How to Say “Meow” in Italian

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miao
/ˈmja.o/
The English word "meow" is translated into Italian as miao.
miao is the onomatopoeia used to represent the cry of a cat.
Meaning: cry of a cat (intj)

Related words

Cry of a cat (noun): miao.

Of a cat, to make its cry (verb): miagolare.

How does it change in a sentence?

While miao is the sound itself, the verb used to describe the action of a cat meowing is miagolare.

How do you pronounce it?

The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable. The IPA is /ˈmja.o/.

Did you know?

  • If you use the verb miagolare to describe a person, it is a common way to say that someone is complaining or whining in an annoying way.
  • In Italy, calling a cat by mimicking a miao is common, but you will also hear people use the phrase pspsps to get a cat's attention, similar to the universal sound used across many European languages.
  • In some Italian regional dialects, the sound of a cat is modified slightly from the standard miao to better reflect local phonetic habits.

Examples in context

  • La mucca fa "muu" e il gatto fa "miao".
    The cow goes "moo" and the cat goes "meow."
    This sentence illustrates the sounds made by different animals, specifically showing how a cat makes the sound miao.
    Tatoeba #9059980 by Valdast, translation #5033420 by scheherezhad
  • Miao.
    Meow.
    This sentence provides the word miao as a standalone vocalization.
    Tatoeba #4557034 by Guybrush88, translation #2176411 by dafp
  • Salve, gatto! Miao!
    Hello, cat! Meow!
  • Ciao, gatto! Miao miao!
    Hi, cat! Meow meow!
  • Buongiorno, micio caro! Miao!
    Good morning, dear kitty! Meow!
  • Hey, bellissimo gattino! Miao miao!
    Hey, beautiful kitten! Meow meow!
  • Salve, signor gatto. Miao miao!
    Hello, Mr. Cat. Meow meow!
  • Il gatto fa sempre "miao" quando ha fame.
    The cat always says "meow" when it is hungry.

Example conversation

Lorenzo and Chiara are listening to a kitten in the living room.

  1. Lorenzo

    Senti il piccolo gatto? Fa "miao" continuamente.
    Do you hear the little cat? It is meowing continuously.
  2. Chiara

    Sì, Lorenzo, sembra che voglia un po' di latte.
    Yes, Lorenzo, it sounds like she wants some milk.
  3. Lorenzo

    È un "miao" molto dolce, vero?
    It is a very sweet meow, isn't it?
  4. Chiara

    Sì, è davvero adorabile.
    Yes, she is really adorable.

Sources

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Tyson Brady
Tyson BradyHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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