mjau

Mjau is the onomatopoeic word used in several Nordic languages to imitate the sound of a cat's meow. In Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish, mjau is commonly written to represent a cat vocalization in dialogue, songs, cartoons, and literature. It belongs to a broader cross-linguistic family of cat-meow imitations, which includes English meow, German miau, Dutch miauw, and French miaou.

Pronunciation and spelling reflect regional phonology: the mj- onset and -au diphthong correspond to a high-pitched call heard from a cat. The term is often used for a simple, nonspecific cat sound, rather than a particular mood or tone, though writers may adjust context with punctuation or accompanying words.

Beyond its use as a word, mjau appears in cultural contexts as a playful or cute cue indicating a cat character. It can also surface in educational materials teaching onomatopoeia or animal sounds to children.