes)
• Consistent emotional tone or excitement

Where Are the Limits of Dog Comprehension?

Despite their ability to learn vocabulary, dogs don’t understand grammar or full sentence structure. These are some common limitations:

• Sound-alike confusion: Words that sound too similar, such as “sit” and “sick,” can confuse your dog. For best results, choose command words that are phonetically distinct and easy to differentiate.
• Lack of syntax comprehension: Dogs respond more to key words and tone than to word order. Saying “Let’s go to the park” is received more as “go… park.”
• Context dependency: The word “walk” may lose meaning if the expected cues, like grabbing a leash, are missing. Dogs often need routine or context to interpret a word correctly.

Try It at Home: Simple Word Recognition Tests

Here are a few easy experiments to check your dog’s understanding:

• Minimal Gesture Test: Say “sit” while keeping your hands still. If your dog sits, the word alone is doing the work.
• Object Word Check: Place a ball and another toy apart. Say “ball” without pointing. Then switch their positions and repeat the test.
• Cue Clarity Drill: Use clearly different command words such as “down” and “back.” Avoid cues that sound alike.

How Dogs Process Human Speech & Tone

While our dogs clearly can respond to verbal cues, does that mean they understand words in the same way we do? Through scientific research, we know that dogs keenly read our tone of voice, body language, and facial expressions.

Some scientists think these factors play a far greater role in our dogs’ word recognition abilities than in actually understanding the meaning of words. However, some believe dogs have the capability to decipher word meanings regardless of the tone of voice used.

Although studies are limited, a handful of scientists have begun using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to learn what’s going on inside our pups’ brains when they’re spoken to rather than just analyzing their behavioral reactions to our speech.

For example, researchers at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary, have found that dogs use both the left and right sides of their brains when listening to speech, much like we do. In humans, the right side of the brain is responsible for interpreting tone (emotion), while the left side processes word meaning.

Even more interesting, these dogs only used both sides of their brains when they were being praised with recognizable words or phrases, like “good boy,” in a positive tone. When these same words were spoken in a neutral tone, only the left side of the brain lit up.

Meaningless words, like “however,” spoken in a praising, positive tone, only activated the right side of the brain. These findings, therefore, suggest that both what we say and how we say it are crucial to our furry friends.

Does Your Dog Actually Know What You’re Saying?

Dogs have an impressive ability to respond to human speech, but do they actually understand the meaning of our words, or are they just reacting to familiar sounds and cues?

While dogs can distinguish certain speech sounds, research suggests they may not process words in the same detailed way humans do. Instead of decoding every syllable or phoneme, they tend to respond to overall sound patterns, tone, and emotional cues.

In a 2020 study, Hungarian scientists used functional MRI (fMRI) scans to examine how dogs process different types of spoken words. The study tested three categories:

• Familiar instruction words (like “sit” and “stay”)
• Phonetically similar nonsense words
• Phonetically dissimilar nonsense words

The results? Dogs’ brains showed different responses to real words compared to dissimilar nonsense words. But there was no significant difference between known words and the similar-sounding fake words.

This means that while your dog may appear to “understand” a word like “stay,” they might react similarly to a word like “shay” — not because they know the meaning, but because the sounds are close enough to trigger the same behavior. These findings highlight an important limitation in canine language processing: their word recognition is much more sound-based and context-dependent than ours.

So, while your dog may be great at picking up cues and routines, they’re not parsing language in the way we do. Canine understanding is built more on tone, rhythm, and reinforcement than true word comprehension.

Do Dogs Understand English & Other Languages?

Previously, scientists believed only humans had the capacity to distinguish between languages. But in a 2022 study led again by Eötvös Loránd University, researchers found that dogs’ brains can distinguish between the human language they’re familiar with and a foreign language.

In the experiments, native Spanish and Hungarian speakers read sentences from “The Little Prince” to 18 dogs in an MRI scanner. (Two of the dogs were native Spanish, while 16 were Hungarian.) Brain scans showed different activity patterns to a familiar and an unfamiliar language that were consistent across all dogs.

These dogs likely didn’t fully understand what was being read to them. But results confirm that dogs are social learners, constantly absorbing the language and world around them.

Canine Cognition in Action: Hungarian Scientist Study (Video)

Check out this brief video by CBS This Morning about one of Eötvös Loránd University’s earliest ground-breaking fMRI studies (complete with adorable photos of their furry participants).

What Do Dogs Really Know About Us?

Because our furbabies are family members, we naturally want to understand what they know about us. How in tune are they with our moods and habits?

I’m always in awe of my pup every time I’m just beginning to get ready to leave the house. My dog, Tiny, goes to his crate long before I’m ready to walk out the door. How does he know? It almost seems like he can read my mind at times.

Dogs are keenly aware of our habits and emotions because they’re constantly focusing on us. They’re expert observers of even the most subtle clues, including our body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. Our furry friends can tell when we’re sad or mad, and they have an amazing ability to sense our actions even before we’re aware of them.

And dogs even know things about us that we don’t. Take, for example, the fact that some dogs can detect cancer, oncoming seizures, and dangerously low blood sugar. There’s a reason canines make such excellent companions for people with disabilities as well as the general population. They really are humans’ best friends.

5 Common Myths About How Dogs Understand Humans

Dog lovers often believe their pups understand more than they really do — or sometimes underestimate what their dogs are capable of. Let’s separate fact from fiction and uncover how dogs actually process human language.

1. Dogs Understand Full Sentences, or Do They?

• Myth: Your dog picks up on every word in your sentence, just like a human would.
• Fact: Dogs are language-savvy in their own way, but they don’t understand full sentences. Instead, they tune into familiar words — often the most emotionally charged or consistently reinforced ones, and ignore the rest. So when you say, “Do you want to go for a walk later?” your dog may only register “walk,” especially if it’s paired with tone, body language, or routine cues.

2. Is Your Dog Really Listening… or Just Watching You?

• Myth: My dog understands what I’m saying just by hearing me.
• Fact: Dogs are incredible at reading body language and daily routines. What seems like verbal understanding is often your dog anticipating what comes next based on your movements or tone.

3. Can You Teach Any Word by Repeating It Enough?

• Myth: Repetition alone will teach my dog any word.
• Fact: Repetition only works when it’s paired with clear, consistent meaning and rewards. Without context, a word is just a meaningless sound.

4. Commands Only? The Surprising Truth About Nouns

• Myth: Dogs can only learn action words like “sit” or “stay.”
• Fact: With consistent training, some dogs can recognize object names like “ball,” “leash,” or “treat.” Their vocabulary isn’t huge, but it goes beyond commands.

Recent research also supports the idea that dogs can go beyond basic commands. In a 2024 study by UC San Diego, dogs were taught to use soundboard buttons to express words like “play,” “outside,” and even “love.” Over time, some dogs not only used the buttons to make simple requests but also began combining them in meaningful ways, suggesting a deeper association between sound and concept than once believed.

5. Dogs Only Learn Through Formal Training

• Myth: If you’re not actively training your dog with commands and treats, they’re not learning.
• Fact: Dogs are always learning, whether you intend it or not. They constantly pick up on patterns, routines, tone, and even accidental reinforcement. For example, if you grab your keys every morning before leaving, your dog may associate that sound with being alone and start pacing or whining. Even casual phrases like “hang on” or “just a minute” can gain meaning over time through repeated use and context.

Dog Behavior Decoded: What Their Body Language Really Means

Communication goes both ways, and while your dog may not speak your language, they’re constantly expressing themselves through body language, vocalizations, and behavior.

From tail wags to growls, every signal your dog sends has meaning. Learning to read these cues not only reduces miscommunication but also strengthens your bond. For example, dog body language reveals a lot through posture, ear position, and tail movement. Even growling isn’t always aggression; it can be a warning, discomfort, or just a way of saying “back off.”

Dogs also interact with each other using scent, sound, and subtle physical cues, as explained in this guide. And if your dog barks excessively or reacts strangely to certain people, it’s not random; explore why in articles on barking behavior and why dogs dislike some people. Want to go deeper? Uncover the science behind tail wagging, pawing, and whether dogs can truly smell fear.

What’s Your Dog Trying to Tell You? Share Your Story!

Have you ever noticed your dog reacting to certain words, routines, or even emotions in unexpected ways? Share your story in the comments below! Whether it’s a funny command mix-up or a surprising behavior cue your pup picked up on, we’d love to hear how your dog communicates with you — and how you’ve learned to understand them in return.