Vocabulary · Nature
Animals in English
A1
Animals in English: pets, farm animals, wild animals, birds, sea animals and insects, with the plurals that do not take -s and the names of baby animals. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Pets
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| dog(n.)“My dog is friendly.” | a pet that barks | /dɒɡ/ |
| cat(n.)“The cat is sleeping.” | a small pet that catches mice | /kæt/ |
| rabbit(n.)“I have a white rabbit.” | a small animal with long ears | /ˈræbɪt/ |
| hamster(n.) | a very small furry pet | /ˈhæmstə/ |
| goldfish(n.) | a small orange fish kept as a pet | /ˈɡəʊldfɪʃ/ |
| guinea pig(n.) | a small furry pet with no tail | /ˈɡɪni pɪɡ/ |
| parrot(n.) | a colourful bird that can copy words | /ˈpærət/ |
| turtle(n.) | an animal with a hard shell | /ˈtɜːtl/ |
Farm animals
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| cow(n.)“The cow gives milk.” | a big farm animal that gives milk | /kaʊ/ |
| horse(n.) | a big animal that people ride | /hɔːs/ |
| sheep(n.)“Sheep have wool.” | a farm animal with wool | /ʃiːp/ |
| pig(n.) | a pink farm animal with a curly tail | /pɪɡ/ |
| chicken(n.) | a farm bird that lays eggs | /ˈtʃɪkɪn/ |
| duck(n.) | a bird that swims on ponds | /dʌk/ |
| goat(n.) | a farm animal with horns and a beard | /ɡəʊt/ |
| donkey(n.) | an animal like a small horse | /ˈdɒŋki/ |
| rooster(n.) | a male chicken | /ˈruːstə/ |
Wild animals
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| lion(n.)“The lion is the king of animals.” | a big wild cat from Africa | /ˈlaɪən/ |
| tiger(n.) | a big orange cat with black stripes | /ˈtaɪɡə/ |
| elephant(n.) | a huge grey animal with a trunk | /ˈelɪfənt/ |
| bear(n.) | a big strong animal with thick fur | /beə/ |
| wolf(n.) | a wild animal like a big dog | /wʊlf/ |
| fox(n.) | a wild animal with red fur | /fɒks/ |
| monkey(n.) | an animal that climbs trees | /ˈmʌŋki/ |
| giraffe(n.) | an animal with a very long neck | /dʒɪˈrɑːf/ |
| zebra(n.) | a wild horse with black and white stripes | /ˈzebrə/ |
| snake(n.) | a long animal with no legs | /sneɪk/ |
Birds
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| bird(n.) | an animal with feathers and wings | /bɜːd/ |
| eagle(n.) | a big bird that hunts | /ˈiːɡl/ |
| owl(n.) | a bird that is awake at night | /aʊl/ |
| pigeon(n.) | a grey bird often seen in cities | /ˈpɪdʒɪn/ |
| sparrow(n.) | a small brown bird | /ˈspærəʊ/ |
| swan(n.) | a big white bird with a long neck | /swɒn/ |
| penguin(n.) | a black and white bird that cannot fly | /ˈpeŋɡwɪn/ |
Sea animals
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| fish(n.)“Fish swim in the sea.” | an animal that lives in water | /fɪʃ/ |
| whale(n.) | the biggest animal in the sea | /weɪl/ |
| dolphin(n.) | a clever sea animal that jumps | /ˈdɒlfɪn/ |
| shark(n.) | a big fish with sharp teeth | /ʃɑːk/ |
| octopus(n.) | a sea animal with eight arms | /ˈɒktəpəs/ |
| crab(n.) | a sea animal that walks sideways | /kræb/ |
| jellyfish(n.) | a soft sea animal that can sting | /ˈdʒelifɪʃ/ |
| seal(n.) | a sea animal that rests on rocks | /siːl/ |
Insects
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| bee(n.) | an insect that makes honey | /biː/ |
| butterfly(n.) | an insect with big colourful wings | /ˈbʌtəflaɪ/ |
| ant(n.) | a very small insect that lives in groups | /ænt/ |
| spider(n.) | a small animal with eight legs | /ˈspaɪdə/ |
| fly(n.) | a small insect that flies around food | /flaɪ/ |
| mosquito(n.) | an insect that bites and drinks blood | /məˈskiːtəʊ/ |
| ladybug(n.) | a red insect with black spots | /ˈleɪdibʌɡ/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
Three sheeps ❌: no -s
Some animal names do not change in the plural: sheep, fish, deer. There is no -s. Say I see three sheep. ✓, not I see three sheeps. ✗
A girl lion ❌: say a lioness
Some animals have a different word for the male and the female: lion / lioness, bull / cow, horse / mare (a female horse). Babies also have their own names: a young cat is a kitten, a young dog is a puppy and a young horse is a foal.
Two mouses ❌: say two mice
Mouse has an irregular plural: mice (one mouse, two mice). It is the same for goose: one goose, two geese.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Animals
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Going further
The “Animals” topic is part of the contest vocabulary
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Practise on PLAYAnimals: learn these words for good
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Frequently asked questions
How can I learn animal names in English?+
Learn them in groups: first pets (dog, cat, rabbit), then farm animals (cow, horse, sheep), then wild animals (lion, tiger, elephant). Connect each word with a picture or an example sentence: it helps you remember it. This page puts the words in groups for you.
What is the plural of fish, sheep and deer?+
These three words do not change in the plural: one fish, many fish; one sheep, many sheep; one deer, many deer. There is no -s. Mouse has an irregular plural: mice. And goose becomes geese.
What is a pet?+
A pet is an animal that lives with you at home, like a dog or a cat. The plural is pets. To ask a friend, say Do you have any pets? A pet shop sells animals and pet food.
What is the difference between rabbit, bunny and hare?+
Rabbit is the normal word. Bunny is a sweet, informal word for a rabbit: children use it, and it is also used for soft toys. A hare is a different animal: it is bigger and faster, with longer ears, and it lives in the wild.
What are baby animals called in English?+
Many animals have a special word for their baby: kitten (cat), puppy (dog), foal (horse), calf (cow), lamb (sheep), piglet (pig), chick (chicken), cub (lion, tiger, bear) and joey (kangaroo).
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/animals
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.