perro y gato
/pero i ɡato/from spelling rules
The phrase "dog and cat" in Spanish is perro y gato.
This phrase is used to refer to two common domestic animals: a canine and a feline.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are specifically referring to a female dog and a female cat, you change the nouns to their feminine forms perra y gata. To refer to the species in general or a group of multiple dogs and cats, use the masculine plural forms perros y gatos.
Did you know?
- The Spanish word gato has a homonym that means 'jack', referring to the mechanical tool used to lift a car.
- The word perro may have originated from a primitive vocal call used to summon or command dogs, rather than a formal name for the species.
- The word perro was originally a pejorative term for a 'cur' or a lowly dog before it replaced the formal Latin-derived word for the species.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are talking about pets.
- LucíaAlejandro, ¿tienes mascotas?Alejandro, do you have pets?
- AlejandroSí, tengo un perro y gato.Yes, I have a dog and cat.
- Lucía¡Qué bien! ¿Se llevan bien?That's great! Do they get along?
- AlejandroSí, son muy buenos amigos.Yes, they are very good friends.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gato, perro, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
