Die Katze

The German word "Katze," meaning "cat," has an interesting etymological history. It derives from the Old High German word "kazza," which is believed to have originated from the Vulgar Latin "cattus." This, in turn, traces back to the Late Latin "cattus," referring to a domestic cat. The Latin term is thought to have been borrowed from an Afro-Asiatic language, possibly from the Egyptian "caute," meaning "wildcat."

This term's spread across various languages can be attributed to the Romans, who introduced cats to many parts of Europe. Consequently, similar words for "cat" can be found in many European languages, such as "cat" in English, "gato" in Spanish, and "chat" in French, all of which share this common etymological root.