kot
/ˈkɔt/animate, masculine
The English word "cat" is translated to Polish as kot. Wiktionary also lists kotka and kocur.
Meaning: domestic species (noun)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| kot | /ˈkɔt/ | animate, masculine |
| kotka | /ˈkɔt.ka/ | feminine |
| kocur | /ˈkɔ.t͡sur/ | animate, masculine |
| kocica | /kɔˈt͡ɕi.t͡sa/ | feminine |
| kotek | /ˈkɔ.tɛk/ | animate, diminutive, masculine |
The primary word for the domestic species is kot. Depending on the gender of the specific animal or the level of affection you wish to show, you may use different forms.
Which one should you use?
kot is the generic masculine form used to refer to the species or a cat of unknown gender. Use kotka to specifically denote a female cat. If you want to express affection or refer to a small or young cat, use the diminutive form kotek. For a male cat, you can use kocur.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When kot is the direct object of a verb, such as when you have or see a cat, it changes to the form kota. The word kotka is the feminine form of kot and is used when the gender of the cat is known to be female.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkɔt/
Did you know?
- In Polish folklore, cats are often associated with the home and warmth, and saying mieć kota can colloquially mean someone is a bit eccentric or 'crazy'.
- In many Polish contexts, calling a person a kocur can be a slang way to describe someone who is particularly handsome or physically impressive, moving far beyond the literal meaning of 'tomcat'.
- The phrase kot w worku means 'a cat in a bag' and refers to buying something without checking it first, just like the English expression 'pig in a poke'.
Examples in context
- Mam psa i kota.I have a dog and a cat.This sentence shows how to use the form kot as a direct object.Tatoeba #4934134 by Martka, translation #441581 by CK
- To jest mój kot.That's my cat.This sentence shows how to use the form kot as a subject.Tatoeba #524342 by Wimmer, translation #471758 by CM
- Mamy kota i psa.We have a cat and a dog.Tatoeba #525282 by Wimmer, translation #249147 by CK
- Widziałem pięknego kota w parku.I saw a beautiful cat in the park.
- Koty są popularnymi zwierzętami domowymi.Cats are popular pets.
- Dzisiaj kupiłem nową miskę dla mojego kota.Today I bought a new bowl for my cat.
- Moja kicia jest bardzo kochana.My kitty is very lovable.
- Kocham swoją kicię tak bardzo.I love my kitty so much.
- 227 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Piotr and Małgorzata are talking about a pet in the house.
- PiotrCzy wiesz, gdzie jest mój kot?Do you know where my cat is?
- MałgorzataTwój kot śpi w kuchni.Your cat is sleeping in the kitchen.
- PiotrOn zawsze śpi tam w dzień.He always sleeps there during the day.
- MałgorzataTo bardzo spokojny kot.It is a very calm cat.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cat” translations and entries kot, kotka, kocur, kocica, kotek, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
