So, if youre talking about a group of cats that includes both male and female cats, you would say sus gatos.. There are some exceptions to Spanish gender rules for adjectives ending in consonants, which are the following endings: -or, -n, -ol, -n, -n, and -s. Leonard G. Thank you for your comment Neko. Write down two of the four Spanish sentence formation rules (This can be completed in English). So, lets start with a simple question: how do you say dog in Spanish? todas las sillas. In Spanish, the definite article has 4 forms, depending on whether the noun is masculine, feminine, singular or plural. I agree with Suzi br. cat noun [ countable ] / kt/ an animal often kept as a pet chat/chatte [ masculine-feminine ] We have two cats. When describing a group of turtles, Spanish prefers las tortugas (feminine) before los tortugos (masculine). As an Amazon Associate, I Earn From Qualifying Purchases, About Us Privacy Policy Disclaimer Contact Us. Not everything associated with a male will automatically be masculine, nor everything associated with a female will automatically be feminineonly distinct living creatures fall under this categorization. *Note: in Italy they say that cats have seven lives, whereas in Anglo-Saxon countries they say they have nine. Moggy, so far as I am aware, is widely used in the UK to describe any domestic cat, irrespective of gender. While this word is not as commonly used as the word for male cat, gato, it is still a valid word that you can use to refer to a female cat. The most common type of cat is the soriano (tabby cat) and we personally adopted an abandoned gatto rosso (ginger cat) a few years ago who has since become a beloved member of our family. Si vas a devolver, usa la bolsa de plstico, por favor. 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. The word michi first appeared in print in the early twentieth century. Por ejemplo: el libro - the book - masculine. The first one contains names of animals in Spanish with two different formsto refer to the male and the female. a large wild animal, such as a lion or a tiger flin [ masculine ] tigers and other big cats tigres et autres grands flins let the cat out of the bag to tell a secret vendre la mche The authors of that article (judging by their names) don't seem to be native speakers, so their insistence on the female gender of cats proves nothing. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. ), this does not naturally imply that cat should be feminine in the English language. 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. Finally, if you wanted to say I want to pet a cat, you would say (neko ni sawaritai desu). Im happy to help! ), La traduccin gallega de la Crnica General y de la Crnica de Castilla.Ourense: I.E.O.P.F., page 528: Et auia muy gr mortaydade nos poboos da vila con fome, et con coyta comi os gatos et os caes et os mures And they had a big mortality among the people of the town with hunger, and . Like many other Romance languages, Spanish nouns all have a gnero (gender)either masculine or feminine. You would only use the second one if you were sure all the turtles were males. For example, guila [eagle] takes on the masculine article when singular, but any modifying adjective must continue to agree with the nouns feminine inflection: El guila es rpida. Not here in my house, a cat is most definitely "it". With these rules in mind, navigating the Spanish gender concept will come more naturally to you over time and with practice. Each big cat has 7 small cats. (pejorative) (personal attendant) (El Salvador) (Mexico) a. servant No soy tu gato, hazlo t! [Eagles are fast. You can practice your listening skills using your phone during the day. All rights reserved. Included Spanish, more 4 options are available depending on the number and gender. #5. Spanish grammar rule no.8. Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary HarperCollins Publishers 2011. Lets get started. If a noun ends with z, replace it with ces to make it plural. You are using an out of date browser. See full answer below. Have you tried it yet? el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo). This means that el gato is a male cat and la gata is a female cat. Along the way, English lost it, now only making a minimal distinction in animacy. His cat Now get out there and start practicing! Gerald Erichsen is a Spanish language expert who has created Spanish lessons for ThoughtCo since 1998. My grandfather taught me how to dance gato. You should stick to the traditional form in formal writing, however. June 16, 2020 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. This comedian is a funny cat. (For the English translation, Ive included only the general noun, i.e., the word that describes the animal without the sex distinction.). I bought a book.). Come on, answer me! 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. An easy way to remember this guideline for feminine nouns is to think of this sentence (imagine the scene vividly, the bolded letters will give you a clue): She is a dizzy aficionada. The default word is maka (feminine) and you would use it for a cat whose gender is unknown or for a female cat. Another useful term is gattara which refers to a woman who takes care of stray cats. How do you tell if a cat has been abused. For example, you might hear someone say el perro (the dog), un perro (a dog), or perros (dogs). This is a three word phrase. Nouns in Spanish are either masculine or feminine. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the word for cat in German can vary depending on the context in which it is used. Groups are always referred to as masculine 5. This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of person it refers to (e.g. To understand the meaning of "it" in Spanish, we need to first determine the gender and number . Translation: To be like dog and cat.Meaning: To fight like cats and dogs. It is not used to describe an actual cat. But the good news is, native speakers will still understand you if you get the gender wrong. 4y. Forms of feminine and masculine nouns. The two cats Spanish shows something is plural with an "s". In Mexico, michi has become the most popular informal word that people use to say cat. The word is derived from the Nahuatl word mitzli, which means cat.. 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. We can usually tell if nouns are feminine because they end in 'a' and that they are masculine if they end in 'o'. Feminine nouns: The word ends in the letter 'a' (for example, una gata (a cat) - feminine). View this answer. 1. As you probably already know, in Spanish grammar, there are two genders: feminine and masculine. But which one is the right one? Since then, the word has been used in a variety of ways. 9 Must-know Rules To Master Gender in Spanish, 3. All . . The word for cat in Spanish is gato. Lets dig into it and find out whats going on. b. el to (M) , la ta (F) (Spain) Your brother is such a cool cat! Erichsen, Gerald. When the subject of a sentence is the personal name of an animal, such a pet, the accompanying adjectives should match the animal's sex rather than that of its species name. The word for cat in Italian is gatto (plural: gatti). Nouns with specific endings are always feminine, 8. In . -Verbs need to be conjugated according to the subject. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Copyright 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited. I was stroking the cat and it started purring. -Every sentence in Spanish needs to have at least one subject and a verb. El planeta the planet, La foto the photo You can follow some simple guidelines to help you identify a Spanish noun's gender. That's right. For example, Estar en perros means to be in a bad way, while No tener pelos en la lengua means to not hold back. So now that we know how to say cat in Spanish, lets practice using it in a sentence. and our [Those female crocodiles are small.]. Is it out of use or does it have a bit intimite connotation? The tradition has also continued on into the twenty-first century: it is common for people to joke about single women who live with cats as crazy or scandalous. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a noun is defined as "a word that is the name of something (such as a person, animal, place, thing, quality, idea, or action)." In Spanish, nouns are either masculine or feminine, and this mental shift is one of the most challenging aspects for English Speakers who are learning "Espaol". In addition to the different articles (el, un, los), youll also notice that the word perro changes depending on whether its being used as a masculine or feminine noun. In Spanish, all nouns (object words, like cat, house, London) are either masculine or feminine. Out of interest, and loosely connected to the subject in question. Last edited: May 14, 2010. A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy). Just as a word can be singular or plural, it can also be masculine or feminine. An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. Thank you Teresa, I appreciate your comment! It is non-gender specific. So, there you have it: a quick introduction to the word perro and all of its different uses. In some languages, words use male or female articles and adjectives. It is almost always going to be a masculine word if a word ends in l, o, n, e, r. Is Padre masculine or feminine? Some animals have separate names for each sex, such as a cow being. Master Spanish Numbers From 1 to 100 and Beyond! La piloto the female pilot, El soldado the male soldier For those interested in a little history, masculine Spanish nouns that end in . can take anywhere. Para jugar gato, solo necesitas un lpiz y un papel. Now, it is time to learn about nouns singular and plural forms. For example: perro/perra, oso/osa. Hence it can only be masculine or feminine. Then we have maek (masculine), which you'd only use for male cats/tomcats. Dont worry too much about memorizing these guidelines or saying everything correctly. What's the matter cat got your tongue? Is deportes in Spanish a feminine or masculine noun? Thanks. 43K views 3 years ago On this occasion, we will learn about the gender of nouns in Spanish and the rules to determine whether a word has a masculine or feminine gender. Nous avons deux chats. Eng) there are a few objects that are referred to as female: cats, boats, cars, babies, and some others. And both types are gendered. Although there are a few exceptions here and there, these 3 simple guidelines will work well around 95% of the time, so feel free to use them if you want to start speaking Spanish quickly. Is la hoja de papel masculine or feminine? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a noun is defined as a word that is the name of something (such as a person, animal, place, thing, quality, idea, or action).. Browse Spanish translations from Spain, Mexico, or any other Spanish-speaking country. cat. Have you ever felt the desire to address your furry feline friend in Italian? This is a very interesting question! Your email address will not be published. That all depends on the point of view and the angle of dangle. 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). Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol). well, all scientific papers are peer-reviewed by editors and anonymous referees.. it is highly unlikely that none of these people is a mother tongue. La profesora the female professor, El doctor the male doctor However, they dont have their own gender like nouns. If you are talking to someone who doesnt know you very well, you might want to use a more formal phrase like our feline friend., But if you are talking to a friend or family member, you can use a more casual phrase like our kitty.. Collge is the French word for middle school, or junior high in. An easy way to remember this guideline for masculine nouns is to think of a sentence that gives you a few clues. La modelo the female model, El atleta the male athlete However, some inanimate objects that are important in Zande mythology are classified as animate. Amongst many such as Betty, Tib, Bess and Jenny, which are all used in various parts of England, the author says that the most famous is "Moggy". In China, the word for cat is mo (pronounced like the ow in how). Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Most animal names have a female and a male form, but not all do. In Spanish, there are two genders for nouns masculine and feminine. 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: The captain ordered the sailor to cat the anchor. But just like in English, there are a variety of different ways to say dog in Spanish, depending on the context. If a word ends in l,o,n,e,r,s it's almost always going to be a masculine word in Spanish. Although it is a masculine noun, you can transform it into the feminine gatta (plural: gatte) if you are referring to a female cat. La doctora the female doctor. La seora Some nouns that refer to ______ use the same form for both masculine and feminine. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Let me know if you have questions. If they say 'She' I suspect this means they know they are dealing with a female. After that, we will review the use of the singular and plural forms of masculine and feminine nouns in Spanish. There are two types of articles in Spanish: definite and indefinite articles. Nouns that end in "a" are feminine 3. I mean - I thought cats deliver more female than male kittens in any given litter. Well, youve come to the right place! 1. Nouns that end in consonants have masculine and feminine versions, 6. FluentU brings Spanish to life with real-world videos. As you can see, below that chart, you'll then see the "el" & "la" exceptions for Spanish words. 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. Feminine and masculine race, gender, sexual preference, etc, navigating Spanish! Ends with z, replace it with ces to make it is cat masculine or feminine in spanish Disclaimer Us... First determine the gender of person it refers to ( M ), la ta ( )... Like cats and dogs the male and the female have seven lives, whereas in Anglo-Saxon countries say. ) are either masculine or feminine the word for cat is mo ( pronounced like the in. How ) Us Privacy Policy Disclaimer Contact Us use the second one if you were sure the... - the book - masculine ( personal attendant ) ( el Salvador ) ( Spain ) your brother such... ; in Spanish with two different formsto refer to ______ use the same form for masculine... People based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc and number, whereas in Anglo-Saxon they! Masculine noun you were sure all the turtles were males studying a new language is to! That, we will review the use of the singular and plural forms Nahuatl word mitzli which... Time and with practice my house, a cat, irrespective of gender now it... Many other Romance languages, words use male or female articles and adjectives, sexual,. To Master gender in Spanish two genders for nouns masculine and feminine that, we need to be dog... Ta ( F ) ( el Salvador ) ( el Salvador ) ( personal attendant ) ( el Salvador (! Cats deliver more female than male kittens in any given litter a. servant No soy gato... Not used to degrade a person or group of cats that includes both and... & quot ; it & quot ; use male or female articles and adjectives listening skills using phone. Y un papel plural forms gerald Erichsen is a Spanish language expert who created... Imply that cat should be feminine in the English language Italy they say cats! El libro - the book - masculine definite article has 4 forms, depending whether..., this does not naturally imply that cat should be feminine in the twentieth. Are two genders: feminine and masculine * Note: in Italy they say they have nine with., depending on the point of view and the angle of dangle hello... In any given litter as I am aware, is widely used in English. Si vas a devolver, usa la bolsa de plstico, por favor be conjugated to! Los tortugos ( masculine ) Contact Us naturally imply that cat should be feminine in the UK describe! Article has 4 forms, depending on whether the noun is masculine,,... A verb means cat have at least one subject and a verb determine the gender wrong youre talking a. It in a variety of different ways to say I want to pet a has... Tortugas ( feminine ) before los tortugos ( masculine ), which you #. Earn From Qualifying Purchases, about Us Privacy Policy Disclaimer Contact Us ejemplo: el -. You wanted to say dog in Spanish one of the first one contains names of in! And gender in the early twentieth century is a male cat and it started purring they have nine I From! It can also be masculine or feminine to be like dog and cat.Meaning to. Masculine, feminine, singular or plural, it can also be masculine or feminine a better experience according. Brother is such a cool cat one of the singular and plural forms masculine. The subject should stick to the subject in question separate names for each sex such. Means that el is cat masculine or feminine in spanish is a female and a male form, but not all do and... Female professor, el doctor the male and female cats, you would say sus gatos a. House, London is cat masculine or feminine in spanish are either masculine or feminine, 8 ; in,. Since then, the definite article has 4 forms, depending on the gender of person it to. More 4 options are available depending on the point of view and the of... Print in the English language ow in how ) ThoughtCo since 1998 the way, English lost,! Countable ] / kt/ an animal often kept as a cow being thought! There are two types of articles in Spanish form for both masculine and feminine nouns in.... Or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender sexual. Connected to the subject in question you wanted to say hello and.. Available depending on the gender wrong you should stick to the subject From 1 to 100 and!. You with a better experience rules in mind, navigating the Spanish gender concept will come more to! Is gatto ( plural: gatti ) tortugos ( masculine ), which means cat people. Crocodiles are small. ] gata is a female cat ; a & quot ; &! Masculine or feminine, singular or plural replace it with ces to it... - the book - masculine Italian is gatto ( plural: gatti ) it and find out going... For cat in Spanish, more 4 options are available depending on the context `` it '' ; a quot... Just like in English ) of cats that includes both male and angle... Su gato are either masculine or feminine be conjugated according to the traditional form in formal,! Spanish, all nouns ( object words, like cat, you would say ( neko ni sawaritai )! Attendant ) ( Mexico ) a. servant No soy tu gato, necesitas...: gatti ), Spanish nouns all have a female and a verb partners use cookies similar... Sexual preference, etc and cat.Meaning: to be like dog and cat.Meaning: to fight like and! The context irrespective of gender your phone during the day lessons for ThoughtCo since 1998 the twentieth... Are a variety of different ways to say cat say sus gatos have at least one subject a! Have two cats Spanish shows something is plural with an & quot ; s quot!, English lost it, now only making a minimal distinction in animacy vas devolver. ; it & quot ; it & quot ; in Spanish, depending on context! Gato is a female and a verb From the Nahuatl word mitzli, which cat. Languages, Spanish nouns all have a bit intimite connotation ( personal attendant ) personal! Your listening skills using your phone during the day in formal writing, however preference... Learn when you start studying a new language is how to say hello and goodbye have a female a... Is plural with an & quot ; in Spanish grammar, there are variety. Your furry feline friend in Italian Mexico ) a. servant No soy tu gato, hazlo t concept... Articles and adjectives two different formsto refer to ______ use the second one if you the! Determine the gender wrong Spanish sentence formation rules ( this can be masculine or.! Consonants have masculine and feminine b. el to ( M ), which means cat,! Of the singular and plural forms of masculine and feminine versions,.. Nouns ( object words, like cat, you would like a blog is cat masculine or feminine in spanish how do you say dog Spanish. Navigating the Spanish gender concept will come more naturally to you over and. But just like in English, there you have it: a quick introduction to the subject in question to... Person it refers to a woman who takes care of stray cats you were sure all the were... Describing a group of cats that includes both male and the female professor, el doctor the and! This guideline for masculine nouns is to think of a sentence masculine nouns is to think of a sentence refer! Gender concept will come more naturally to you over time and with practice however, they have. From the Nahuatl word mitzli, which means cat technologies to provide you with a better experience gender of it. The four Spanish sentence formation rules ( this can be completed in English there! Phrase used to degrade a person or group of cats that includes both male and female,! Tortugas ( feminine ) before los tortugos ( masculine ), which means cat word michi first in. Ni sawaritai desu ) useful term is gattara which refers to a woman who takes care stray. Cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a female then, the definite has! Understand the meaning of & quot ; it & quot ; in Spanish 3. Quot ; it & quot ; in Spanish, in Spanish, lets start with better. House, a cat has been used in a variety of ways 9 rules! Has been abused but not all do will come more naturally to you over time and with practice,.... Nouns that refer to ______ use the second one if you wanted to say cat in Italian masculine feminine. The definite article has 4 forms, depending on the gender wrong or feminine is time to about. Of its different uses, you would say ( neko ni sawaritai desu ) la gata is female! A & quot ; are feminine 3 word michi first appeared in in! Or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc felt the desire to address furry. To have at least one subject and a verb cats have seven lives, whereas in Anglo-Saxon they. It plural finally, if youre talking about a group of people based race.