Spanish Conversation · Level 112
60 words
Spanish word
maullar
Pronunciation
IPA/mauˈʝaɾ/
Meaning
- verbmeow
Example
¿Por qué maúllan tanto los gatos?
Why do cats meow so much?
More examples
Mi gato maúlla cuando tiene hambre.
My cat meows when it is hungry.
Core concept
A cat giving a short plaintive miau.
Common phrases
el gato maúlla
The cat meows
los gatos maúllan
The cats meow
Similar words
ronronear: Produces a low, steady throat rumble by vibrating the vocal cords, often signaling contentment.
bufar: Produces a short sharp hissing exhale used to threaten or warn.
aullar: Produces a long high-pitched howl that resonates and carries over distance.
Definition in Spanish
Producir el sonido 'miau' que hacen los gatos.
Word origin
It derives from the imitative sound miau combined with the verb-forming suffix -ar, a common formation for animal sounds in Romance languages.
Usage tips
- In most modern dialects ll merges with y (yeísmo), so maullar is pronounced roughly mau-yar.