Puvočiai

Puvočiai is a village in Marcinkonys Eldership, Varėna district municipality, Alytus County, southeastern Lithuania. According to the 2001 census, the village had a population of 71 people. At the 2011 census, the population was 57.

Puvočiai village is located c. 30 km from Varėna, 34 km from Druskininkai, 3 km from Trasninkas (the nearest settlement).

Etymology
The name Puvočiai (known as Puchacze, Puhacze, Пугачи in earlier written sources) comes a popular Dzūkian personal name Pugãčius, Pugačiáuskas, Pugačáuskas which originates from Slavic names Пугач (it means 'a horned owl'). The current form Puvočiai sounds as made from pūti 'to rot' because of paronymic attraction.