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23Jun
Among the many words used to describe animals, the most common choice is gato, which is the direct translation of the word cat.
Throughout their life, they may come across situations where they wish to extend their Spanish vocabulary in an attempt to enhance their knowledge and may find themselves in need of a different word for their pet than what they used to speak. Thus, if someone is learning Spanish, they will wonder how you spell cat in Spanish.
The following are some common Spanish words to say ‘cat’ depending on the formality of the context and the Spanish-speaking country:
- Gato – Cat
- Michi – Cat
- Gatito – Kitty / Kitten
In Spanish, there are many different ways to say a cat, but they are all different ways to express a cat. The following list of terms is largely appropriate for casual conversation, but there are a few that are only appropriate for Spanish-speaking countries.
Therefore, in the following sections, you will learn about when to use a particular term and how to use it in certain situations.
At the end of this lesson, you will have a greater understanding of Spanish as you will already know different terms to say the word ‘cat’, in addition to being able to describe your affection for your cat.
10 Best Ways To Spell a Cat in Spanish
Gato
By the time you begin reading this blog, you probably already know the basic words in Spanish, so it’s not going to be difficult for you to understand the word “gato”.
How about “gatito”? What does that mean? There are two common ways to use this word, “gatito” may refer to either one of the following:
In Spanish, a kitten (or a baby cat) is not equivalent to the meaning of the word “kitten”.
It is commonly used as a term of endearment or an expression of pity since it is diminutive
Michi
Can you remember the last time you watched any cute videos about cats made by Mexicans on the internet?
If you have not watched any, I recommend you do so now, but if you have, you’ve most likely heard this expression many times over.
The term “cat” has become increasingly popular across Latin American youth circles in the last few years as a way to refer to a cat in Spanish. There is an expression I wish to mention that is not just restricted to millennials, so it is important.
Ancient Mayan, Otomi, and Nahuatl cultures of North America have been associated with this word. For cats, the names “mixi” and “miztli” were coined by these civilizations for their culture.
In other words, it seems that the American expression probably dates back even further than the United States itself!
Morongo – Cat
The word Morongo may not be as well known as some of the words on this list, but it is still an informal expression of affection towards cats among many Spanish-speaking people.
The word Morongo is most commonly used in Mexico, Argentina, and Uruguay as a synonym for the word cat. Cats of any age can use this word, whether they are kittens or canines.
Gathijo
It has come to my attention that your aunt might sometimes treat her animals more like children rather than pets when visiting her house?
Do you remember that lady at the shelter who has rescued over a decade’s worth of cats from the streets?
Now, for your upcoming meeting with her, this is a good word you can use. A very common word nowadays is the term “Gathijo”, which refers to cats whose owners give them anthropomorphic characteristics and treat them as they would a child, spoiling them as much as possible whenever they get the chance.
The name derives from the mingling of the Spanish words for a cat (gato) and a son (hijo).
Having a pet instead of having children today has become a common trend among young couples because of the expense of raising children.
Minino or Minina
Besides the linguistic term minino, you can also use the linguistic term minina to refer to a cat.
The words “gato” and “gatito”, though still very popular, are a bit more informal and cutesy than their more formal counterparts. ‘Minino’ and ‘minina’ are very affectionate terms. These words can be translated as ‘kitty’, ‘cat’, or ‘kitty cat’.
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Gatico
There isn’t much difference between Latin American cats and their counterparts in other regions of the world.
Even though they all have four legs, padded paws, and furry bodies, if you try calling one of these animals a “Michi” in Costa Rica, Colombia, or another South American country, you will likely face confused looks.
It is a common practice in these countries for people to interchange the letter “t” with the letter “c”.
Here is an example:
When you know about this slight difference in the language, you will be less likely to be confused when you are visiting these countries.
Micifuz – Cat / Kitty
Rather than using the word ‘cat’ formally or formally, you may prefer to use the technical term, micifuz.
In colloquial speech, we often use this term to refer to our pets either specifically or in general, but we can also use this term to refer to cats whose names we do not know.
‘Micifuz’ is not only popular in Spanish-speaking countries, but it is also only suitable for informally changing the subject of a conversation. In some contexts, ‘micifuz’ could be rendered as ‘cat’ or ‘kitty’, depending on the context.
Cuchito
As the name suggests, the word is not specifically about the cat, but rather a signal used by the Spanish language as a signal that indicates the animal is paying attention.
For example: · ¡Cuchito, cuchito, ven a comer tu comida! i.e.: Come eat your dinner my little cat!
To catch your cat’s attention, it was important to have an expression, wasn’t it? Even though, contrary to dogs, there is a great difference between the independence of cats and the likelihood that they will often be out of sight.
In countries like Mexico, for example, you’re unlikely to hear this way of calling your cat very often. However, you’re likely to hear it quite often in Chile and Colombia.
Felino
I remember as a child, my mom always said to me: “Get off that fence, you’re not a cat, you’re going to lose your balance! Oddly enough, she was always right about everything.
It was also a pleasant surprise to learn that, in places like Chile, the word cat can refer not only to all cats like those found in the wild but also to domestic cats as well.
There are few instances in which this expression is used to refer to a pet in Chile, rather it refers to cats in general, not to individuals’ pets.
Mau
This is a Spanish term used by the Colombians when referring to cats. The name Miau may sometimes be pronounced as “Miau”, it is widely used as a pet name as well as a strays name throughout the country.
This word stems from the noises that cats make, which, as you probably guessed, comes from the word kitty.
The Latin word for meow can be considered the Spanish equivalent of that. It is a very popular word among children, especially because it is so easy and intuitive for them to call a cat in this way.
Conclusion
For Spanish speakers, their beloved cats are referred to in a variety of ways. Because of that, we have recently put together a list of 10 words that are commonly used to say “cat” in Spanish.
It is still very useful to use these words to describe the cat, whether it be your own or that of someone else. Micifuz can now feel your affection by using the knowledge of Spanish that you have acquired.
