Odio los gatos
/odjo los ɡatos/from spelling rules
The phrase 'I hate cats' in Spanish is Odio los gatos.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to 'I hate the cats'. In Spanish, the definite article 'los' is required when expressing a general dislike for a category of animals.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, the informal phrase Me caen mal los gatos. is used to mean 'I don't like cats.'
How does it change in a sentence?
Because the noun gatos is masculine and plural, the definite article must also be masculine and plural (los).
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly omit the article 'los' (saying Odio gatos), but in Spanish, you must use the definite article when talking about a general class of things or animals.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish dialects, gato is used as a slang term for people from Madrid. Someone saying Odio los gatos in a specific political context might be referring to city dwellers rather than animals.
- The word gato is also used in various Latin American countries to describe a 'jack' for lifting a car or a 'henchman' for a powerful person.
- When using Me caen mal los gatos, the literal translation is 'Cats fall badly on me'. This phrasing describes the impression an animal makes on a person rather than a personal feeling of hate.
Examples in context
- Odio los gatos.I hate cats.Tatoeba #3900713 by gianich73, translation #3825839 by CK
- Sí, me caen mal los gatos. Me dan alergia.Yes, I really dislike cats. They give me allergies.
- Odio los gatos, prefiero los perros.I hate cats, I prefer dogs.
- No quiero un felino porque odio los gatos.I don't want a feline because I hate cats.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are discussing potential pets at home.
- Sofía¿Quieres adoptar un gatito, Daniel?Do you want to adopt a little kitten, Daniel?
- DanielNo, ya sabes que odio los gatos.No, you already know that I hate cats.
- SofíaEs una lástima, son muy tiernos.It is a pity, they are very cute.
- DanielLo sé, pero prefiero un perro.I know, but I prefer a dog.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
