[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/miaou/)

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# miaou

verb (miaou, miaous, miaoued, miaouing); noun (a miaou, miaous); interjection; also spelled «miaow» (UK) and «meow» (US)

«miaou» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. The sound a cat makes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/miaou/#m1)
2. (verb) To make this sound: «The cat miaoued at the door». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/miaou/#m2)

### In the lessons

In stories and early reading books, «miaou» is a sound word (onomatopoeia) for a cat's cry. It is an older or more French-looking spelling; «miaow» is common in the UK, Ireland, Australia and NZ, and «meow» in the USA and Canada. In French, cats say «miaou» too. Phrases: «miaou!», «miaoued loudly».

### Examples

- «Miaou!» said the little cat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/miaou/#x1)
- The cat miaoued at the back door to be let in. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/miaou/#x2)
- Our kitten gives a tiny miaou when she is hungry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/miaou/#x3)
- In French books cats say «miaou». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/miaou/#x4)
- «Miaou» is a word that sounds like the noise it names. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/miaou/#x5)
- The cat's miaous woke me up at five o'clock. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/miaou/#x6)
- I heard a sad miaou from the shed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/miaou/#x7)
- Dogs say «woof», cats say «miaou». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/miaou/#x8)
- "Miaou!" said Old Tom in answer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/miaou/#x9)

### Note

Spellings: miaou, miaow (UK), meow (US) – all mean the same. It is an example of onomatopoeia (a word that copies a sound). Pronounced «mee-OW». Not a maths word.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «miaou» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/miaou/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«miaou» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/miaou.html) on Mova free.