猫
neko[ne̞ko̞]
The Japanese word for cat is 猫 (neko). Wiktionary also lists 家猫 (ieneko).
Meaning: domestic species (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 猫 | neko | [ne̞ko̞] (narrow) [ne̞ko̞ma̠] (narrow) |
| 家猫 | ieneko |
The general term neko is used for both domestic cats and the species in general.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 家猫 is composed of ie (house) and neko (cat), literally meaning 'house cat'.
Which one should you use?
While ieneko specifically refers to a domestic house cat, the general term neko is used for both domestic cats and the species in general.
How do you pronounce it?
neko
Did you know?
- The word neko is believed by some to be a combination of ne (an onomatopoeia for a cat's meow) and ko (a suffix used to make a word diminutive).
Examples in context
- 私は猫です。I'm a cat.This sentence shows how to use 猫 to identify oneself.Tatoeba #3456487 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #2068371 by shekitten
- 俺は猫かい？Am I a cat?This sentence shows a question using 猫.Tatoeba #9963984 by Sim5634, translation #9963970 by DJ_Saidez
- 猫に九生あり。A cat has nine lives.This sentence demonstrates a common saying about 猫.Tatoeba #121984 by KK_kaku_, translation #282019 by CM
- 私は猫が大好きです。I love cats.
- 友達の家に猫がいて、めちゃくちゃ可愛かった！My friend had a cat at their house, and it was so adorable!
- 414 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Yui are looking at a photo on a phone.
- 陽太 Yotaこの猫はとてもかわいいね。Kono neko wa totemo kawaii ne.This cat is very cute, isn't it?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、私の飼っている猫だよ。Un, watashi no katte iru neko dayo.Yeah, it's the cat I have as a pet.
- 陽太 Yota猫を飼っているなんていいな。Neko o katte iru nante ii na.It's nice that you have a cat.
- 結衣 Yui陽太もいつか飼ってみてね。Yota mo itsuka katte mite ne.You should try getting one too someday, Yota.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cat” translations and entries 猫, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 猫, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
