νιάου
niáou/ˈɲau/
The Greek way to say "meow" is νιάου (niáou). Wiktionary also lists νιαούρισμα (niaoúrisma).
Meaning: cry of a cat (intj)
Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| νιάου | niáou | /ˈɲau/ | |
| νιαούρισμα | niaoúrisma | neuter |
νιάου is the interjection used to represent the sound a cat makes. If you want to refer to the specific sound or the act of meowing as a concept, you use the noun νιαούρισμα.
Which one should you use?
νιάου is the interjection for the sound itself, while νιαούρισμα is the neuter noun used to describe a meow or the act of meowing.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe the action of a cat meowing, use the verb νιαουρίζω. The noun for the sound itself is νιαούρισμα.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈɲau/. The romanization is niáou.
Did you know?
- Greek uses the same root for the act of meowing νιαουρίζω whether the cat is asking for food or complaining, whereas English occasionally uses 'yowl' for the latter.
- The pronunciation of νιάου uses a palatal nasal sound, making the 'n' sound much softer and more integrated with the vowel than in English.
- The Greek word for a meow, νιάου, is an onomatopoeic expression, meaning it was created to mimic the actual sound of the animal.
Examples in context
- Ο γάτος μου λέει πάντα μιάου.My cat always says "meow".
- Ακούγεται ένα νιάου από την κουζίνα.Akoúgetai éna niáou apó tin kouzína.A meow is heard from the kitchen.
Example conversation
George and Eleni are looking at a cat in the garden.
- Γιώργος GiorgosΚοιτάξτε, η γάτα λέει νιάου!Koitáxte, i gáta léi niáu!Look, the cat is saying meow!
- Ελένη EleniΝαι, φαίνεται ότι πεινάει.Nai, faínetai óti peinái.Yes, it seems like it is hungry.
- Γιώργος GiorgosΘέλεις κάτι, μικρή μου φίλη;Théleis káti, mikrí mou fíli?Do you want something, my little friend?
- Ελένη EleniΠάμε να της δώσουμε γάλα.Páme na tis dósoume gála.Let's go give it some milk.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “meow” translations and entries νιάου, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries νιάου, CC BY-SA 4.0.
