Kater

Kater is a German masculine noun with two primary meanings. It commonly refers to a male cat, as opposed to the female cat, which is die Katze. It can also denote a hangover after drinking. In the singular, der Kater can mean either sense; the intended meaning is usually determined by context. The plural form for both senses is die Kater.

Usage and nuances: When talking about animals, Kater is used specifically for male cats, while female cats are referred to as Katze. The expression einen Kater haben means to have a hangover. The term Katerstimmung describes a mood associated with lingering fatigue or discomfort after drinking. These uses are common in everyday German and appear in media and literature.

Other uses: Kater appears as a surname in German-speaking regions and can occur in place names or titles. Outside German-speaking contexts, the word is generally understood only by speakers of German or those familiar with the term. The word’s dual meanings reflect a characteristic feature of German vocabulary, where a single form can carry unrelated senses that are distinguished by context rather than by article or inflection.