chat
/ʃa/masculine
The English word "cat" is translated into French as chat. If unsure, use chat. Wiktionary also lists chatte.
Meaning: domestic species (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| chat | /ʃa/ /tʃat/ |
masculine |
| chatte | /ʃat/ | feminine |
The term refers to the domestic species.
Which one should you use?
While chatte is the feminine form of chat, it is also a highly vulgar slang term for female genitalia and should be used with extreme caution.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of 'chat' is 'chats'. The plural of 'chatte' is 'chattes'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃa/
Did you know?
- French has a specific idiom donner sa langue au chat, which literally means 'to give one's tongue to the cat' when someone gives up on guessing a riddle.
- The phrase avoir un chat dans la gorge is the French equivalent of 'having a frog in one's throat'.
- The phrase il fait un froid de chat describes very cold weather, which literally translates to 'it is a cat's cold'.
Examples in context
- Il a un chat.He keeps a cat.This sentence shows how to use chat to indicate ownership.Tatoeba #4696185 by sacredceltic, translation #302300 by CK
- Je suis un chat.I'm a cat.This sentence shows how to use chat to make an identification.Tatoeba #2068378 by Aiji, translation #2068371 by shekitten
- J’ai eu un chat.I had a cat.This sentence shows how to use chat to express past possession.Tatoeba #2231134 by Amastan, translation #2399176 by amazighgirl
- J'ai vu un chat dans le jardin.I saw a cat in the garden.
- Ce livre parle des chats domestiques.This book is about domestic cats.
- Le chat est un animal indépendant.The cat is an independent animal.
- J'ai adopté un minou adorable aujourd'hui.I adopted an adorable cat today.
- Mon voisin a un minou très espiègle.My neighbor has a very mischievous cat.
- Viens ici, mon petit minou.Come here, my little kitty.
- 994 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are talking about a pet at a cafe.
- HugoEst-ce que tu aimes ce chat ?Do you like this cat?
- LéaOui, il est très mignon, ce chat.Yes, this cat is very cute.
- HugoLéa, est-ce que tu veux un chat ?Léa, do you want a cat?
- LéaNon, je préfère les chiens.No, I prefer dogs.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cat” translations and entries chat, chatte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
