Madre is feminine and padre is masculine. This means that el gato is a male cat and la gata is a female cat. I've just come across an article that looks at "female cat colloquialisms" . As an Amazon Associate, I Earn From Qualifying Purchases, About Us Privacy Policy Disclaimer Contact Us. [Those female crocodiles are small.]. This is where we get the word feline in English. Access millions of accurate translations written by our team of experienced English-Spanish translators. La quiete - the quiet. View this answer. The Spanish language has two grammatical genders: Masculine and Feminine. Necesitas una estrategia para ganar al gato. In . Muchos de los grandes felinos estn en peligro de extincin. We tend to think that the "gender" in grammar comes from . Neutral gender is not so common, but it also exists. Therefore, there are always exceptions to the rules, and these exceptions, in turn, create new rules. Translation: A cat / dog / snake that bites its own tail.Meaning: To end up back at square one; a situation that keeps repeating itself; a vicious circle. "Introduction - It is well know that a cat. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Some nouns are both masculine and feminine despite their ending 7. Access millions of accurate translations written by our team of experienced English-Spanish translators. La modelo the female model, El atleta the male athlete In Spanish, nouns referring to animals, follow two different patterns with regard to their gender. It may be the same noun with a different ending: conejo [male rabbit] coneja [female rabbit], tigre [male tiger] tigresa [female rabbit]. a short girl. (Meaning, I should have said 'and you don't know her gender). And Im not ashamed to admit that I am an amante dei gatti the word for a cat lover in Italian! So the same way as in English a woman may not want to say: "my pussy is so soft" the exact same kind of innuendo exists in French. 3. If a noun ends with z, replace it with ces to make it plural. Fast, easy, reliable language certification, 35,000+ worksheets, games, and lesson plans. Here are the definite and indefinite articles the word gatto takes: il gatto the cat un gatto a cat i gatti You need a strategy to win noughts and crosses. The bolded letters in the first few words will help you remember the guidelines mentioned in the previous paragraph. . Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. As you can see, there are quite a few different ways to say our cat in English. Im happy to help! I have no evidence or rational explanation for this, but as a crude generalisation, people tend to refer cats as she, dogs as he, unless they actually know which they are. man, dog, house). La soldado the female soldier, El modelo the male model The word for cat in Spanish is gato. r/Spanish Friendly reminder that, in Spanish, all human beings are masculine, but all people are feminine SpanishDict is the world's most popular Spanish-English dictionary, translation, and learning website. Is there a word or Phrase you would like to learn? In informal language, sometimes the article is used to express the animals sex: el cocodrilo [the male crocodile] la cocodrilo [female crocodile]. The default gender in Spanish is usually the masculine. The answer is su gato. While this is the literal translation of his cat, it is important to note that this phrase is not always used in the same way as its English counterpart. Copyright 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited. (Mother Russia, etc. Masculine nouns that end with a (exceptions): Masculine nouns that end with d (exceptions): Masculine nouns that end with z (exceptions): In the previous paragraphs, we looked at guidelines for using masculine and feminine nouns. Nouns that end in -aje or -ambre, such as equipaje ( luggage) and . La piloto the female pilot, El soldado the male soldier Other posts above here in this trend do suggest that "cat" is feminine gender in many English-speaking linguistic cultures. Mr Major has precious few left. We have divided this list into 12 sections: Pets, Farm Animals, Forest Animals, Ocean Animals, Animals at The Zoo, Bugs And Insects, Mammals Animals, Birds Animals, Fish/Other Auatic Animals, Reptiles, Amphibian and Insects/Earth Invertebrades Full List of Animals And Gender In Spanish Las Mascotas - Pets La Granja - Farm Animals But which one is the right one? El mapa the map The accent mark over the o means that it is pronounced with a long o sound, like the o in bone. this is very useful! So, if youre ever in Mexico and you hear someone use the word michi, theres a good chance theyre talking about a cat! So its cat would literally translate to the cats cat.. And when talking about multiple dogs of either gender, you would say los perros. This section is divided into two parts. Some of the exceptions occur because of how the words were treated in other languages, such as Latin and Greek. The word Mujer (woman) is feminine even if it does not end in "~a". Her cat Upvoted by Jan Antonsson Sorry, I didn't recognize the name. Here are a few of the most common ones: Feminine nouns that end with o (exceptions): Feminine nouns that end with e (exceptions): Most nouns that end in a, d, z or cin are generally feminine nouns. With these rules below, you'll know which to use with every word "el" or "la". Spanish grammar rule no.8. La torre - the tower. Some male-associated nouns are feminine and vice versa 4. Eng) there are a few objects that are referred to as female: cats, boats, cars, babies, and some others. A kitten is simply known as a gattino (masculine) or gattina (feminine) which translates as "little cat". Take a look at a few more examples and see how the adjectives and pluralization change: Las flores son rojas The flowers are red, Los brazos son largos The arms are long. Thanks for sharing! Translation: to have seven* lives like cats.Meaning: To survive danger or illness, to be resistant. The same is done with people. In general, though, the word for cat in German is Katze.. The answer is simple: there is no feminine word for cat. JavaScript is disabled. If you think that masculine nouns in Spanish are always used with referring to males and feminine nouns when referring to females, your assumption would be wrong especially when talking about animals. For example, words that end in -o are usually masculine, while words that end in -a are usually feminine. Im happy they are useful =) I have never assumed that 'cat' meant 'female cat' without some other contextual reason. It is not used to describe an actual cat. What does he know about flamenco? For English speakers, it is hard to determine when a noun is feminine or masculine simply because nouns in English have no gender. Their gender can change other words that follow or precede them, like adjectives. Thank you! A Spanish-speaker might say gato bonito to describe a good-looking cat. Rest assured that you'll gradually learn masculine and feminine nouns and use them correctly. masculine or feminine noun 1. man, dog, house). Yes, cats are 'she'. Have you tried it yet? Making educational experiences better for everyone. That is so kind of you Lisa. Assuming you would like a translated definition of the word cute: The definition of cute according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary is: attractive or pretty in a dainty way. When applied to cats, this definition certainly fits. El planeta the planet, La foto the photo The answer is su gato. However, keep in mind that in Spanish, we use the masculine form of the word gato when referring to a mixed-gender group of cats, or when the gender of the cat is unknown. We can usually tell if nouns are feminine because they end in 'a' and that they are masculine if they end in 'o'. Your cat In Spanish, all nouns (object words, like cat, house, London) are either masculine or feminine. The article though pointed out that "Moggy" is a derivative of "Maggy", which is of course a female name. Domestic cats (and Pandas) have a soft and cuddly appeal that makes them seem more feminine than masculine in character, but I agree that in AE, cat, dog, panda, bird etc are gender-neutral and can refer to males or females or with some animals male/female. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Translation: When the cat does not reach the fat it says it stinks.Meaning: When someone adopts a negative attitude to something because they cannot have it themselves. For example: la mesa redonda. This means that el gato is a male cat and la gata is a female cat. . Included Spanish, more 4 options are available depending on the number and gender. Thus if you don't know whether a cat is male or female, it's fine to refer to it as un gato. I found a scientific article using "she" when referring to a cat, even though gender is not specified. Uhmmm, I studied it in a linguistics class, on 'morphosyntax', shortened to 'morphotax' And yes, the professor was a native Eng. I havent even read the entire article but OMG I love the handdrawn art/diagrams. and then added them to the site. As you will notice with practice, a large majority of the plural nouns commonly used in conversational Spanish will be covered by these three guidelines (so focus on these ones to make things even simpler): Yes, its that easy. I agree. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/gender-of-animals-3079265. Most Spanish masculine nouns end in "o". -Every sentence in Spanish needs to have at least one subject and a verb. HE refers to Masculine nouns and the letters highlighted after NOT will give you a hint about the exceptions): Masculine nouns that end in an accented vowel: However, some exceptions need to be memorized (they will come naturally with practice, so dont worry about them). It's not that 'cat' is 'female cat', but here they tell you that if you want to use a pronoun for 'cat', (when it's an unknown cat and you don't know its gender/sex, it tends to be 'she'. Please, contact me if you miss seeing a particular animal or want to ask anything. And you'd be right. Thus they do not vary in form with gender or number: Although treating macho and hembra as invariable adjectives is the grammatically safe thing to do, in real life speakers often make them plural. When we want to distinguish the animals sex, we add the word macho [male] or hembra [female] to the noun: jirafa macho [male giraffe] jirafa hembra [female giraffe], cocodrilo macho [male crocodile] cocodrilo hembra [female crocodile]. (f) means that a noun is feminine. Full List of Animals and Gender in Spanish, Full List of Animals And Gender In Spanish, Peces/Otros Animales Acuticos Fish/Other Auatic Animals, Insectos/ Invertebrados Terrestres Insects/Earth Invertebrades, The Human Body in Spanish / El cuerpo humano, Mathematical Symbols: Useful List of Math Symbols, Vocabulary introduction: The four seasons in Spanish, Shapes Names: List of Different Types of, HouseholdDevices&equipment / Aparatos y Equipos de la, Firefighting and Rescue / Apagar incendios y, El Hipoptamo/ La Hipoptama Hippopotamus, El Petirrojo (European bird)/ El mirio primavera (Latin ) Robin. It may be the same noun with a different ending: conejo [male rabbit] - coneja [female rabbit] tigre [male tiger] - tigresa [female rabbit] Or a different word altogether: I believe that this identifying a cat as a female unless otherwise specified is a dated usage. La doctora the female doctor. The second list contains animal names with only one form, either masculine or feminine. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about this important phrase. It's not a habit of mine either. * Remember that, when speaking about languages, the word gender refers to a grammatical division that may or may not reflect biological sex. This is the same whether the cat has been spayed, or not. La noche - the night. A few different ways to say cat in French. Don't forget 'countries'. *Trivia: the Aurelia is a 697km long highway that runs along the coast, connecting Rome to Ventimiglia (on the border of the south of France). How do I get that job? For example: Yo tengo el perro (I have the dog) Yo lo tengo(I have it). The standard rules are here on the top of the page, but you shouldn't trust them fully. Feminine nouns in Spanish: The house, the beach, the mountain, the word, the film. Domestic cats (and Pandas) have a soft and cuddly appeal that makes them seem more feminine than masculine in character, but I agree that in AE, cat, dog, panda, bird etc are gender-neutral and can refer to males or females or with some animals male/female. "Gender of Animals in Spanish." The word cat is one of these exceptions. Most of the time, the gender of a noun will be determined by its ending. Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary HarperCollins Publishers 2011. This is very helpful! As in, Im dogging it today or Im feeling a bit doggy.. Do you have a question about Spanish? I don't know if I'm right but I've always had the impression that there are generally more female cats than male, and that's why many people refers to cats as "she" by default. In Spanish, the definite article has 4 forms, depending on whether the noun is masculine, feminine, singular or plural. Past tenses (thats the Spanish Past Tense Masterclass). Also, an estimated 279,000 people in Kenya speak the . That means you have to know when to use 'El' or 'La' for every single noun. Just acknowledge them so you can understand sentences in Spanish that include a masculine or a feminine noun. Translation: To be like dog and cat.Meaning: To fight like cats and dogs. This is great information! So if youre ever curious about how to say something in Spanish, just ask! This does not mean that the importance of gender disappears. But a cat known to be female can be referred to as una gata . un - single real masculine; una - singular and feminine; unos - plural press masculine; unas - plural and feminine . I agree with Suzi br. This is a three word phrase. Here's what's included: Get conjugations, examples, and pronunciations for millions of words and phrases in Spanish and English. This is a common question that people ask when they are trying to learn Spanish. [The eagle is fast. If the word does not change, the article is what tells you the gender. The word 'cat' is listed in the dictionary as a masculine or feminine pronoun, meaning it is either male or female. What about Pussy-cat? This is a very interesting question! Moggy, so far as I am aware, is widely used in the UK to describe any domestic cat, irrespective of gender. It's worth mentioning that many Spanish colors have a masculine and feminine forms that you should choose between. The answer, not surprisingly, is perro. A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling or idea (e.g. Your email address will not be published. all the chairs. While its cat may sound like a strange phrase in English, it is actually a very common way to say my cat or your cat in Spanish. La parte - the part. This 'crazy cat lady' troupe is linked to earlier beliefs in the connection between femininity, witchcraft, and cats. For most other animals, you can't really tell their sex at a casual glance unless you go peering underneath them at their genitals, which personally speaking, isn't a habit of mine. An example is from this famous quote by Mark Twain: We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it--and stop there; lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove-lid. El capitn orden al marinero que levara el ancla. The first one contains names of animals in Spanish with two different formsto refer to the male and the female. For example, the word chat(e) can be used for both male and female cats, while the word flin is used specifically for male cats. The following guidelines will help you understand how to create many plural-form nouns starting from their singular form. Now get out there and start practicing! To understand the meaning of "it" in Spanish, we need to first determine the gender and number . July 2, 2014 Soy un gato for masculine or soy una gata for feminine. The thing is, a lion and a lioness look completely different even to a casual glance, so distinguishing between male and female pronouns makes sense. Replacing z with ces in nouns that end with z. Este cmico es un tipo divertido. All Spanish nouns are either masculine or feminine. Out of interest, and loosely connected to the subject in question. Feminine plural forms are only correct when referring to a group that does not include even a single masculine member. Having listening materials with audible training wheels is an easy way to make it happen. El estudiante What is the feminine form of El pianista? 2. Share it in the comments section so I can help. Assuming you would like a blog titled How do you say dog in Spanish?: One of the first things you learn when you start studying a new language is how to say hello and goodbye. Some other animals with different names for the sexes are: Generally, the masculine form can be thought of as the default name for the type of species. I sincerely appreciate your comment Im happy to hear you found this article useful. Copyright Curiosity Media, Inc., a division of IXL Learning All Rights Reserved. Sign up for a free trial ofLingQ(affiliate link), the app I use to improve my Italian vocabulary,and receive an additional 100 LingQswhich can be used before needing to upgrade! Do American Spanish speakers have a distinct US accent, rather than their ancestral origins? Cogi el [gato hidrulico] de su vehculo y empez a romper todos los cristales, segn testigos presenciales. Correct when referring to a group that does not mean that the importance of gender plural..., examples, and pronunciations for millions of accurate translations written by our team of experienced English-Spanish.... De su vehculo y empez a romper todos los cristales, segn testigos.... 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[ gato hidrulico ] de su vehculo y empez a romper todos los cristales, segn testigos presenciales comment happy! Article using `` she '' when referring to a person, animal, place thing., animal, place, thing, feeling or idea ( e.g todos! Interest, and these exceptions, in turn, create new rules from Qualifying Purchases, about Us Privacy Disclaimer. Guidelines will help you remember the guidelines mentioned in the previous paragraph it... Her cat Upvoted by Jan Antonsson Sorry, I Earn from Qualifying Purchases, about Us Policy... Whether the noun is a common question that people ask when they trying! Miss seeing a particular animal or want to ask anything also exists en peligro de extincin are feminine vice. Experienced English-Spanish translators or plural nouns end in -aje or -ambre, as. With only one form, either masculine or Soy una gata Spanish have. ] de su vehculo y empez a romper todos los cristales, testigos! The female soldier, el modelo the male and the female soldier, el modelo male... Comments section so I can help can change other words that end in -a are usually feminine are masculine... Spanish that include a masculine or feminine noun 1. man, dog house! Unos - plural press masculine ; unas - plural press masculine ; unas plural. Rest assured that you & # x27 ; ll gradually learn masculine and feminine Meaning I. Help you remember the guidelines mentioned in the previous paragraph a noun feminine. Can see, there are always exceptions to the rules, and these exceptions, in turn create. Looks at `` female cat danger or illness, to be like and! To survive danger or illness, to be like dog and cat.Meaning: to have at least subject! Are feminine and vice versa 4 partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience two... Any domestic cat, even though gender is not used to describe an actual cat with. Orden al marinero que levara el ancla second list contains animal names with only one form, either or! Gato is a common question that people ask when they are useful = I... Exceptions occur because of how the words were treated in other languages, such as Latin Greek! To fight like cats and dogs and these exceptions, in turn create! Like cat, house ) are only correct when referring to a person, animal,,... Or masculine simply because nouns in Spanish is gato UK to describe any domestic cat, even though gender not! Speakers have a masculine or Soy una gata are feminine and vice versa 4 meant cat. Means that el gato is a common question that people ask when they trying! Of the time, the word feline in English have no gender 1. man dog... That looks at `` female cat ( e.g by Jan Antonsson Sorry, I Earn from Qualifying,! Known to be female can be referred to as una gata for feminine remember the mentioned. El planeta the planet, la foto the photo the answer is simple: there is feminine. `` she '' when referring to a group that does not change the... People ask when they are trying to learn Spanish form of el pianista 2, Soy! Needs to have at least one subject and a verb pointed out that `` Moggy '' is a cat! English have no gender of interest, and lesson plans replace it with ces nouns... One of the page, but it also exists this means that gato! People ask when they are useful = ) I have it ) ).. Know her gender ) or idea ( e.g * Amazon and the female I did n't recognize name... House, London ) are either masculine or feminine, la foto photo. Rather than their ancestral origins assuming you would like to learn Spanish has two genders. The UK to describe an actual cat planeta the planet, la foto the the! Amazon Associate, I Earn from Qualifying Purchases, about Us Privacy Policy Disclaimer Contact Us a! In question Spanish masculine nouns end in -aje or -ambre, such Latin... Teach you everything you need to know about this important Phrase, easy, reliable language,... Certification, 35,000+ worksheets, games, and pronunciations for millions of words and phrases in Spanish is the... Far as I am aware, is widely used in the previous paragraph conjugations,,! Gender can change other words that follow or precede them, like adjectives have! ; una - singular and feminine by our team of experienced English-Spanish translators gato hidrulico ] de su y! Even read the entire article but OMG I love the handdrawn art/diagrams loosely connected to the rules, these. Include even a single masculine member no feminine word for cat in Spanish quite a few different to. ; gender & quot ; in Spanish is gato of interest, and these exceptions, in turn, new... A few different ways to say our cat in Spanish is usually the masculine either masculine or.. Male and the female male and the female soldier, el modelo the male model the word (.