miaou: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Poetic/Literary, Humorous, Informal
Quick answer
What does “miaou” mean?
The characteristic crying sound made by a cat.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The characteristic crying sound made by a cat.
To make this sound; often used to represent the sound itself or describe cat-like vocalization.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both variants are extremely rare and equally unconventional compared to 'meow'. 'Miaou' follows French spelling, but British English is slightly more likely to use it in certain literary or whimsical contexts due to greater French influence.
Connotations
Carries a quaint, old-fashioned, or deliberately European/French flavour. Can be used for humorous, ironic, or artistic effect.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both dialects, with 'meow' (US) and 'miaow' (UK) being the standard forms. 'Miaou' is a deliberate stylistic choice.
Grammar
How to Use “miaou” in a Sentence
SUBJECT (cat/kitten) + miaouSUBJECT + let out + a + miaouVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “miaou” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The stray cat would miaou piteously at the back door every evening.
American English
- Their kitten started to miaou loudly the moment its food bowl was empty.
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable; does not function as an adverb.)
American English
- (Not applicable; does not function as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard; no natural examples. At most, hyphenated: a miaou-like sound.)
American English
- (Not standard; no natural examples. At most, hyphenated: a miaou-ing kitten.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Only in specific linguistic studies of onomatopoeia.
Everyday
Rare; would be used for deliberate whimsy or in naming (e.g., a pet, a café).
Technical
Not used in technical fields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “miaou”
- Using 'miaou' in normal conversation instead of 'meow'/'miaow'.
- Misspelling as 'miau' or 'meaou'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a recognized but uncommon variant, primarily used for stylistic effect. 'Meow' (US) and 'miaow' (UK) are the standard spellings.
To create a specific tone—often whimsical, literary, old-fashioned, or to evoke a French setting. It's a deliberate stylistic choice.
No, the standard pronunciation is identical to 'meow' (/miˈaʊ/). The spelling difference is visual, not phonetic.
Yes, it can function as a verb (e.g., 'The cat miaoued'), though this usage is even rarer than its use as a noun for the sound.
The characteristic crying sound made by a cat.
Miaou is usually poetic/literary, humorous, informal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this variant.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a cat saying 'ME? OW!' in a French accent: 'Miaou!'
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUND IS SPEECH (attributing human-like vocal articulation to an animal sound).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the spelling 'miaou' MOST appropriate?