HeyRuaHow to say “cat” in Irish
- Irish:
- cat
- English:
- cat, cat (member of the cat family)
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “kat” /kat̪ˠ/
- Plural:
- cait (cats)
- Genitive singular:
- cait, an chait (e.g. eireaball an chait, the cat's tail)
- Genitive plural:
- cat, na gcat (e.g. bia cat, cat food)
What does “cat” mean?
“Cat” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- cat
- A small furry animal with whiskers and claws, often kept as a pet.Also: pussycat, tomcat, feline.
1 other meaning: cat (member of the cat family)
- 2cat (member of the cat family)
- Any animal of the cat family, such as a wild cat.Also: feline, wild cat, big cat.
“Cat” with the article
The plural of cat in Irish is cait. Here is cat after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Cat” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using cat, the Irish word for cat.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Cat in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for cat?
The Irish for cat is cat (pronounced “kat”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is cait. Depending on context it can also mean cat (member of the cat family).
How do you pronounce cat in Irish?
Cat is said like “kat” (IPA /kat̪ˠ/).
What is the plural of cat in Irish?
The plural of cat is cait; with the article, na cait means “the cats”. The genitive plural is cat, as in bia cat (cat food).
Does cat have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cat can mean cat or cat (member of the cat family), depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does cat change to chat or gcat?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) cat becomes mo chat (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gcat (eclipsis).
What is the Irish for 'kitten'?
A kitten is 'piscín'; 'cat' is the adult animal.
What does 'cat mara' mean?
'Cat mara' means a disaster or calamity, as in 'Is é an cat mara é', it's a catastrophe.
