kattunge
common gender
The Swedish word for kitten is kattunge. Wiktionary also lists källing.
Meaning: a young cat (noun)
Ways to say it
| Swedish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| kattunge | common gender | |
| källing | /²ɕɛlɪŋ/ | common gender, dialectal |
kattunge is a common-gender noun used to refer to a young cat.
What does it mean word for word?
The word kattunge is a compound of katt, meaning cat and unge, meaning young or offspring.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term källing is a dialectal form of kitten.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify 'the kitten', you add the suffix -en to the end of the word to get kattungen. The plural form of kattunge is kattungar.
Did you know?
- While kattunge refers to a baby cat, the related word källing has undergone a radical shift in meaning and is now a common, often derogatory, slang term for an old woman.
- The dialectal word källing shares the same linguistic root as the English word 'duckling' or 'underling' through the suffix -ling, which denotes something small or young.
- The word unge can be used as a noun on its own to refer to a human child, though it is often used in a slightly dismissive or casual way.
Examples in context
- Ziri tryckte in kattungen i sin jacka.Ziri stuffed the kitten into his jacket.This sentence shows how to use the form kattunge when describing where a kitten is placed.Tatoeba #12084998 by johanrhg, translation #11221050 by Amastan
- Kattungen älskade att jaga rullande mynt.The kitten loved to chase rolling coins.This sentence uses kattunge to describe an activity a kitten enjoys.Tatoeba #5798190 by suedenjin, translation #5797564 by Eccles17
- Kattungen skrek.The kitten screamed.This sentence uses kattunge to describe a sound a kitten makes.Tatoeba #10692848 by Pineapple, translation #9029526 by shekitten
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alice and Lucas are looking at a stray kitten in the garden.
- AliceTitta, en liten kattunge!Look, a little kitten!
- LucasÅh, den är så söt.Oh, it is so cute.
- AliceKan vi ta hem den här kattungen?Can we take this kitten home?
- LucasJa, jag tror det.Yes, I think so.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kitten” translations and entries kattunge, källing, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kattunge, källing, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
