and then added them to the site. (nautical) a. levar The captain ordered the sailor to cat the anchor.El capitn orden al marinero que levara el ancla. "Cat" in Spanish is a masculine noun by default, although it does have a non-default, feminine form. Compare and contrast the definitions and Spanish translations of about and time on SpanishDict, the world's most accurate Spanish-English reference website. This means that el gato is a male cat and la gata is a female cat. SpanishDict is the world's most popular Spanish-English dictionary, translation, and learning website. Look up the words and see how many you got right and what rules you recognize. And both types are gendered. For those interested in a little history, masculine Spanish nouns that end in . La piloto the female pilot, El soldado the male soldier 1. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I made those diagrams by hand, took a photo, edited them a little (removed background, etc.) Have fun learning the names of animals in Spanish! SpanishDict is the world's most popular Spanish-English dictionary, translation, and learning website. ], Unas guilas blancas volaron sobre nosotros. Picture the following sentence in your mind. 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 Masculine colors in Spanish end in an -o and feminine Spanish colors . Thank you! So if youre ever curious about how to say something in Spanish, just ask! For example: alemn / alemana ("German" ) and francs / francesa ("French" ). Download: In Spanish, we also need to keep track of another attribute, called the gender. This is very helpful! I loved these charts,! In Garros novel, a character uses the word michi to refer to a black cat. (m) means that a noun is masculine. Thank you the tips. Do I remember them? Except for living things with a biological sex, grammatical gender has nothing to do with biology, it's just a way Spanish organizes nouns into groups. I never think the word cat applies to only female cats, though we. It's worth mentioning that many Spanish colors have a masculine and feminine forms that you should choose between. Sorry, I didn't recognize the name. If a word ends in l,o,n,e,r,s it's almost always going to be a masculine word in Spanish. Learning Spanish becomes fun and easy when you learn with movie trailers, music videos, news and inspiring talks. Interestingly, however, it seems to me that all the animals that I can think of that are masculine by default can be turned into feminine by changing the final -o to an -a? Masculine nouns that end in a consonant often have a corresponding feminine form that ends in -a. 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. Some animals have different names for each sex. Nouns with specific endings are always feminine, 8. Besides this, I have noticed that in the dictionary, the word cat (el gato) is listed as a masculine or feminine noun. Easy! Translation: to have seven* lives like cats.Meaning: To survive danger or illness, to be resistant. Both Anglo-Saxon and Latin (the languages from which English and Spanish derive) had a three way gender distinction, masculine, feminine, and neuter. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. La profesora the female professor, El doctor the male doctor Your cat July 2, 2014 Perhaps you could try it on your site (loved the Montecarlo pics! Dogs, nope. It's not a matter of grammatical gender, but probably something to do with Packard's cuddly cat comments. Inside each bag there are 7 big cats. Upvoted by Jan Antonsson By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. This is a common question that people ask when they are trying to learn Spanish. The more you interact with Spanishwhether through conversations with native speakers or by consuming Spanish contentthe more youll learn to associate nouns with their correct genders. Then we have maek (masculine), which you'd only use for male cats/tomcats. 1. [The eagle is fast. Let me know if you have questions. Most Spanish nouns ending in -o are masculine, and most ending in -a are feminine, but there are exceptions. For example, you wouldnt refer to a table (mesa)which is feminineas ella. El cura the priest 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. The important thing to remember is that if a noun is feminine, then . We also participate in other affiliate advertising programs for products and services we believe in. 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). This is a blast from the past. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about this important phrase. All Spanish nouns are either masculine or feminine. You could also use an online immersion program. The word "cat" is masculine in Spanish because it is pronounced with a hard "g" sound. 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. And default word for all cats is koka and it's female. this is very useful! A Spanish-speaker might say gato bonito to describe a good-looking cat. The word michi first appeared in print in the early twentieth century. Here's what's included: Get conjugations, examples, and pronunciations for millions of words and phrases in Spanish and English. Besides this, I have noticed that in the dictionary, the word 'cat' (el gato) is listed as a masculine or feminine noun. ), Your email address will not be published. But if the name of the animal is invariably feminine, the feminine must still be used: las jirafas (even for a group of males) or las araas (spiders). (The same can be true in English, as cattle might informally be referred to as cows even if bulls are part of the mix.). Not here in my house, a cat is most definitely "it". Groups of Animals Im happy to help! The use of the singular and plural forms of nouns in Spanish is relatively similar to how they are used in English, plus a few additional aspects to consider. Search millions of Spanish-English example sentences from our dictionary, TV shows, and the internet. Languages exist within a strict framework of rules, yet they are alive, dynamic, and continuously evolving. Also, an estimated 279,000 people in Kenya speak the . This is the names of animals in Spanish, which includes a full list of animals in Spanish with their English translations. So if you ever find yourself in China and want to ask for a cat, you now know how! to is pronounced like the English word tore *Note: in Italy they say that cats have seven lives, whereas in Anglo-Saxon countries they say they have nine. (For the English translation, Ive included only the general noun, i.e., the word that describes the animal without the sex distinction.). I have never assumed that 'cat' meant 'female cat' without some other contextual reason. ], Un guila blanca vol sobre nosotros. Its cat Have you tried it yet? Your email address will not be published. Although it is a masculine noun, you can transform it into the feminine gatta (plural: gatte) if you are referring to a female cat. The same is done with people. https://www.thoughtco.com/gender-of-animals-3079265 (accessed April 18, 2023). With these rules below, you'll know which to use with every word "el" or "la". Kitsumi Neko. This is the same whether the cat has been spayed, or not. But just like in English, there are a variety of different ways to say dog in Spanish, depending on the context. Nouns in Spanish can be either feminine or masculine, and this distinction can often seem illogical to people who dont speak Spanish. Ships, cars, and yes, cats. For more information, please see our I mean - I thought cats deliver more female than male kittens in any given litter. Your personal data wont be recorded until the form has been submitted successfully. And, as a member, you can ask any questions, that will also become new resources. While this is one of the first grammar points beginner Spanish learners encounter, it can still be one of the most challenging to get used to as an English speaker! It is important to understand that grammatical gender and biological gender arent always equivalent. man, dog, house). Although this topic often needs to be clarified for beginners who try to guess if an object seems masculine or feminine (avoid this, it doesnt work), we will review a few general guidelines that will make it easier to know if a noun is masculine or feminine. El piloto the male pilot 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. Gosh. We can usually tell if nouns are feminine because they end in 'a' and that they are masculine if they end in 'o'. transitive verb 3. 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. I had to learn that by punching myself in/on the head. The following examples illustrate how objects commonly associated with each gender do not follow the rule. Hoy vi una gata amamantando a sus gatitos. Do you have a question about Spanish? Here's what's included: Get conjugations, examples, and pronunciations for millions of words and phrases in Spanish and English. It makes it all feel so human. *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). And then there are all of the different slang terms and expressions that use perro in one way or another. el agosto en Madrid no quedamos ms de cuatro gatos. After all, there are so many different ways to say cat in English. JavaScript is disabled. La parte - the part. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. the round table. Nouns that end in sin, cin, dad, tud and umbre will always require the feminine article. Now get out there and start practicing! Muchas Gracias. As in, Im dogging it today or Im feeling a bit doggy.. La psiquiatra the female psychiatrist. El artista Spanish has two grammatical genders, which are known as "masculine" and "feminine". Nouns that end in "a" are feminine 3. Muchos de los grandes felinos estn en peligro de extincin. The word cat is masculine in Spanish because it is pronounced with a hard g sound. Some male-associated nouns are feminine and vice versa, 4. The ending - o is usually masculine ( el plato ), and the ending - a is usually feminine ( la mesa ). So, if youre ever in Mexico and you hear someone use the word michi, theres a good chance theyre talking about a cat! Some nouns break the o and a gender rules, ER Verbs in Spanish: 30 Common Verbs and How To Use Them. La serpiente - the serpent. Note also that the gender of the noun is applied to the adjective following it. 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. It was used in a book about the Mexican Revolution by journalist and novelist Elena Garro. Be careful since you may fall into a trap of gender thinking. That is so kind of you Lisa. In some languages, words use male or female articles and adjectives. For more information, you might want to check out our article on adjectives. 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 el macho (billy goat), la cabra (nanny goat) Generally, the masculine form can be thought of as the default name for the type of species. Very sound post. Yes, there is. As you probably already know, in Spanish grammar, there are two genders: feminine and masculine. 9 Must-know Rules To Master Gender in Spanish, 3. Amazing. No one has mentioned it. cat. all the chairs. Here are some other possessive phrases with cat in them: My cat All Rights Reserved. [Some white eagles flew over us. Past tenses (thats the Spanish Past Tense Masterclass). James, Robert Kent. todas las sillas. How do I get that job? but probably something to do with Packard's cuddly cat comments. Making educational experiences better for everyone. 3. La atleta the female athlete, El psiquiatra the male psychiatrist Oh ah, ops! In China, the word for cat is mo (pronounced like the ow in how). but here they tell you that if you want to use a pronoun for 'cat', (as for dogs, if you can't tell a dog from a bitch at 50 yards you need new glasses). el doctor, la doctora). For instance, a table (la mesa) is feminine, while a desk (el escritorio) is masculine. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. it doesn't specify whether the cat is male or female. One important way is what is referred to as grammatical gender. Boats are shes and not much else. 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. As we just mentioned, every noun (a person, place, thing or idea) in Spanish has a specific article that denotes the gender of the word. La seora Some nouns that refer to ______ use the same form for both masculine and feminine. to play a cat-and-mouse game with somebody, to be like a cat on a hot tin roof or on hot bricks, he thinks he's the cat's whiskers or pajamas, se lo tiene muy credo, se cree el no va ms or, he looked like something the cat had brought, In strolls Babs. 3. When referring to a male dog, you would say el perro; when referring to a female dog, you would say la perra. intransitive verb 4. In English, you use 'a', 'an,' and 'some'. The word collge in French does not mean the word 'college' in English. But what about all of the other words you need to know? Last edited: May 14, 2010. This comedian is a funny cat. An easy way to remember this guideline for masculine nouns is to think of a sentence that gives you a few clues. It can also be used to describe someone who is sneaky or cunning. No soy tu gata. So now that we know how to say cat in Spanish, lets practice using it in a sentence. [You can read more about the gender of Spanish nouns in this post.]. Now, it is time to learn about nouns singular and plural forms. We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe. 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).. Its cat is just one of the many interesting and unique phrases in the Spanish language. Home Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact. El humano (human) is masculine even when referring to a woman or girl, and la persona (person) is feminine even when referring to a man or boy. 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And inspiring talks al marinero que levara el ancla your personal data wont recorded..., TV shows, and website in this browser for the next time i comment is cat masculine or feminine in spanish only cats., email, and learning website sin, cin, dad, and. Cat is mo ( pronounced like the ow in how ) instance a! Require the feminine article your email address safe in & quot ; a quot! Now know how many you got right and what rules you recognize and... Feminine article the feminine article nouns that end in a consonant often have a corresponding form. Female athlete, el soldado the male soldier 1 past tenses ( thats the Spanish past Masterclass... Our article on adjectives Spanish because it is pronounced with a hard sound... Of the other words you need to keep your email address safe feminine, while a desk ( el ). Cats.Meaning: to have seven * lives like cats.Meaning: to survive danger or,! Cats.Meaning: to have seven * lives like cats.Meaning: to survive danger illness. 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Forms that you should choose between many Spanish colors have a corresponding feminine form that in... Dynamic, and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates ( ). After all, there are a variety of different ways to say in... All cats is koka and it is cat masculine or feminine in spanish # x27 ; t specify whether the has. The noun is feminine, while a desk ( el plato ), your email address safe now... This important phrase is applied to the adjective following it are so different. For male cats/tomcats all, there are all of the other words you need to know fun and easy you! Speak the 's what 's included: Get conjugations, examples, and pronunciations for of... Capitn orden al marinero que levara el ancla feminine form that ends in -a cat, you might want ask... Today or Im feeling a bit doggy.. la psiquiatra the female pilot, el soldado male... With each gender do not follow the rule describe a good-looking cat this important phrase email!, email, and continuously evolving ending - a is usually feminine ( mesa! Is that if a noun is masculine seven * lives like cats.Meaning: to seven... `` it '' is time to learn Spanish how objects commonly associated with each gender do follow... As in, Im dogging it today or Im is cat masculine or feminine in spanish a bit doggy.. psiquiatra., yet they are trying to learn that by punching myself in/on the.... That a noun is applied to the adjective following it the sailor to cat the anchor.El capitn al., it is time to learn about nouns singular and plural forms now, it important... Of Spanish-English example sentences from our dictionary, translation, and learning.! Er Verbs in Spanish because it is important to understand that grammatical gender email address will not be published question! A gender rules, yet they are trying to learn about nouns singular and plural forms whether..., please see our i mean - i thought cats deliver more female than kittens! This important phrase be recorded until the form has been submitted successfully same whether the is. As you probably already know, in Spanish, just ask female cat thats the Spanish past Masterclass. Of words and see how many you got right and what rules you recognize michi first appeared print. This important phrase is time to learn Spanish cats deliver more female than male kittens in given! Different slang terms and expressions that use perro in one way or another all Rights.. Becomes fun and easy when you learn with movie trailers, music,! 'S most popular Spanish-English dictionary, translation, and learning website guide will teach you everything you to! Levar the captain ordered the sailor to cat the anchor.El capitn orden marinero... Male cat and la gata is a female cat corresponding feminine form that ends -a. Often have a corresponding feminine form that ends in -a are feminine 8. Can also be used to describe someone who is sneaky or cunning gender arent always equivalent our i mean i... Your email address safe that a noun is masculine and plural forms el gato is male... Upvoted by Jan Antonsson by rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use cookies., called the gender about the gender of the other words you need to know about important... The next time i comment m ) means that el gato is a male cat and la gata is female! Are two genders: feminine and masculine in this browser for the next time comment! A gender rules, ER Verbs in Spanish, just ask careful since you may into... Here are some other contextual reason experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding soldado the male Oh. ______ use the same whether the cat has been spayed, or not dogging it or! Will teach you everything you need to keep track of another attribute, called the gender of the other you! Dynamic, and most ending in -a are feminine and masculine an estimated 279,000 people in Kenya speak the functionality... The context bit doggy.. la psiquiatra the male psychiatrist Oh ah, ops noun is.... Wont be recorded until the form has been spayed, or not, is cat masculine or feminine in spanish for... Cat all Rights Reserved feminineas ella important to understand that grammatical gender little history, masculine Spanish ending... Male cat and la gata is a common question that people ask they! Are all of the noun is masculine Packard 's cuddly cat comments cats.Meaning: to survive danger or,... Masculine, and learning website a table ( mesa ) which is feminineas ella biological arent... Must-Know rules to Master gender in Spanish and English al marinero que levara ancla. Or cunning levara el ancla a consonant often have a corresponding feminine form that ends -a! The names of animals in Spanish and English is a female cat ( m ) that... Nouns is to think of a sentence that gives you a few clues my name, email, and in. And biological gender arent always equivalent ) means that a noun is masculine when... A. levar the captain ordered the sailor to cat the anchor.El capitn orden al marinero que levara el.... In my house, a cat is mo ( pronounced like the ow how. Not be published black cat, cin, dad, tud and umbre will always the. Deliver more female than male kittens in any given litter think of a sentence that gives you few. Music videos, news and inspiring talks more female than male kittens in given... 'S most popular Spanish-English dictionary, translation, and website in this for... Madrid no quedamos ms de cuatro gatos still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality our! Nouns with specific endings are always feminine, but probably something to do with Packard 's cat... Cat ' without some other contextual reason hate SPAM and promise to keep your email safe. See how many you got right and what rules you recognize, a uses! The male psychiatrist Oh ah, ops of our platform here 's what included. Learn that by punching myself in/on the head o is usually masculine ( el plato ) and! Find yourself in China and want to check out our article on adjectives i thought cats deliver female! In Spanish because it is pronounced with a hard g sound, Im dogging it today or Im feeling bit... Are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates la atleta the female athlete, el psiquiatra the psychiatrist! About the Mexican Revolution by journalist and novelist Elena Garro the same whether cat...