köttur
[ˈkʰœhtʏr]masculine
The English word cat is translated into Icelandic as köttur. Wiktionary also lists kisa.
Meaning: domestic species (noun)
Ways to say it
| Icelandic | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| köttur | [ˈkʰœhtʏr] (narrow) | masculine |
| kisa | [ˈcʰɪːsa] (narrow) | feminine |
The term is used to refer to the domestic species of cat.
Which one should you use?
While köttur is the standard word for a cat, kisa is an affectionate or diminutive term similar to 'kitty' in English.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word köttur changes to kött when it functions as the direct object of a sentence. Additionally, the plural form köttar changes to köttunum when used in the dative plural case.
Did you know?
- In Icelandic folklore, the yule cat or jólaköttur is a monstrous beast that eats children who do not receive new clothes before Christmas.
- While 'köttur' is the standard noun, the diminutive 'kisa' may actually be an onomatopoeic word derived from the 'kss-kss' sound humans make to attract cats.
- Icelandic kisa is remarkably similar to the Russian ки́са and Finnish kissa despite likely having different origins.
Examples in context
- Á borðinu er köttur.A cat is on the table.This sentence shows the use of köttur to indicate a cat's location.Tatoeba #475103 by Swift, translation #5008056 by Kevre
- Þetta er kötturinn minn.That's my cat.This sentence demonstrates the use of köttur when showing possession.Tatoeba #473554 by Swift, translation #471758 by CM
- Kötturinn er mjög sætur.The cat is very cute.This sentence uses köttur to describe the appearance of the cat.Tatoeba #475099 by Swift, translation #44566 by CK
- Ég elska kisuna mína.I love my cat.
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gunnar and Sigríður are talking about a pet.
- GunnarErtu með köttur?Do you have a cat?
- SigríðurJá, ég á mjúkan kött.Yes, I have a soft cat.
- GunnarHvað heitir þessi köttur?What is this cat called?
- SigríðurHann heitir Snefni.He is called Snefni.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cat” translations and entries köttur, kisa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kisa, köttur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
