How do you say "cat" in Spanish?

How do you say cat in Spanish? - briefly

The word for "cat" in Spanish is "gato". This term is used regardless of whether the cat is male or female.

How do you say cat in Spanish? - in detail

In Spanish, the word for "cat" is "gato." This term is used universally across all Spanish-speaking countries, regardless of regional dialects or variations. The pronunciation of "gato" follows phonetic rules typical in Spanish: the letter 'g' is pronounced like the English 'h,' and the vowel 'a' has an open sound similar to the English 'ah.' Therefore, the word sounds like "GAH-toh." It's important to note that while some languages have gender-specific terms for animals (e.g., "chat" for a male cat and "chatte" for a female cat in French), Spanish does not differentiate between male and female cats with separate words. Whether referring to a tomcat or a queen, the term remains "gato." This linguistic consistency helps maintain clarity and simplicity in communication about felines among Spanish speakers worldwide.