hierba gatera
/jeɾba ɡateɾa/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English word catnip is hierba gatera in Spanish. Wiktionary also lists menta de gato and nébeda.
Meaning: plant of the genus Nepeta (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hierba gatera | /jeɾba ɡateɾa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| menta de gato | /ˌmenta de ˈɡato/ | feminine |
| nébeda | /ˈnebeda/ | feminine |
The term refers to plants of the genus Nepeta.
What does it mean word for word?
The term hierba gatera is a literal combination of hierba (herb) and gatera (pertaining to cats).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In South American countries like Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, catnip is referred to as menta de gato. In Mexico, a common term for catnip is hierba de gato.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase hierba gatera is a feminine noun phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
/jeɾba ɡateɾa/
Did you know?
- While gato means 'cat' in the phrase menta de gato, the same word gato can also refer to a 'jack' used for lifting cars or a 'cake' when borrowed from French.
- The term nébeda for catnip is a loanword from Galician, a language spoken in northwest Spain.
- While most Spanish speakers use hierba gatera, some regions use the specific name nébeda, which comes from the Latin genus name nepeta.
Examples in context
- Compré un poco de hierba gatera para mi gato.I bought some catnip for my cat.
- La hierba gatera es muy buena para los felinos.Catnip is very good for felines.
- ¿Dónde puedo conseguir hierba gatera de buena calidad?Where can I get high quality catnip?
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are at a pet store.
- ElenaDaniel, ¿viste la hierba gatera en este estante?Daniel, did you see the catnip on this shelf?
- DanielSí, Elena, parece que es muy popular aquí.Yes, Elena, it looks like it is very popular here.
- ElenaVamos a llevar un paquete para nuestro gato.Let's take a pack for our cat.
- DanielEs una buena idea, le encantará.It is a good idea, he will love it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “catnip” translations and entries menta de gato, nébeda, 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, gato, hierba, menta, nébeda, CC BY-SA 4.0.
