kotek
/ˈkɔ.tɛk/masculine
The English word "kitty" is translated into Polish as kotek. Wiktionary also lists kiciuś and kicia.
Meaning: pet name for a cat of any age (noun)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| kotek | /ˈkɔ.tɛk/ | masculine |
| kiciuś | /ˈki.t͡ɕuɕ/ | masculine |
| kicia | /ˈki.t͡ɕa/ | feminine |
The terms used to translate "kitty" are used to refer to a cat of any age in an affectionate or endearing way.
Which one should you use?
While kot is the standard, neutral word for a cat, kotek is the diminutive, endearing form used for a kitty. For a female cat, the standard neutral word is kotka, whereas kotek is a diminutive used affectionately for a male cat or a kitty in general.
How does it change in a sentence?
kiciuś is a masculine diminutive used specifically when referring to a male kitty. kicia is the feminine endearing form.
How do you pronounce it?
The word kotek is pronounced /ˈkɔ.tɛk/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
When do people say it?
To call a cat over in Polish, people often repeat the sound kici rather than using a noun.
Did you know?
- In Polish, the term kotek is not only for animals but can be used as a romantic term of endearment for a partner, similar to 'honey' or 'sweetie'.
- While kotek is a diminutive, Polish speakers can create an even smaller version, koteczek, to express an extreme level of affection.
- The word kotek is surprisingly related to the Latin word cattus, which is the ancestor of the English word 'cat'.
Examples in context
- Kotek próbuje się ukryć przed deszczem.The kitty is trying to hide from the rain.This sentence shows how to use kotek to describe a kitty hiding from the rain.Tatoeba #3695882 by jeedrek, translation #2937225 by astyng
- Przepraszam, czy mogę pogłaskać tego małego kociaka?Excuse me, may I pet this little kitty?
- Spójrz, jaki uroczy ten kotek!Look how adorable this kitty is!
- Ten mały kotek jest bardzo śpiący.This little kitty is very sleepy.
- Widzę, że twój kotek znowu zjadł rośliny.I see that your kitty ate the plants again.
Example conversation
Tomasz and Katarzyna are looking at a photo of a pet.
- TomaszTo jest mój nowy kotek.This is my new kitty.
- KatarzynaOjej, ale on jest mały!Oh my, he is so small!
- TomaszTak, ten kotek jest bardzo grzeczny.Yes, this kitty is very well-behaved.
- KatarzynaChcę go kiedyś poznać.I want to meet him someday.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kitty” translations and entries kotek, kiciuś, kicia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kicia, kiciuś, kotek, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
