猫耳

Etymology

Compound of 猫 (neko, “cat”) +‎ 耳 (mimi, “ear”).

Pronunciation

• Kun’yomi
  • (Tokyo) ねこみみ [nèkómímí] (Heiban – [0])
  • (Tokyo) ねこ​みみ [nèkóꜜmìmì] (Nakadaka – [2])
  • IPA^(key): [ne̞ko̞mʲimʲi]

Noun

猫耳 (shinjitai kanji, kyūjitai kanji 貓耳, hiragana ねこみみ, rōmaji nekomimi)

1. (neologism) Cat ears, as worn or possessed by a human or humanoid.
   • 2009, “ねこみみスイッチ [Cat Ear Switch]”‎, performed by daniwell:

     ねこみみ姿 (す)が似合 (たがにあ)う君 (きみ)の横顔 (よこがお)
     ああ　クラクラする

     nekomimi-sugata ga niau kimi no yokogao
     ā kurakura suru

     Cat ears suit your profile so well;
     Aah, it makes me woozy

2. (neologism) Humanoid character who possesses cat ears (and usually other cat features as well); nekomimi.