gato
“gato” means “cat” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
cat
Also: tom cat
📝 In Action
Mi gato duerme en el sofá todo el día.
A1My cat sleeps on the sofa all day.
Los gatos son animales muy limpios y silenciosos.
A2Cats are very clean and quiet animals.
Necesito comprar comida especial para el gato de mi hermana.
A1I need to buy special food for my sister's cat.
jack, car jack
📝 In Action
Se me pinchó una rueda y tuve que usar el gato para cambiarla.
B1I got a flat tire and had to use the jack to change it.
Asegúrate de que el gato esté bien colocado antes de levantar el coche.
B2Make sure the jack is well-placed before lifting the car.
Madrileño
Also: slick/shifty person
📝 In Action
Mi abuelo siempre dice que su vecino es un gato de pura cepa.
C1My grandfather always says his neighbor is a true-born 'gato' (a true Madrileño).
Ellos se consideran gatos porque sus familias han vivido aquí por generaciones.
C2They consider themselves 'gatos' because their families have lived here for generations.
Vocabulary Collections
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: gato
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'gato' in its technical meaning (the tool)?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'gato' comes from the Late Latin word *cattus*. Before that, the Romans used the word *felis* (feline), but *cattus* spread throughout Europe, replacing the older term. Its usage for the mechanical jack is likely metaphorical, referencing the way early jacks might have looked like a crouching animal.
First recorded: Around the 10th century in early Spanish records.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'gato' also mean a car jack?
This is likely a metaphorical connection. Early car jacks, especially screw jacks, often had a shape that resembled a crouching cat ready to spring, or perhaps the movement used to lift the car reminded people of a cat stretching or leaping.
¿Cómo se dice 'kitty' en español?
The most common affectionate way to say 'kitty' or 'kitten' is 'gatito' (or 'gatita' for a female kitten). The '-ito' ending makes the word smaller and more endearing.