gato
/ˈɡato/masculine
The Spanish word for cat is gato. Wiktionary also lists gata and misha.
Meaning: domestic species (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| gato | /ˈɡato/ | masculine |
| gata | /ˈɡata/ | feminine |
| misha | /misa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| mishingo | /misinɡo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| mishinga | /misinɡa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| gatuno | /ɡaˈtuno/ | attributive |
| gatesco | /ɡatesko/ (from spelling rules) | attributive, colloquial, masculine |
The term refers to the domestic species of cat.
Which one should you use?
While gato is the noun used for the animal, gatuno is an adjective used to describe things that are cat-like or related to cats. Similarly, gatesco is a colloquial adjective meaning cat-like, often used in a more informal or playful sense than gatuno.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term gatesco is a colloquial adjective. For an affectionate and informal way to say kitty, you can use Gatito.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form gato is used for male cats or when referring to cats in general. The feminine form gata is used specifically for female cats.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɡato/
When do people say it?
Guatemalans often use the endearing, informal term michi to refer to cats.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, gato is also the common word for a car jack used to lift a vehicle.
- The Spanish phrase dar gato por liebre means to cheat someone, literally translating to 'giving a cat instead of a hare'.
- In the city of Madrid, people born there are sometimes colloquially called gatos if their family has lived in the city for generations.
Examples in context
- Ése es mi gato.That's my cat.This sentence is useful for identifying a specific cat using gato.Tatoeba #521933 by Shishir, translation #471758 by CM
- No, no es gato.No, it is not a cat.This sentence is useful for denying that something is a gato.Tatoeba #5227197 by cueyayotl, translation #5228517 by solejar
- Mi gato me ama.My cat loves me.This sentence is useful for expressing affection from a gato.Tatoeba #11917242 by Seael, translation #11306959 by shekitten
- Buenos días, Señor García. ¿Sabía usted que los gatos son animales muy adorables?Good morning, Mr. García. Did you know that cats are very adorable animals?
- ¡Mira qué lindo este gatito!Look at this cute little kitty!
- Mis sobrinos tienen un michi muy travieso.My nephews have a very mischievous cat.
- 773 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are at a pet store.
- Mateo¿Ves ese gato blanco?Do you see that white cat?
- SofíaSí, es muy bonito.Yes, it is very pretty.
- MateoQuiero un gato como él.I want a cat like him.
- SofíaÉl es un gato muy tranquilo.He is a very calm cat.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cat” translations and entries gato, gata, gatuno, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
