miaow

Miaow is an English onomatopoeic representation of the vocalization produced by domestic cats. It denotes a short, often high-pitched cry used by cats to seek attention, greet people, or request food. The spelling miaow is common in British English, while meow is the dominant form in American English. An alternative British variant, miaou, is older but still encountered in some texts.

Etymology and phonetics: The term originates from direct imitation of the cat’s sound. The exact pitch, length, and tone vary with the animal and context; some instances are drawn out, others are abrupt or rising. The concept is represented by different spellings in other languages as well, reflecting language-specific onomatopoeic conventions (for example miau in some Romance languages).

Usage: In writing, miaow is used to convey a feline voice in dialogue, fiction, and comics, as well as in catalogs and discussions of animal sounds. In English slang, the phrase the cat’s meow—typically spelled meow—has entered popular usage to denote something outstanding or fashionable, especially in American contexts.

Cultural and linguistic notes: Miaow and its variants illustrate how onomatopoeic representations of animal sounds differ across dialects of English and other languages. While meow is more common in American English, miaow and miaou remain standard in British usage and in historical or stylistic contexts.

See also: Onomatopoeia, Cat vocalization, Meow.