Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Meow in Spanish: Miau
Miau · onomatopoeia / noun (masculine) · MYOW
The Spanish onomatopoeia for a cat's meow is 'miau,' which sounds remarkably similar to the English version. The verb 'maullar' means 'to meow.' A single meow as a noun is 'un maullido.' These words all share the same root and imitate the characteristic vocalization of domestic cats.
Pronounce 'miau' as MYOW, a single syllable that closely mimics the cat sound. The verb 'maullar' is mow-YAHR.
El gato maúlla en la puerta cuando quiere salir al jardín.
The cat meows at the door when it wants to go out to the garden.
Meow in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for meow, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| miau | meow | MYOW | Default, widely understood |
| maullar | meow | verb form meaning to meow |
How Native Speakers Use Miau
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Describing a cat
La gatita no para de hacer miau porque tiene hambre.
The kitten won't stop meowing because she's hungry.
Explaining a pet's behavior.
Children's book
El cuento dice que el gato dice miau y el perro dice guau.
The story says the cat says meow and the dog says woof.
Reading an animal sounds book to a child.
Noise complaint
Los maullidos del gato del vecino me despertaron a las tres de la mañana.
The neighbor's cat's meowing woke me up at three in the morning.
Talking about nighttime disturbances.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Miau
Using meow instead of miau
Incorrect: El gato dice meow.
Correct: El gato dice miau.
Spanish has its own onomatopoeia for animal sounds, and 'miau' is the established way to represent a cat's vocalization.
Wrong conjugation of maullar
Incorrect: El gato maulla toda la noche.
Correct: El gato maúlla toda la noche.
'Maullar' has an accent on the 'u' in certain conjugated forms (maúllo, maúllas, maúlla) to indicate that the 'u' and 'a' are separate syllables, not a diphthong.
Lock in Meow Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Miau used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using miau in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El gato maúlla en la puerta cuando quiere salir al jardín. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Meow in Spanish
- How do you spell the sound a cat makes in Spanish?
- A cat's sound is spelled 'miau' in Spanish, with the four letters forming a single syllable that closely mirrors the actual feline vocalization.
- What is the verb 'to meow' in Spanish?
- The verb is 'maullar,' and its noun form 'maullido' refers to a single meow or meowing sound, both derived from the onomatopoeia 'miau.'
- Do animal sounds differ between languages?
- Every language has its own onomatopoeia for animal sounds — while English says 'meow,' Spanish says 'miau,' Japanese says 'nyan,' and French says 'miaou,' each reflecting that language's phonetic system.