le chat
The English phrase "the cat" is le chat in French.
le chat is used to refer to the cat.
Which one should you use?
While le chat refers to a male cat or a cat of unknown gender, la chatte refers specifically to a female cat.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be cautious when using la chatte in casual conversation, as it is also a vulgar slang term for female genitalia in French.
Did you know?
- The French expression avoir un chat dans la gorge literally means 'to have a cat in the throat' and is used when someone has a hoarse voice.
- French has a specific term chaton for a kitten, but it is also the word for a 'catkin' or the fuzzy flower of a willow tree.
- In French folklore, the 'chat noir' or 'black cat' is not always seen as a bad omen, and some believe it brings good luck to those who encounter one.
Examples in context
- Que veut le chat ?What does the cat want?Tatoeba #1798928 by sacredceltic, translation #1797708 by Spamster
- J'ai sauvé le chat.I rescued the cat.Tatoeba #1784670 by sacredceltic, translation #1779792 by Spamster
- Le chat s'est tiré.The cat ran off.Tatoeba #3643922 by sacredceltic, translation #7356774 by Eccles17
- J'ai vu le chat dans le jardin.I saw the cat in the garden.
- Viens ici, le minou !Come here, kitty!
- La minette est trop curieuse.The kitty is too curious.
- Je m'inquiète pour mon matou.I'm worried about my cat.
- 321 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are in their living room.
- EmmaEst-ce que tu vois le chat ?Do you see the cat?
- LucasOui, le chat est sous la table.Yes, the cat is under the table.
- EmmaIl est très calme aujourd'hui.He is very calm today.
- LucasC'est vrai, il est paisible.It's true, he is peaceful.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
