Hauskatze
The English phrase "house cat" is translated into German as Hauskatze.
A Hauskatze refers to a small domesticated cat kept as a pet in a home. It is specifically used to distinguish a domestic pet from a Wildkatze (wildcat).
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of Haus (house) and Katze (cat).
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is feminine, so it takes the feminine article die. The plural form is Hauskatzen. In the dative case, the indefinite article becomes einer (e.g., einer Hauskatze).
Did you know?
- The word Katze appears in the German term Katzensprung, which literally means a 'cat's jump' and is used to describe a very short distance.
- In German, there is a distinction between Katze (the species) and Kater (a male cat), so you would rarely call a male Hauskatze when specifying gender.
- To call a pet cat, Germans use the word Miezekatze or the sound miez, which functions like the English 'kitty' or 'pspsps'.
Examples in context
- Ich habe eine süße Hauskatze namens Felix.I have a cute house cat named Felix.
- Der Stubentiger kuschelt gerne auf der Couch.The house cat loves to snuggle on the couch.
- Meine Miezekatze spielt gerne mit Bällen.My kitty loves to play with balls.
- Meine Hauskatze schläft auf dem Sofa.My house cat is sleeping on the sofa.
- Ist das deine Hauskatze?Is that your house cat?
- Wir suchen eine kleine Hauskatze zum Spielen.We are looking for a small house cat to play with.
Example conversation
Julia and Julian are looking at a cat in a garden.
- JuliaIst das eine Hauskatze?Is that a house cat?
- JulianNein, das ist eine Wildkatze.No, that is a wild cat.
- JuliaSie sieht aber aus wie eine Hauskatze.But she looks like a house cat.
- JulianDas stimmt, aber sie ist sehr scheu.That is true, but she is very shy.
