gato
/ˈɡato/
The Spanish word gato means cat.
Gato refers to the small domesticated carnivorous mammal.
Which one should you use?
While gato can specifically refer to a male cat, it is also used as the generic term for any cat regardless of its sex. If you are specifically referring to a female cat, you would use gata.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Latin America, such as Argentina and Uruguay, people often use michi or its variations to refer to cats informally.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form is gata and the plural masculine/generic form is gatos. For a group of female cats, use gatas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɡato/
Did you know?
- In Madrid, gato is a colloquial term for a person born in the city, specifically someone whose family has lived there for generations.
- While it looks like the word for 'cat', gato can also refer to a cake in certain contexts because it is borrowed from the French word gâteau.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, a 'gato' is not just an animal but also a slang term for a car jack used to lift vehicles.
Examples in context
- El señor tiene un gato.The gentleman has a cat.
- Mi amiga es alérgica a los gatos.My friend is allergic to cats.
- Los gatos son animales muy independientes.Cats are very independent animals.
- Me encontré un gato en el parque esta mañana.I found a cat in the park this morning.
- No puedo tener un gato en mi apartamento debido a las alergias.I can't have a cat in my apartment due to allergies.
- Apenas llego a casa, mi gato se frota contra mis piernas en busca de cariño.As soon as I get home, my cat rubs against my legs looking for affection.
- El gato duerme en el sofá.The cat sleeps on the sofa.
- Mi gato es muy juguetón.My cat is very playful.
- ¿Has visto al gato blanco?Have you seen the white cat?
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are at home looking for a pet.
- Alejandro¿Quieres un gato?Do you want a cat?
- ElenaSí, me encantan los gatos.Yes, I love cats.
- AlejandroEse gato negro es muy bonito.That black cat is very pretty.
- Elena¡Es verdad! Es muy lindo.It's true! He is very cute.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry gato, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gato, CC BY-SA 4.0.
