Is a cat masculine or feminine in German? - briefly
In German, the word for cat, "die Katze," is grammatically feminine, regardless of the animal's actual gender.
Is a cat masculine or feminine in German? - in detail
In German, nouns have grammatical genders, which are masculine, feminine, or neuter. The word for "cat" in German is "Katze," and it is a feminine noun. This means that when referring to a cat, the definite article "die" is used, as in "die Katze." The grammatical gender of "Katze" does not necessarily reflect the biological sex of the animal but is a linguistic feature of the German language. For example, even if the cat is male, the word "Katze" remains feminine in gender. To specify the sex of the cat, additional words can be used, such as "Kater" for a male cat, which is a masculine noun and takes the definite article "der." The grammatical gender affects not only the choice of articles but also the declension of adjectives and pronouns associated with the noun. Therefore, when using "Katze" in sentences, the accompanying words must align with the feminine gender, ensuring grammatical correctness in German. This distinction is crucial for learners of German to master the language's structure and usage effectively.