gatto nero
/ˈɡat.to ˈne.ro/word by word
The English phrase "black cat" is gatto nero in Italian.
The phrase refers to a cat with black fur.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Sicilian dialect, "black cat" is expressed as gatu nivuru.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase must change its gender and number to agree with the cat you are describing. Use gatta nera for a single female cat and gatti neri for a group of male or mixed-gender black cats. If you are describing a group of only female black cats, use gatte nere.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈɡat.to ˈne.ro/. It has 4 syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid pairing a masculine noun with a feminine adjective, such as gatto nera. In Italian, the adjective must agree with the gender of the noun. For example, use nero with gatto.
Did you know?
- In Italy, calling someone a gatto can sometimes be a compliment, implying they are agile or clever, whereas in English 'catty' is usually an insult.
- While a gatto nero is often a symbol of bad luck in Italy, some regions believe that a black cat crossing your path is actually a sign of good fortune.
- The Latin root of gatto, the word cattum, is thought by some linguists to be onomatopoeic, mimicking the sound a cat makes.
Examples in context
- Dov'è il gatto nero?Where is the black cat?This sentence is useful for asking about the location of a gatto nero.Tatoeba #13288948 by Guybrush88, translation #9818782 by Ee_un
- Tom ha un gatto nero.Tom keeps a black cat.This sentence is useful for stating that someone owns a gatto nero.Tatoeba #1824555 by Guybrush88, translation #37146 by CK
- Dov'era il gatto nero?Where was the black cat?Tatoeba #5241663 by Guybrush88, translation #5263700 by dynamo
- Ho notato un gatto nero nel cortile.I noticed a black cat in the courtyard.
- Cool! Hai visto quel micio nero?Cool! Did you see that black kitty?
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Sofia are at a pet shop.
- FrancescoGuarda quel gatto nero, Sofia.Look at that black cat, Sofia.
- SofiaÈ davvero bellissimo!It is truly beautiful!
- FrancescoVuoi prenderlo?Do you want to take him?
- SofiaSì, mi piace molto.Yes, I like him a lot.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (gatto, nero) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gatto, nero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
