gata

female cat

noun GAH-tah Rare

Usage Note

Gata is the feminine form of gato (cat) and specifically refers to a female cat. It is also a common informal term in parts of Latin America for a maid or female domestic worker, which can be offensive — context matters. The phrase a gatas means 'on all fours' or 'crawling,' and is a useful idiom unrelated to the animal.

Examples

"La gata de mi vecina tuvo cuatro gatitos."

Natural Translation

My neighbour's cat had four kittens.

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