kat
/kɑt/feminine
The English word "cat" is translated into Dutch as kat. If unsure, use kat. Wiktionary also lists huiskat and poes.
Meaning: domestic species (noun)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| kat | /kɑt/ | feminine |
| huiskat | ||
| poes | /pus/ | feminine |
| kater | /ˈkaːtər/ | masculine |
The term for the domestic species can be expressed in several ways depending on the gender of the animal or the level of affection. While kat is the general term, you may also use diminutive forms like poesje as an affectionate way to refer to a small cat or a kitten.
Which one should you use?
kat is the general term for a cat. poes is a colloquial term for a cat in general, but it is also frequently used specifically to refer to a female cat. kater can refer to a male cat, though in common modern usage, it is most frequently used to mean a hangover.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of kat is katten. In terms of grammatical gender, kat and poes are feminine nouns, while kater is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɑt/
Did you know?
- The German word Katzenjammer meaning 'hangover' literally translates to 'cat's wail'.
Examples in context
- De kat is nat.The cat is wet.This sentence shows the use of kat to describe the state of the animal.Tatoeba #9731271 by MarijnKp, translation #1780076 by Spamster
- De kat is lui.The cat is lazy.This sentence demonstrates how kat can be used to describe an animal's temperament.Tatoeba #9731275 by MarijnKp, translation #2030110 by Spamster
- Is dat een kat?Is that a cat?This sentence shows how to use kat in a question.Tatoeba #813980 by simonbr, translation #67092 by CK
- De kat is zwart.The cat is black.
- Ik zag een mooie kat in de tuin.I saw a beautiful cat in the garden.
- Er zit een kat onder de bank.There is a cat under the couch.
- Wat een schattige poes!What an adorable cat!
- Ik heb een lieve poes thuis.I have a sweet cat at home.
- Heb je dat schattige katje gezien?Did you see that cute little cat?
- Ik ben bang voor katten.I am afraid of cats.
- Mijn buren hebben drie katjes.My neighbors have three little cats.
- 432 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Noah and Julia are in a living room with a pet.
- JuliaDe kat slaapt op de bank.The cat is sleeping on the couch.
- NoahJa, zij ziet er erg lief uit.Yes, she looks very sweet.
- JuliaWil je de kat even aaien?Do you want to pet the cat?
- NoahNee, ik ben bang dat ze krabt.No, I am afraid she will scratch.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cat” translations and entries kat, huiskat, poes, kater, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries huiskat, kat, kater, poes, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
