Be taught the Names of 121+ Animals in French From Pets to Predators


Probably the most enjoyable issues to be taught in any new language is learn how to discuss animals. Whether or not you’re strolling via the zoo within the Bois de Vincennes in Paris, visiting the lemurs in Madagascar, or speaking to your pets in French, figuring out learn how to say animals in French can improve any animal expertise!

How you can say ‘animal’ in French

The phrase for “animal” in French is tremendous straightforward — animal — which is pronounced “ah-nee-mahl.” This phrase is an ideal French cognate, however one peculiarity is that its plural type (animals) shouldn’t be as apparent: animaux (ah-nee-moh).

Names of les animaux domestiques (pets) in French

Everybody loves speaking about their pets! There are two other ways to say “pet” in French: animal domestique or animal de compagnie. Like all French nouns, every animal title has its personal gender, though most are masculine. Sure animals have totally different varieties or phrases for his or her feminine counterparts, however for essentially the most half, the genders listed under are used. 

For those who’re battling French gender guidelines, Rosetta Stone might help you be taught extra naturally with out the necessity for memorization!

FrenchPronunciationEnglish
le chaméléonkah-may-lay-ohnthe chameleon
le chatshahthe cat
le chatonshah-tohnthe kitten
le chienshee-ehnthe canine
le chiotshee-ohthe pet
le cochon d’Indeko-shohn dahndthe guinea pig
le furetfoo-raythe ferret
la gerbillejer-beethe gerbil
le hamsterahm-stairthe hamster
le hérissonair-ee-sohnthe hedgehog
le lézardlay-zarthe lizard
le lézard à barbelay-zar-ah-barbthe bearded dragon
l’oiseau (m)wah-zohthe chicken
le poissonpwah-sohnthe fish
le poisson rougepwah-sohn-roujthe goldfish
le serpentsair-puhnthe snake

How you can discuss your pets in French

The verb avoir (to have) is crucial in discussing pets in French. With the ability to conjugate this frequent French verb can take your French dialog to the following stage. The examples under use the formal “you,” however you possibly can determine when to make use of tu or vous relying on the scenario.

  • Avez-vous un animal domestique ? = Do you’ve a pet?
  • Vous avez combien d’animaux de compagnie ? = You have got what number of pets?
  • J’ai deux chiens. = I’ve two canines.
  • Je n’ai pas d’animal domestique. = I don’t have any pets.

Les animaux du zoo (zoo animals) in French

From the large ZooParc de Beauval in France to the Zoo de Granby in Quebec, there are a lot of zoos to find throughout the French-speaking world. Be ready for a go to with the French names of the animals you may encounter.

FrenchPronunciationEnglish
l’alligator (m)ah-lee-gah-tohrthe alligator
le flamantflah-mahnthe flamingo
la girafejee-rahfthe giraffe
le gorillegohr-eethe gorilla
le kangouroukang-ooh-roothe kangaroo
le koalakoh-ah-lathe koala
le lionlee-ohnthe lion
la loutreloo-truhthe otter
le manchotmahnsh-ohthe penguin
l’ours (m)ooh-rsthe bear
le pandapahn-dahthe panda
le singesah-njthe monkey
le tigretee-gruhthe tiger
le zèbrezeh-bruhthe zebra

Les animaux de la ferme (livestock) in French: names and sounds

Past main cities and their zoos, there are charming rural areas begging to be explored. Communities everywhere in the French-speaking world cherish their livestock. 

FrenchPronunciationEnglish
l’âne (m)ahnthe donkey
le canardkah-narthe duck
le chevalshuh-vahlthe horse
le cochonkoh-shohnthe pig
le coqkohkthe rooster
le dindondahn-dohnthe turkey
le moutonmoo-tohnthe sheep
l’oie (f)wahthe goose
la poulepoolthe hen
le poussinpoo-sahnthe chick
la vachevah-shthe cow

Animal sounds in French

Though animals don’t make totally different sounds in numerous international locations, their sounds are interpreted uniquely relying on the language. In French, these onomatopoeias differ barely from ours.

AnimalFrench OnomatopoeiaEnglish Onomatopoeia
catmiaoumeow
chickpiou pioucheep
cowmeuhmoo
canineouaf ouafwoof woof
donkeyhi-hanhee-haw
duckcoin coinquack quack
piggroin groinoink oink
roostercoquericotcock-a-doodle-doo
sheepbêêbaa
turkeyglou glou glougobble gobble

French idioms that use animals

As in English, there are idioms in French that use animals. Idioms might help you stage up your language and sound extra like a local speaker!

French IdiomLiteral TranslationEnglish Idiom
appeler un chat un chatto name a cat a catto name a spade a spade
faire le froid d’un canardto be a duck’s chillyto be actually chilly exterior
quand les poules auront les dentswhen chickens have enamelwhen pigs fly
revenons à nos moutonslet’s get again to our sheeplet’s get again on monitor

Les animaux de la forêt (forest animals) in French

roe deer in European forest

Headed to tour Quebec or to hike via Switzerland? For those who’re somebody who prefers to discover nature, figuring out these forest animals will allow you to narrate your journey via one of many many lovely forests all through the French-speaking world.

FrenchPronunciationEnglish
le cerfsairfthe deer
la chauve-sourisshohv soo-reethe bat
la chouetteshoo-ettthe owl (with feathers on head)
le crapaudcrah-pohthe toad
l’écureuil (m)ay-cure-oythe squirrel
l’élan (Fr) / l’orignal (Can) (each m)ay-lahn / or-ee-nyalthe moose
le hibouee-boothe owl (with no feathers on head)
la mouffettemoo-fettthe skunk
l’ours brun (m)ooh-rs bruhnthe brown bear
l’ours noir (m)ooh-rs noo-arthe black bear
le raton laveurrah-tohn lah-vairthe raccoon
la sourissoo-reethe mouse

Les animaux du désert et de la savane (savanna and desert animals) in French

There are over 25 international locations in Africa that talk French. Though many of those animals are additionally discovered within the zoo, prepare on your safari adventures in a French-speaking African nation with these desert and savanna animals!

FrenchPronunciationEnglish
le babouinbah-boo-ahnthe baboon
le chameaushah-mothe camel
l’émeu (m)ay-muhthe emu
le fourmilierfoor-mee-lee-aythe anteater
la gazellegah-zellthe gazelle
la girafejee-rahfthe giraffe
le gorillegohr-eethe gorilla
la hyèneee-ennthe hyena
le scorpionskor-pee-ohnthe scorpion
le singesah-njthe monkey
le suricatesoo-ree-kahtthe meerkat
le tigretee-gruhthe tiger
le phacochèrefah-ko-shairthe warthog
le zèbrezeh-bruhthe zebra

Les animaux marins (marine animals) in French

Whether or not you’re headed to the Caribbean or one of many coasts of France, there are a lot of marine animals to find. If being close to the ocean is extra your velocity, use the next tables to be prepared on your subsequent seaside journey. 

FrenchPronunciationEnglish
la baleinebah-lennthe whale
le crabekrahbthe crab
le dauphindoh-fahnthe dolphin
l’étoile de mer (f)ay-twol duh mairthe starfish
l’hippocampe (m)ee-poh-kahmpthe seahorse
le homardoh-marthe lobster
le macareuxmah-kah-ruhthe puffin
la médusemay-doozthe jellyfish
l’ours polaire / l’ours blanc (m)ooh-rs poh-lair, ooh-rs blahnthe polar bear
le phoquefohkthe seal
la pieuvrepee-uh-vruhthe octopus
le requinruh-kahnthe shark
la tortue marinetor-too mah-reenthe ocean turtle

Les insectes (bugs) in French

Whether or not you like them or hate them, bugs are in every single place! In France, touring to Provence means listening to the peaceable sound of cicadas. Understanding learn how to say bugs in French may be helpful in a wide range of conditions.

FrenchPronunciationEnglish
l’abeille (f)ah-baythe bee
le cafardkah-farthe cockroach
la chenilleshen-eethe caterpillar
la cigalesee-gahlthe cicada
la coccinellekohk-see-nellthe ladybug
le coléoptèrekoh-lay-ope-tairthe beetle
la fourmisfoor-meethe ant
le grillongree-ohnthe cricket
la libellulelee-bell-oolthe dragonfly
la mouchemooshthe fly
le moustiquemoo-steekthe mosquito
le papillonpah-pee-ohnthe butterfly
la sauterellesoh-tair-ellthe grasshopper

Les animaux du monde francophone (animals of the French-speaking world)

There are lots of Francophone (French-speaking) locales with their very own distinctive species of animals. Uncover some uniquely French animals from world wide. 

Animals in Madagascar

lemur in tree in Madagascar

Madagascar is among the most original locations on earth in terms of animals. Round 85% of the animals in Madagascar can solely be discovered there! Since French is among the official languages of Madagascar, it’s a no-brainer to check these animal phrases in French forward of time. You’ll undoubtedly need to know the phrase lémurien (lemur), as there are over 110 species of lemurs to find in Madagascar. 

FrenchPronunciationEnglish
l’aigrette (f)ay-gretthe egret
le chaméléonkah-may-lay-ohnthe chameleon
la colombekoh-lohmbthe dove
le corbeaukor-bohthe crow
le geckogeh-kohthe gecko
la grenouillegruh-nweethe frog
l’iguane (m)ee-gwanthe iguana
le lémurienlay-mur-ee-ahnthe lemur
le martin-pêcheurmar-tahn-pesh-airthe kingfisher
le perroquetpair-oh-kaythe parrot
la roussetteroo-setthe flying fox

French names for animals from Martinique, Guadeloupe, & the Caribbean

One other standard vacation spot for journey is the Caribbean. Martinique and Guadeloupe have many distinctive animals to see and discuss in your subsequent journey. Take a stroll via the Jardin de Balata in Martinique or the Guadeloupe Zoo!

FrenchPronunciationEnglish
le faucon pèlerinfoh-kohn-pell-er-ahnthe peregrine falcon
le fou aux pieds rougesfoo-oh-pee-ay-roujthe red-footed booby
le grand hérongrahn-air-ohnthe good blue heron
le grand requin blancgrahn-ruh-kahn-blahnthe good white shark
l’orque (f)orkthe killer whale
le pélicanpay-lee-kahnthe pelican
le poisson-lunepwah-ssohn-loonthe ocean sunfish
la tortue luthtor-too-lootthe leatherback sea turtle

Grammar guidelines for French animal names

If you write or talk about French animals, there are just a few grammar guidelines that can allow you to be extra clear. 

How you can make animal names plural in French

It’s commonest in French to easily add an -s when making a phrase plural. However most animal names (and phrases) in French that finish in -al change to -aux for his or her plural type, like animaux. There are additionally just a few French animal names that finish in -u, like chameau and oiseau, that use an -x as a substitute of an -s.

  • l’anima (the animal)
    • les animaux (the animals)
  • le chameau (the camel)
    • les chameaux (the camels)
  • l’oiseau (the chicken)

Utilizing articles with French animal names

Past pluralizing the phrase itself, you’ll must know learn how to use articles in French with animals.  

  • If the singular article is particular (the) and makes use of le, la, or l’ (earlier than a vowel), the pluralized model is les.
    • l’animal (the animal) turns into les animaux (the animals)
  • If the singular article is indefinite (a/some) and makes use of un or une, the pluralized model is des.
    • un animal (an animal) turns into des animaux (some animals)

Pronunciation of animals in French

A number of French animal phrases (together with a lot of French phrases) finish in a nasal sound, famous with the -hn ending. These phrases don’t finish in a tough “n” sound, however relatively the “n” sound trails off. Examples are -on, -en, -ant, and -ent. Rosetta Stone’s TruAccent speech recognition engine might help you grasp nasal sounds and different French pronunciations!

Be taught extra about animals in French with Rosetta Stone

Understanding learn how to say animals in French is a good device when touring and for having significant conversations with fellow animal lovers in French. Along with animal names, Rosetta Stone might help you develop your vocabulary to habitats, colours, verbs, and rather more. Take into account dwell classes, as real-time instruction with a local speaker is bound to fast-track your French and help you acquire entry to the French-speaking world!

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