Italian · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Cat" in Italian: gatto
il gatto
Cat in Italian is il gatto (GAHT-toh) for a male or generic cat, and la gatta for a female. Plural is i gatti or le gatte. A kitten is un gattino.
Meeting a pet
Il tuo gatto è molto coccolone.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce gatto
Say it
GAHT-toh
/ˈɡat.to/
Gatto is GAHT-toh with a double t hold. Stress GAHT. Gatta is GAHT-tah.
"Cat" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| il gatto | cat (male/generic) Default learner form. | Default learner form. |
| la gatta | cat (female) When you know the cat is female. | When you know the cat is female. |
| il gattino / la gattina | kitten Young cat. | Young cat. |
| micio / micia | kitty Affectionate pet names. | Affectionate pet names. |
How to use gatto in real life
- 1Meeting a pet
Il tuo gatto è molto coccolone.
Your cat is very cuddly.
Il tuo gatto with tu.
- 2Apartment rule
In questo palazzo si possono tenere i gatti.
In this building you can keep cats.
I gatti plural.
- 3Looking for the pet
La gatta dorme sotto il tavolo.
The (female) cat is sleeping under the table.
La gatta when sex is known.
Mistakes English speakers make with gatto
Incorrect: La gatto è nero.
Correct: Il gatto è nero. / La gatta è nera.
Match article and ending: il gatto or la gatta.
Incorrect: I gatto sono belli.
Correct: I gatti sono belli.
Plural masculine is i gatti.
Good to know
Street cats are part of some Italian city scenes, and people may leave water bowls near courtyards. At home, micio is a soft nickname you will hear from owners.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Cat-sitting for a neighbour
ChatPal
Il gatto mangia due volte al giorno.
The cat eats twice a day.
You
Ok. Il gatto può uscire sul balcone?
Ok. Can the cat go out on the balcony?
ChatPal
Sì, ma chiudi la porta. Il gatto è curioso.
Yes, but close the door. The cat is curious.
You
Capito. Se il gatto miagola, gli do un premio.
Got it. If the cat meows, I'll give him a treat.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Cat" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Cat" in Italian
Do I say gatto or gatta?
Gatto for male or unknown; gatta for a female cat.
What is the plural?
I gatti (male/mixed) and le gatte (female).
How do I say kitten?
Gattino or gattina.
What does micio mean?
An affectionate word for a cat, like kitty.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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