Palabra Lexi · common words in Spanish
How to say "cat" in Spanish
"Cat" in Spanish is gato, pronounced GAH-toh (stress on the syllable in capitals). It is a masculine noun (el gato, plural los gatos).
| Spanish | gato |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | GAH-toh |
| Meaning | cat |
| Gender | masculine: el gato |
| Plural | los gatos |
| Frequency | #88 in the Palabra list of common Spanish words |
Pronunciation is spelled out in English, one syllable at a time, with the stressed syllable in capitals. The speaker button uses your browser's built-in Spanish voice. Gender and plural: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.
How to pronounce gato
Gato is pronounced GAH-toh, in IPA /ˈɡato/. Gato has two syllables, GAH-toh, with the stress on the first. There is no written accent because the word follows the basic rule: words ending in a vowel, -n or -s are stressed on the second-to-last syllable.
Listen: normal and slow speed, in your browser's Spanish voice. IPA: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.
Is gato masculine or feminine?
Gato is masculine, so it takes el (the) and un (a): el gato. The plural is los gatos. That fits the usual pattern: most nouns ending in -o are masculine.
Example sentences
El gato duerme
the cat is sleeping
Mi gato juega
My cat plays
Mi gato es negro.
My cat is black.
"Cat" in Spain and Latin America
Useful phrases
- gatito
kitten - a gatas
on all fours
Regional words and roots: Diccionario de la lengua española (RAE). Spanish varies by region, so treat these as the most common patterns, not strict rules.
How to remember gato
gato [GAH-toh] sounds like the English “gateau”. Picture this:
The cat claims the gateau: sits on the cake box and guards it from everyone including you.
A sound-alike plus a vivid scene is the keyword method, a well-studied way to learn vocabulary. How it works.
Practice gato
Two quick games, right here: no sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere.