When including both native and non-native speakers, English is the most widely spoken language in the world. So, that means most of us use the words cat, kitten, and meow, when it comes to our kitties. But, there are billions more people in the world speaking other languages. Because of the varied languages across the globe, cat lovers who speak other languages have different words for their cats and kittens and the sound they make.
So, with the help of Google Translate and a little research, let’s take our feline lexicon to new levels and learn the words that mean cat, kitten, and meow in an array of different tongues. You’re sure to impress your kitty with your new vocabulary! In order of language popularity according to Lingoda, here’s how to say cat, kitten, and meow in different languages from around the world.
How to Say Cat, Kitten, and Meow in 19 Different Languages
#1 – Mandarin Chinese – 1,117 billion speakers
Cat: Māo(猫)
Kitten: Xiǎo māo (小猫)
Meow: Miāo (喵)
#2 – Hindi – 615 million speakers
Cat: Billee (बिल्ली)
Kitten: Billee ka bachcha (बिल्ली का बच्चा)
Meow: Miyaanu (मियांउ)
#3 – Spanish – 534 million speakers
Cat: Gato
Kitten: Gatito
Meow: Maullar
#4 – French – 280 million speakers
Cat: Chat
Kitten: Chaton
Meow: Miaou
#5 – Standard Arabic – 274 million speakers
Cat: Qat (قط)
Kitten: Qatah saghira ( قطه صغيرة)
Meow: Mua’ (مواء)
#6 – Bengali (Bangla) – 265 million speakers
Cat: Biṛāla (বিড়াল)
Kitten: Biṛālachānā (বিড়ালছানা)
Meow: Mi’u (মিউ)
#7 – Russian – 258 million speakers
Cat: Kot (Кот)
Kitten: Kotenok (котенок)
Meow: Myau (мяу)
#8 – Portuguese – 234 million speakers
Cat: Gato
Kitten: Gatinho
Meow: Miau
#9 – Indonesian – 199 million speakers
Cat: Kucing
Kitten: Anak kucing
Meow: Meong
#10 – Urdu – 170 million speakers
Cat: Billi ( بلی)
Kitten: Billi Ka Bacha (بلی کا بچہ)
Meow: Billi Ki Awaz (بلی کی آواز)
Want to know what your cat’s trying to tell you? Follow these 9 Rules Of Feline Speak and Learn To Communicate With Your Cat!
#11 – Standard German – 132 million speakers
Cat: Katze
Kitten: Kätzchen
Meow: Miau
#12 – Japanese – 128 million speakers
Cat: Neko (ネコ)
Kitten: Koneko (子猫)
Meow: Nyā (ニャー)
#13 – Swahili – 98 million speakers
Cat: Paka
Kitten: Kipaka
Meow: Meow
#14 – Marathi – 95 million speakers
Cat: Mān̄jara (मांजर)
Kitten: Mān̄jarīcē pillū (मांजरीचे पिल्लू)
Meow: Myā’ū (म्याऊ)
#15 – Telugu – 93 million speakers
Cat: Pilli (పిల్లి)
Kitten: Pilli (పిల్లి)
Meow: Mi’av (మిఅవ్)
#16 – Western Punjabi – 93 million speakers
Cat: Bilī (ਬਿੱਲੀ)
Kitten: Bilī dā bacā (ਬਿੱਲੀ ਦਾ ਬੱਚਾ)
Meow: Mī’āṁ (ਮੀਆਂ)
Is your cat chatting at you nonstop, but you’re not sure what she’s saying? Here are 9 Reasons Why Your Cat Keeps Meowing At You.
#17 – Wu Chinese – 82 million speakers
Cat: Māo(猫)
Kitten: Xiǎo māo (小猫)
Meow: Miāo (喵)
#18 – Tamil – 81 million speakers
Cat: Pūṉai (பூனை)
Kitten: Pūṉaikkuṭṭi (பூனைக்குட்டி)
Meow: Miyāv (மியாவ்)
#19 – Turkish – 80 million
Cat: Kedi
Kitten: Kedi yavrusu
Meow: Miyav
Languages of Love
Want to tell your cat ‘I Love You’ in different languages, try it one of the three romance languages!
French – Je vous aime!
Italian – Ti amo!
Spanish – Te quiero!
How do cats communicate love? Here are 5 Ways Your Cat Says “I Love You.”
H/T: www.dailypaws.com
