title: switch-case statement for STRINGS in Python
body: <p>I need to do something similar to the CASE WHEN .. OR .. THEN from SQL in python for STRINGS. For example, if I say "DOG" or "CAT".. my translation is "ANIMAL".</p>
  
  <p>I don't want to use IF ELIF ELIF..</p>
  
  <p>The only solution that i can see is:</p>
  
  <pre><code>l = ['cat','dog', 'turttle']
  d = {'animal': ['cat','dog', 'turttle']}
  word = 'cat'
  if word in l:
      for i, j in d.iteritems():
          if word in j:
              print i
          else:
              print word
  
  animal
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>It works but it seems very ugly..</p>
  
  <p>Any other solution?</p>
  
  <p>THANKS!</p>