Whether you want to visit the Parc de la Tête d’Or zoo in Lyon, ask questions to a French farmer on a marché or just watch funny cat videos with your Québécois friends, it always comes handy to know some French animal vocabulary.
Besides, who doesn’t like les animaux? Knowing animals in French will help you engage in conversation and make new francophone friends. From zoo animals and pets to farm animals in French, without forgetting wildlife and sea creatures, get ready for a furry, feathery, and scaly article!
1. Farm animals in French
Passez du coq à l’âne (French expression meaning “To change the subject completely”) with these farm animals in French!
| English | Singular | Plural | Male | Female | Young | Collective noun |
| Horse | (Le) cheval shuh-vall | Chevaux shuh-voh | Étalon eh-tah-lon | Jument ju-muhn | Poulain pooh-lahn | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Cow | (La) vache vahsh | Vaches vahsh | Taureau, boeuf tuh-ruh | Vache vahsh | Génisse, taurillon, veau jen-eese, tow-re-yon, vo | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Pig | (Le) cochon coo-shohn | Cochons coo-shohn | Cochon coo-shohn | Truie truwee | Goret, porcelet go-ret, pour-su-leh | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Goat | (La) chèvre sheh-vruh | Chèvres sheh-vruh | Bouc book | Chèvre sheh-vruh | Chevreau shuh-vroh | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Donkey | (L’)âne ahn | Ânes ahn | Âne ahn | Ânesse an-esse | Ânon an-ohn | Troupe trewp |
| Sheep | (Le) mouton moo-tohn | Moutons moo-tohn | Moutons moo-tohn | Brebis breh-bee | Agneau ah-nee-ho | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Chicken | (Le) poulet poo-lay | Poulets poo-lay | Coq cock | Poule pool | Poussin pooh-san | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Duck | (Le) canard cah-nar | Canards cah-nar | Canard cah-nar | Câne canh | Caneton cah-nay-tohn | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Turkey | (La) dinde dahnd | Dindes dahnd | Dindon dahn-dohn | Dinde dahnd | Dindonneau dahn-doh-no | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Goose | (L’)oie wah | Oies wah | Jars jhar | Oie wah | Oison wah-zohn | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Rabbit | (Le) lapin lah-pahn | Lapins lah-pahn | Lapin lah-pahn | Lapine lah-peen | Lapereau lah-puh-ro | Troupeau trew-poh |
2. Zoo animals and wild animals in French
Navigate the jungle of French animal vocabulary with these wild animals and zoo animals in French!
| English | Singular | Plural | Male | Female | Young | Collective noun |
| Lion | (Le) lion lee ohn | Lions lee-ohn | Lion lee-ohn | Lionne lee-uhn | Lionceau lee-ohn-so | Meute or troupeau muht, trew-poh |
| Tiger | (Le) tigre tee-gruh | Tigres tee-gruh | Tigre tee-gruh | Tigresse tee-gres | Tigreau tee-gro | Meute or troupeau muht, trew-poh |
| Elephant | (L’)éléphant ay lay-fohn | Éléphants ay lay-fohn | Éléphant ay lay-fohn | Éléphante ay-lay-fohnt | Éléphanteau ay-lay-fohnt-oh | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Giraffe | (La) girafe gee-rahff | Girafes gee-rahff | Girafe gee-rahff | Girafe gee-rahff | Girafon gee-rahff-onh | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Hippopotamus | (L’)hippopotame ee-poh-poh-tahm | Hippopotames ee-poh-poh-tahm | Hippopotames ee-poh-poh-tahm | Hippopotame ee-poh-poh-tahm | Bébé hippopotame ee-poh-poh-tahm | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Rhinoceros | (Le) rhinocéros ree-noh-sair-os | Rhinocéros ree-noh-sair-os | Rhinocéros ree-noh-sair-os | Rhinocéros ree-noh-sair-os | Bébé rhinocéros ree-noh-sair-os | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Zebra | (Le) zèbre zeh-bruh | Zèbres zeh-bruh | Zèbre zeh-bruh | Zebrelle zeh-brelle | Zébron or Zébreau zeh-brohn, zeh-broh | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Monkey | (Le) singe sanj | Singes sanj | Singe sanj | Guenon guh-nohn | Bébé singe beh-beh-sanj | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Crocodile | (Le) crocodile kroe-koe-deel | Crocodiles kroe-koe-deel | Crocodile kroe-koe-deel | Crocodile kroe-koe-deel | Bébé crocodile beh-beh-kroe-koe-deel | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Kangaroo | (Le) kangourou kahn-goo-roo | Kangourous kahn-goo-roo | Kangourou kahn-goo-roo | Kangourou kahn-goo-roo | Bébé kangourou beh-beh-kahn-goo-roo | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Bear | (L’)ours oors | Ours oors | Ours oors | Oursonne oors-uhn | Ourson oors-ohn | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Wolf | (Le) loup luh loo | Loups loo | Loups loo | Louve loo-vuh | Louveteau loo-vuh-tou | Meute muht |
| Bird | (L’)oiseau wah-so | Oiseaux wah-so | Oiseaux wah-so | Oiselle wah-zell | Oisillon wah-zee-yohn | Volée voh-leh |
3. Sea animals in French
Dive into sea animals in French with these fascinating aquatic creatures!
| English | Singular | Plural | Male | Female | Young | Collective noun |
| Fish | (Le) poisson pwah-ssohn | Poissons pwah-ssohn | Poissons pwah-ssohn | Poissons pwah-ssohn | Alevin ah-lew-vahn | Banc bahn |
| Dolphin | (Le) dauphin do-fahn | Dauphins do-fahn | Dauphin do-fahn | Dauphin do-fahn | Delfineau del-fee-noh | Banc bahn |
| Whale | (La) baleine bell-ehn | Baleines bahl-ehn | Baleine bahl-ehn | Baleine bahl-ehn | Baleineau bahl-eh-noh | Banc or troupeau bahn, trew-poh |
| Seal | (Le) phoque fawk | Phoques fawk | Phoque fawk | Phoque fawk | Blanchon blahn-shohn | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Shark | (Le) requin ri-kahn | Requins reuh-kahn | Requin reuh-kahn | Requin reuh-kahn | Requineau reuh-key-noh | Banc bahn |
| Polar bear | (L’)ours blanc oors blah-unk | Ours blancs oors blah-unk | Ours blanc oors blah-unk | Oursonne blanche Oors-uhn blah-unk | Ourson blanc oors-ohn blah-unk | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Penguin | (Le) pingouin pehn-gwahn | Pingouins pehn-gwahn | Pingouin pehn-gwahn | Pingouine pehn-gwin | Poussin pooh-san | Colonie koh-lo-nee |
| Squid | (Le) calamar kal-ah-mahr | Calamars kal-ah-mahr | Calamar kal-ah-mahr | Calamar kal-ah-mahr | Bébé calamar beh-beh kal-ah-mahr | Banc bahn |
| Jellyfish | (La) méduse may-dooz | Médusesmay-dooz | Méduse may-dooz | Méduse may-dooz | Bébé méduse beh-beh may-dooz | Banc bahn |
| Lobster | (Le) homard oh-mar | Homards oh-mar | Homard oh-mar | Homard oh-mar | Bébé homard beh-beh oh-mar | Banc bahn |
| Crab | (Le) crabe crahb | Crabes crahb | Crabe crahb | Crabe crahb | Bébé crabe beh-beh crahb | Banc bahn |
| Seahorse | (L’)hippocampe eep-oh-kahmp | Hippocampes eep-oh-kahmp | Hippocampe eep-oh-kahmp | Hippocampes eep-oh-kahmp | Bébé hippocampe beh-beh eep-oh-kahmp | Banc bahn |
| Otter | (La) loutre loo-truh | Loutres loo-truh | Loutre loo-truh | Loutre loo-truh | Loutron loo-trohn | Troupeau trew-poh |
4. Pets in French
And last but not least, learn how to call your best friends in French!
| English | Singular | Plural | Male | Female | Young | Collective noun |
| Dog | (Le) chien shee-ehn | Chiens shee-ehn | Chien shee-ehn | Chienne shee-en | Chiot shee-oo | Meute muht |
| Cat | (Le) chat shah | Chats shah | Chat shah | Chatte shat | Chaton shah-tohn | Troupeau trew-poh |
| Goldfish | (Le) poisson rouge pwah-ssohn-rooge | Poissons rouges pwah-ssohn-rooge | Poisson rouge pwah-ssohn-rooge | Poisson rouge pwah-ssohn-rooge | Alevin ah-lew-vahn | Banc bahn |
| Hamster> | (Le) hamster am-stair | Hamsters am-stair | Hamster am-stair | Hamster am-stair | Bébé hamster beh-beh am-stair | Groupe grewp |
| Guinea pig | (Le) cochon d’Inde coo-shohn dande | Cochons d’Inde coo-shohn dande | Cochon d’Inde coo-shohn dande | Cochon d’Inde coo-shohn dande | Bébé cochon d’Inde beh-beh coo-shohn dande | Groupe grewp |
| Parrot | (Le) perroquet pair-rho-kay | Perroquets pair-rho-kay | Perroquet pair-rho-kay | Perroquet pair-rho-kay | Bébé perroquet beh-beh pair-rho-kay | Volée voh-leh |
| Ferret | (Le) furet fyoo-ray | Furets fyoo-ray | Furet fyoo-ray | Furet fyoo-ray | Bébé furet beh-beh fyoo-ray | Groupe grewp |
5. Animal songs in French
Animal songs in French for adults
- Le lion est mort ce soir, Pow Wow: A great French a capella rendition of the classic “The lion sleeps tonight”. Get ready to sing along!
- Le chat, Téléphone: The adventures of a very special cat by a popular French band.
- Le voyage de l’ourson, Freddy Zucchet: A moving song about a polar bear cub and the consequences of global warming.
Animal songs in French for kids
- Dans sa maison un grand cerf: A classic nursery rhyme for the little ones… or anybody who is learning French!
- Une souris verte: Another classic that any French kid or adult knows.
- Sous l’océan, La petite sirène: The French version of the Little Mermaid’s “Under the Sea”, to learn all the sea animals in French… as well as the musical instruments!
- Ouvrez la cage aux oiseaux, Pierre Perret: A delightful song for adults and kids alike to celebrate freedom.
6. Funny animal-related sayings, quotes, phrases
| Rire comme une baleine | To laugh like a whale | To roar with laughter |
| Être serrés comme des sardines | To be packed like sardines | To be crowded, very close together |
| Avoir d’autres chats à fouetter | To have other cats to whip | To have other fish to fry |
| Quand les poules auront des dents | When hens have teeth | When pigs can fly |
| Revenons à nos moutons | Let’s return to our sheep | To get back to the topic |
| Parler le français comme une vache espagnole | To speak French like a Spanish cow | To speak French badly (if that’s your case, try to learn French online!) |
| Quand on parle du loup | Speaking of the wolf | Speaking of the devil |
| Avoir le cafard | To have the cockroach | To feel blue |
| Donner de la confiture à un cochon | To feed jam to a pig | Give something valuable to somebody who doesn’t appreciate it |
| Comme un poisson dans l’eau | Like a fish in water | To be comfortable in a situation |
| Un ours mal léché | A badly licked bear | Somebody who is in a bad mood/difficult to deal with |
So did you manage to learn all the key animals in French?
Oh la vache, vous avez une mémoire d’éléphant! (two French expressions meaning “Oh my God” and “you have a great memory”).
If you’re finding pronunciation a challenge, it’s time to prendre le taureau par les cornes (French expression meaning “To tackle/face an issue”) and you might find it helps to learn the French alphabet with pronunciation.
Last but not least: Quel est votre animal préféré? Let us know on social media!
