How to say “cat” around the world
399 languages · 399 in their own spelling
Dots of one colour begin with a similar sound. Colours group words by the class of their first consonant (a sound-class method used in linguistics): words that begin alike share a colour. This shows resemblance, not common origin — proving relationship needs case-by-case comparison. Readable forms come from Wiktionary translation tables; many smaller languages come from the ASJP word lists, in ASJP’s simplified transcription.
| Language | Word | Romanization | Family |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 猫 | māo | Sino-Tibetan |
| English | cat | Indo-European | |
| Spanish | gato | Indo-European | |
| Hindi | बिल्ली | billī | Indo-European |
| Arabic | قِطّ | qiṭṭ | Afro-Asiatic |
| Bengali | বিড়াল | biṛal | Indo-European |
| Indonesian | kucing | Austronesian | |
| Portuguese | gato | Indo-European | |
| French | chat | Indo-European | |
| Russian | ко́шка | kóška | Indo-European |
| Japanese | 猫 | neko | Japonic |
| Marathi | मांजर | māñjar | Indo-European |
| Swahili | paka | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Turkish | kedi | Turkic | |
| Telugu | పిల్లి | pilli | Dravidian |
| Wu Chinese | 猫 | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Korean | 고양이 | goyang'i | Koreanic |
| German | Katze | Indo-European | |
| Vietnamese | mèo | Austroasiatic | |
| Tamil | பூனை | pūṉai | Dravidian |
| Cantonese | 貓 | maau¹ | Sino-Tibetan |
| Urdu | بِلّی | billī | Indo-European |
| Italian | gatto | Indo-European | |
| Egyptian Arabic | قطّ | ʔoṭṭ | Afro-Asiatic |
| Gujarati | બિલાડી | bilāḍī | Indo-European |
| Western Farsi | گربه | gorbe | Indo-European |
| Min Nan Chinese | 貓 | niau | Sino-Tibetan |
| Hakka Chinese | 貓仔 | meu-é | Sino-Tibetan |
| Levantine Arabic | بسة | bisse | Afro-Asiatic |
| Hausa | kyânwā | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Kannada | ಬೆಕ್ಕು | bekku | Dravidian |
| Algerian Arabic | قط | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Polish | kot | Indo-European | |
| Yoruba | ológìnní | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Malayalam | പൂച്ച | pūcca | Dravidian |
| Odia | ବିଲେଇ | bilei | Indo-European |
| Burmese | ကြောင် | kraung | Sino-Tibetan |
| Sudanese Arabic | كَدِيْس | kadīs | Afro-Asiatic |
| Moroccan Arabic | مُش | mušš | Afro-Asiatic |
| Ukrainian | кіт | kit | Indo-European |
| Uzbek | mushuk | Turkic | |
| Sindhi | ٻِليِ | ḅilī | Indo-European |
| Romanian | pisică | Indo-European | |
| Dutch | kat | Indo-European | |
| Amharic | ድመት | dəmät | Afro-Asiatic |
| Thai | แมว | mɛɛo | Tai-Kadai |
| Saraiki | ٻِلِّی | ḇilliī | Indo-European |
| Serbian-Croatian-Bosnian | ма̏чка | Indo-European | |
| Khmer | ឆ្មា | chmaa | Austroasiatic |
| Somali | bisad | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Turkmen | pişik | Turkic | |
| Cebuano | iring | Austronesian | |
| Nepali | बिरालो | birālo | Indo-European |
| Assamese | মেকুৰী | mekuri | Indo-European |
| Sinhala | පූසා | pūsā | Indo-European |
| Greek | γάτα | gáta | Indo-European |
| Kurdish | pisîk | Indo-European | |
| Hijazi Arabic | بسة | bissa | Afro-Asiatic |
| Tajik | гурба | gurba | Indo-European |
| Sylheti | ꠛꠤꠟꠣꠁ | bilai | Indo-European |
| Kazakh | мысық | mısıq | Turkic |
| Hungarian | macska | Uralic | |
| Zulu | ikati | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Nyanja | mphaka | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Tunisian Arabic | قَطُّوسْ | qaṭṭūs | Afro-Asiatic |
| Akan | agyinamoa | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Southern Pashto | پيشو | pišo | Indo-European |
| Czech | kočka | Indo-European | |
| Uighur | مۈشۈك | müshük | Turkic |
| Afrikaans | kat | Indo-European | |
| Min Dong Chinese | 貓狸 | mà-lì | Sino-Tibetan |
| Haitian | chat | Indo-European | |
| Swedish | katt | Indo-European | |
| Azerbaijani | pişik | Turkic | |
| Iloko | pusa | Austronesian | |
| Bulgarian | ко́тка | kótka | Indo-European |
| Hiligaynon | kuring | Austronesian | |
| Xhosa | ikati | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Tachelhit | amucc | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Belarusian | ко́шка | kóška | Indo-European |
| Mossi | yũuga | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Tigrinya | ድሙ | dəmu | Afro-Asiatic |
| Neapolitan | gatto | Indo-European | |
| Central Kurdish | پِشیلە | pişîle | Indo-European |
| Santali | ᱯᱩᱥᱤ | pusi | Austroasiatic |
| Kashmiri | برٛور | brōr | Indo-European |
| Northern Thai | ᨾᩯ᩠ᩅ | maew | Tai-Kadai |
| Danish | kat | Indo-European | |
| Slovak | mačka | Indo-European | |
| Southern Sotho | katse | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Umbundu | ongato | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Kabyle | amcic | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Finnish | kissa | Uralic | |
| Lao | ແມວ | mǣu | Tai-Kadai |
| Norwegian | katt | Indo-European | |
| Tatar | мәче | mäçe | Turkic |
| Buginese | coki | Austronesian | |
| Betawi | meong | Austronesian | |
| Catalan | gat | Indo-European | |
| Guarani | mbarakaja | Tupian | |
| Sicilian | jattu | Indo-European | |
| Kirghiz | мышык | mışık | Turkic |
| Swiss German | Chatz | Indo-European | |
| Tswana | katse | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Riffian | muš | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Libyan Arabic | قَطُّوس | gaṭṭūs | Afro-Asiatic |
| Armenian | կատու | katu | Indo-European |
| Bambara | jakuma | Mande | |
| Balinese | miyong | Austronesian | |
| Lithuanian | katė | Indo-European | |
| Tok Pisin | pusi | Indo-European | |
| Lombard | gat | Indo-European | |
| Georgian | კატა | ḳaṭa | Kartvelian |
| Goan Konkani | माजर | mazar | Indo-European |
| Acehnese | mië | Austronesian | |
| Mazanderani | بامشی | bâmši | Indo-European |
| Waray | uding | Austronesian | |
| Albanian | kotele | Indo-European | |
| Ewe | dadi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Southern Kurdish | پِشی | pişî | Indo-European |
| Shan | မႅဝ်း | méao | Tai-Kadai |
| Mongolian | муур | muur | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Bikol | ikos | Austronesian | |
| Galician | gato | Indo-European | |
| Pampanga | pusa | Austronesian | |
| Slovenian | maček | Indo-European | |
| Iban | mayau | Austronesian | |
| Bouyei | myaus | Tai-Kadai | |
| Esperanto | kato | Artificial Language | |
| Kʼicheʼ | me's | Mayan | |
| Macedonian | мачка | mačka | Indo-European |
| Sichuan Yi | ꀉꑐ | ax nyie | Sino-Tibetan |
| Tulu | ಪುಚ್ಚೆ | pucce | Dravidian |
| Venetian | gato mamao | Indo-European | |
| Zhuang | meuz | Tai-Kadai | |
| Fon | awii | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Rohingya | bilai | Indo-European | |
| Afar | dummuutá | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Kabardian | джэду | džɛdu | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Limburgan | kat | Indo-European | |
| Laki | پِشی | pişî | Indo-European |
| Latvian | kaķis | Indo-European | |
| Quechua | misi | Quechuan | |
| Tày | mèo | Tai-Kadai | |
| Northern Khmer | มฺีว | Austroasiatic | |
| Chechen | цициг | cicig | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Estonian | kass | Uralic | |
| Bashkir | бесәй | besäy | Turkic |
| Tibetan | ཞི་མི | zhi mi | Sino-Tibetan |
| Maguindanao | bedung | Austronesian | |
| Romagnol | gat | Indo-European | |
| Newari | भौ | bhau | Sino-Tibetan |
| Central Okinawan | 猫 | mayā | Japonic |
| Khasi | miaw | Austroasiatic | |
| Mon | ဗဂဲ | Austroasiatic | |
| Western Frisian | kat | Indo-European | |
| Frafra | debia | Atlantic-Congo | |
| South Sudanese Creole Arabic | kadiis | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Tigre | ድሙ | dəmu | Afro-Asiatic |
| Kalmyk | мис | mis | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Maranao | bedong | Austronesian | |
| Avar | кету | ketu | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Talysh | pişik | Indo-European | |
| Tai Dam | ꪵꪣꪫ | ꞌméo | Tai-Kadai |
| Basque | katu | Isolates | |
| Chuvash | кушак | kuš̬ak | Turkic |
| Welsh | cath | Indo-European | |
| Hlai | mieux | Tai-Kadai | |
| Lü | ᦶᦙᧁ | maew | Tai-Kadai |
| Picard | cot | Indo-European | |
| Nobiin | ⲕⲁⲇⲓ̄ⲥ | kadīs | Nubian |
| Tai Nüa | ᥛᥦᥝᥴ | máew | Tai-Kadai |
| Lezghian | кац | kac | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Morisyen | sat | Indo-European | |
| Réunion Creole French | sat | Indo-European | |
| Walloon | tchet | Indo-European | |
| Kara-Kalpak | pıshıq | Turkic | |
| Adyghe | кӏэтыу | kʼɛtəwu | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Classical Syriac | ܫܘܢܪܐ | šūnnārā | Afro-Asiatic |
| Maltese | qattus | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Crimean Tatar | mışıq | Turkic | |
| Occitan | gat | Indo-European | |
| Vlax Romani | mùca | Indo-European | |
| Mari | пырыс | pyrys | Uralic |
| Tetum | busa | Austronesian | |
| Asturian | gatu | Indo-European | |
| Yakut | куоска | kuoska | Turkic |
| Kumyk | мишик | mişik | Turkic |
| Samoan | pusi | Austronesian | |
| Sranan Tongo | puspusi | Indo-European | |
| Mingrelian | კატუ | ḳaṭu | Kartvelian |
| Fijian | pusi | Austronesian | |
| Dhivehi | ފައި | fai | Indo-European |
| Ingush | цициг | cicig | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Icelandic | köttur | Indo-European | |
| Ngazidja Comorian | paha | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Karachay-Balkar | киштик | kiştik | Turkic |
| Friulian | gjat | Indo-European | |
| Mapuche | narki | Araucanian | |
| Tuvinian | диис | diis | Turkic |
| Khowar | پوشی | púši | Indo-European |
| Saho | dummu | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Udmurt | коӵыш | kočyš | Uralic |
| Jarai | eo | Austronesian | |
| Plautdietsch | Kaut | Indo-European | |
| Tyap | a̱kwi | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Nama | ǀhôas | Khoe-Kwadi | |
| Laz | კატუ | ǩat͏̌u | Kartvelian |
| Dzongkha | བྱི་ལི | byi li | Sino-Tibetan |
| Zeelandic | katte | Indo-European | |
| Buriat | мии | mii | Mongolic-Khitan |
| Amis | nani | Austronesian | |
| Māori | poti | Austronesian | |
| West Coast Bajau | using | Austronesian | |
| Abkhaz | ацгә | acgʷ | Abkhaz-Adyge |
| Tonga (Tonga Islands) | pusi | Austronesian | |
| Central Dusun | tingau | Austronesian | |
| Navajo | gídí | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Komi | кань | kań | Uralic |
| Lak | ччиту | č:itu | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Corsican | ghjattu | Indo-European | |
| Tornedalen Finnish | kissa | Uralic | |
| Irish | cat | Indo-European | |
| Ladino | gato | Indo-European | |
| Gilbertese | katama | Austronesian | |
| Aromanian | cãtush | Indo-European | |
| Kashubian | kòt | Indo-European | |
| Breton | kazh | Indo-European | |
| Mwani | maka | Atlantic-Congo | |
| Erzya | псака | psaka | Uralic |
| Nogai | мысык | mısık | Turkic |
| Seselwa Creole French | sat | Indo-European | |
| Tabasaran | гату | gatu | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Lepcha | ᰣᰦᰜᰤᰪ | ʔályu | Sino-Tibetan |
| Blin | dəmu | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Faroese | ketta | Indo-European | |
| Tahitian | piʻifare | Austronesian | |
| Marshallese | kuuj | Austronesian | |
| Scottish Gaelic | cat | Indo-European | |
| Southern Altai | киске | kiske | Turkic |
| Burushaski | bush | Isolates | |
| Chuukese | kattu | Austronesian | |
| Sanskrit | मार्जार | mārjāra | Indo-European |
| Yaeyama | 猫 | mayā | Japonic |
| Khakas | хоосха | xoosxa | Turkic |
| Dungan | мо | mo | Sino-Tibetan |
| Romansh | giat | Indo-European | |
| Chepang | पुसेः | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Plains Cree | ᐴᔒ | pooshii | Algic |
| Higaonon | budong | Austronesian | |
| Ladin | giat | Indo-European | |
| Bau-Jagoi Bidayuh | singow | Austronesian | |
| Hawaiian | ʻowau | Austronesian | |
| North Saami | bussá | Uralic | |
| Pijin | kusi | Indo-European | |
| Andi | геду | gedu | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Western Bukidnon Manobo | bezung | Austronesian | |
| Svan | ციცუ̂ | cicû | Kartvelian |
| Leh Ladakhi | བྱི་ལ | byi la | Sino-Tibetan |
| Drung | nvmei | Sino-Tibetan | |
| Western Apache | gídí | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Upper Sorbian | kočka | Indo-European | |
| Cherokee | ᏪᏌ | wesa | Iroquoian |
| Innu-aimun | minush | Algic | |
| Bislama | busi | Indo-European | |
| Northern Frisian | kaat | Indo-European | |
| Louisiana Creole | sha | Indo-European | |
| Semai | kucig | Austroasiatic | |
| Mi'kmaw | gajuewj | Algic | |
| Torres Strait-Lockhart River Creole | pusiket | Indo-European | |
| Chitral Kalasha | phúšak | Indo-European | |
| Hopi | moosa | Uto-Aztecan | |
| Lower Sorbian | kócka | Indo-European | |
| Even | кэркэ | kərkə | Tungusic |
| Chukchi | мыԓьыттъын | myḷʹyttʺyn | Chukotko-Kamchatkan |
| Siksiká | poos- | Algic | |
| Jejueo | 고넹이 | goneng'i | Koreanic |
| Pitjantjatjara | mulku | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Mohawk | takò꞉s | Iroquoian | |
| Mrassu Shor-Tutal | кӧшке | köşke | Turkic |
| Cappadocian Greek | πισίκα | pisíka | Indo-European |
| Cheyenne | póéso | Algic | |
| Mòcheno | kòtz | Indo-European | |
| Manx | kayt | Indo-European | |
| Interlingua | catto | Artificial Language | |
| Nanai | кэксэ | kekse | Tungusic |
| Oroqen | kə꞉kə | Tungusic | |
| Pipil | mistūn | Uto-Aztecan | |
| Seri | miist | Isolates | |
| Taos Northern Tiwa | mų̀siʼína | Kiowa-Tanoan | |
| Cornish | kath | Indo-European | |
| Southern Sami | gaahtoe | Uralic | |
| Maliseet-Passamaquoddy | psuwis | Algic | |
| Kildin Saami | коа̄сс | kååss | Uralic |
| Pacific Gulf Yupik | kuskaq | Eskimo-Aleut | |
| Skolt Sami | kaass | Uralic | |
| Yindjibarndi | buthi | Pama-Nyungan | |
| Inari Sami | kissá | Uralic | |
| Halkomelem | pús | Salishan | |
| Aleut | kuuskax̂ | Eskimo-Aleut | |
| Budukh | кач | kač | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Amur Nivkh | кʼыск | kʼəsk | Nivkh |
| Godoberi | геду | gédu | Nakh-Daghestanian |
| Gooniyandi | minyawoo | Bunaban | |
| Kutenai | pu·s | Isolates | |
| Wymysorys | miźi | Indo-European | |
| Prussian | kato | Indo-European | |
| Orok | кэскэ | kəskə | Tungusic |
| Iquito | míisi | Zaparoan | |
| Maricopa | posh | Cochimi-Yuman | |
| Manchu | ᡴᡝᠰᡳᡴᡝ | kesike | Tungusic |
| Ainu | チャペ | cape | Ainu |
| N||ng | mʘôa | Tuu | |
| Chamicuro | mishi | Arawakan | |
| Ter Saami | kïeššʼke | Uralic | |
| Ahom | 𑜈𑜢𑜈𑜫 | biw | Tai-Kadai |
| Akkadian | šurānum | Afro-Asiatic | |
| Ambonese Malay | pus | Austronesian | |
| Jicarilla Apache | mósha | Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | |
| Gulf Arabic | قَطو | gaṭu | Afro-Asiatic |