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About cats Posted by on Sep 20, 2021 in Vocabulary

Γεια σας! Σήμερα θα μιλήσουμε για γάτες. Today we will talk about cats. This time, I will not give you a list of words but sentences in Greek followed by the English translation. The Greek word for cat is γάτα and it’s feminine. The masculine noun is γάτος but if we talk about cats in general, we use the feminine noun. That is why I use the female pronouns in the translated sentences.

 

Common Greek cats
(Photo taken and used with permission from Chris B.)

 

Η γάτα είναι αιλουροειδές. The (domestic) cat is a feline.

Η γάτα νιαουρίζει. A cat meows.

Η γάτα που ζει στο δρόμο είναι αδέσποτη. The cat who lives in the street is stray.

Ο ήχος που κάνει είναι “νιάου”. It produces the sound “neeaou”

Της αρέσει να σκαρφαλώνει στα δέντρα. She likes to climb on trees.

Τη φωνάζουμε κάνοντας: “ ψ, ψ, ψ”. When we want to call her, we produce the sound “ps, ps, ps”.

Τα μικρά της γάτας λέγονται γατάκια. Her babies are called kittens.

Η γάτα έχει πόδια, ουρά, γούνατρίχωμα) και μουστάκια. The cat has paws, tail, fur (or animal fur) and whiskers.

Είναι πολύ καλή κυνηγός. She is a very good hunter.

Δεν της αρέσει το νερό. She doesn’t like water.

Είναι ανεξάρτητη. She is independent.

Είναι γρήγορη και ευκίνητη. She is fast and agile.

Όταν ετοιμάζεται να επιτεθεί καμπουριάζει και φουντώνει την ουρά της. When she is ready to attack, she arches her back and puffs her tail.

Στην Ελλάδα, οι πιο κοινές γάτες είναι ράτσας ευρωπαϊκής. In Greece, the most common cat breed is the European shorthair.

Στα χωριά, όλοι τα σπίτια έχουν γάτες γιατί κυνηγούν τα ποντίκια και τα φίδια. In the villages, there is a cat in every house because they hunt mice and snakes.

Η ελληνική λέξη για το “pussy cat” είναι ψιψίνα. The Greek word for pussy cat is psipsina.

 

If you like cats, a nice book you could read is “Η τελευταία μαύρη γάτα” (The last black cat) by Ευγένιος Τριβιζάς. If your Greek is good (B2 level), you can read the original book in Greek.

If you like to know more words about cats, feel free to leave a comment.

Φωτογραφία από Joaśka Surowiec από το Pixabay

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About the Author: Ourania

Ourania lives in Athens. She holds a degree in French Literature and a Master’s degree in Special Education for Children. Since 2008, she has been teaching Greek to foreigners.


Comments:

  1. Ellen:

    Nice blog! I love cats! On Netflix there is a nice documentary and the 5th episode is all about the cats on the Greek island of Syros. Really worth watching!
    https://www.netflix.com/nl/title/81173728?s=i&trkid=13747225&vlang=nl&clip=81464777

    • Ourania:

      @Ellen How nice! Thank you, Ellen, for sharing 🙂

  2. Robert:

    Excellent! Many thanks for sharing this with all cat lovers!

  3. Hristina:

    Hi! I have a question on one of the exmples: Στα χωριά, όλοι τα σπίτια γάτες γιατί κυνηγούν τα ποντίκια και τα φίδια. In the villages, there is a cat in every house because they hunt mice and snakes.

    After σπίτια I suppose should be some verb like εχουν. Is it right?