How to Say Cat in Nine Foreign Languages
Today’s post is a completely self-indulgent excuse to show you my other two children–the furry ones. I used to take pictures of my cats all the time BK (Before Kids,) but the kitties have been photographically neglected for years. Tonight, I was surprised to discover several cat videos on my Flip camera. My son’s been busy! He took this picture of the feline matriarch of the family, Gina. She’s a spry 17 year-old who loves, loves, loves people. My Madeline isn’t pictured, but she looks exactly the same. She’s Gina’s ornery 16 year-old daughter. Can’t blame old age, she’s always been a grump. (Love her anyway!) Madeline is named after my favorite children’s book character . . . the girl who lived in that old house in Paris, covered in vines . . .
They say a cat has nine lives, so today let’s learn nine ways to say “cat” in foreign languages:
1. French: le chat
2. Spanish: el gato
3. German: die Katze
4. Portuguese: o gato
5. Italian: il gatto
6. Norwegian: katten
7. Polish: kot
8. Dutch: de kat
9. Hungarian: a macska
Want to add on to the cat list? Feel free to comment with your favorite world language.
Speaking of Siamese cats, I’d like to recommend the children’s book Minou, by Mindy Bingham. (Minou means Kitty in French.)
I’ve read this book (in English) to my French students for years and years. It’s an empowering story of a cat’s independence on the streets of Paris. I use the gorgeous watercolor illustrations by Itoko Maeno as a culture lesson. It’s great for identifying monuments, and I personally love looking at that gorgeous Minou who looks so much like my babies!
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OMG, Minou was my absolute all time favourite book to read when i was younger! Every week i would go back to rent this book from the library! … thinking of which, i should have just bought a copy haha