Pronunciation guide
How to say “Cat” in Tamil
Say “pooṉai”. Written பூனை in Tamil.
பூனை
Say it: “pooṉai”
Formal notation: pūṉai
Syllable breakdown
Try saying the word one syllable at a time:
pū·ṉai
Speaking tips for this word
- Long vowels (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū) take about twice as long as short ones. Hold the sound rather than clipping it short.
Saying “Cat” in Tamil — frequently asked
How do you pronounce "Cat" in Tamil?
Say "pooṉai" — broken into syllables: pū-ṉai. The native spelling is பூனை.
What is the simplest way to say "Cat" in Tamil?
The most common Tamil word for "cat" is பூனை, pronounced "pooṉai". It works in everyday speech with no formality concerns.
Is "pūṉai" the same as "pooṉai"?
Yes. "pūṉai" uses IAST notation with diacritics — the long lines (ā ī ū) mean "hold the vowel longer". "pooṉai" is the same word written the way an English speaker might spell it phonetically.
Are there other ways to say "Cat" in Tamil?
Yes — common alternates include: Poonai. பூனை is the most widely understood.
Want more context?
See the full Tamil word page for “Cat” →Includes alternate translations, example sentences, related vocabulary and the word in cultural context.
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