How to say 109 marvelous animal names in English from A to Z

Learning animal vocabulary is fun, especially if you’re an animal lover and have an appreciation for all creatures on this planet, from the sea to the sky, great and small.

Knowledge of the names of animals in English is useful for three reasons: it enables us to identify the animals we see, to describe the wildlife that interests us and helps us to discuss in English, the kinds of animals we would like to keep.

In this article, we’ll list animal names in English, recognize species associated with particular environments and countries, and we’ll take a look at useful animal vocabulary that is associated with these environments.

When might we need to know the names of animals in English?

Consider the following scenarios in which you want to describe something wonderful, identify something dangerous, or discover something new.

• During a recent outing to a wildlife zoo, you saw some native wildlife and were asked later what you saw and which animals you liked best.
• You’ve spotted a large nest of insects at the local park, and when you report it, you are asked if they are bees, wasps, or hornets.
• You are going to choose a family pet and need to find out everything you can about it on the internet.

Farm animal vocabulary from A to Z

Animals on farms are referred to as livestock, and birds as poultry.

Farm animal name (singular)	Pronunciation	Animal name (plural)	Male	Female	Young
Cat (Pet)	kæt	Cats	Tom	Cat/ Dam	Kitten
Cow	kaw	Cows	Bull	Cow	Calf
Dog (Usually as a pet or for work purposes)	dɔg	Dogs	Sire	Bitch	Puppy
Donkey	daŋki	Donkeys	Jack	Jennet	Foal
Duck	də́k	Ducks/ Poultry	Drake	Duck	Duckling
Goat	gót	Goats	Billy	Doe	Kid
Goose	gús	Geese	Gander	Goose	Gosling
Hen	hɛ́n	Hens/ Poultry	Rooster	Hen	Chicken/ Chick
Horse (for work or as a pet)	hɔ́rs	Horses	Stallion	Mare	Foal
Pig	pɪ́g	Pigs	Boar	Sow	Piglet
Sheep	ʃíp	Sheep	Ram	Ewe	Lamb
Turkey	tə́rki	Turkeys	Gobbler	Hen	Poult

Wild and zoo animal vocabulary from A to Z

Spotting the following animals in the wild would certainly be extra special. However, you can find many of the following animals in wildlife parks, rehabilitation centers or zoos, depending on where you are, of course.

Animals in zoos or safari parks are referred to as being in captivity (but not domesticated).

Zoo animal name (singular)	Pronunciation	Animal name (plural)	Male	Female	Young
Armadillo	àrmədɪ́lo	Armadillos	Armadillo	Armadillo/ Doe	Pup
Elephant	ɛ́ləfənt	Elephants	Bull	Cow	Calf
Giant Panda	ǰáyənt pǽndə	Giant Pandas	Boar	Soar	Cub
Giraffe	ǰərǽf	Giraffes	Bull	Doe	Calf
Lion	láyən	Lions	Lion	Lioness	Cub
Monkey	mə́ŋki	Monkeys	Male	Female	Infant
Turtle	tə́rtəl	Turtles	Male	Female	Hatchling
Zebra	zíbrə	Zebras	Stallion	Mare	Foal

Animals found in the wild from A to Z

Wild animal name (singular)	Pronunciation	Animal name (plural)	Male	Female	Young
Cougar	kúgər	Cougars	Male	Female	Kitten
Dolphin	dálfən	Dolphins	Bull	Cow	Calf
Emu	ímyù	Emus	Male	Female	Chick
Eagle	ígəl	Eagles	Tiercel	Hen	Eaglet
Kangaroo	kæ̀ŋgərú	Kangaroos	Buck	Doe	Joey
Leopard	lɛ́pərd	Leopards	Leopard	Leopardess	Cub
Moose	mus	Moose	Bull	Cow	Calf
Rhinoceros	raynásərəs	Rhinoceros	Bull	Cow	Calf
Snake	snék	Snakes	Male	Female	Hatching/ Snakelet
Tiger	táygər	Tigers	Tiger	Tigress	Cub
Whale	wel	Whales	Bull	Cow	Calf

Waters animals list from A to Z

Sea animal name (singular)	Pronunciation	Animal name (plural)	Male	Female	Young
Anemone	ǽnəmòn	Anemones	Male	Female
Crab	krǽb	Crabs	Buck	Jenny	Zoea Larvae
Cuttlefish	kə́təlfɪ̀š	Cuttlefish	Male	Female	Cuttlets
Eel	il	Eels	Male	Female	Elver
Jellyfish	ǰɛ́lifɪ̀š	Jellyfish	Male	Female	Ephyra Or Fingerlings
Octopus	áktəpʊ̀s	Octopus	Male	Hen	Larvae
Oyster	ɔ̀ystər	Oysters	Male	Female	Spat
Shark	šárk	Sharks	Bull	Female	Pup
Shrimp	šrɪ́mp	Shrimp	Male	Female	Baby
Tuna	túnə	Tuna	Male	Female	Young

Insects in English from A to Z

Insect name (singular)	Pronunciation	Animal name (plural)	Male	Female	Young
Ant	ant	Ants	Drone	Queen	Pupa
Bee	bee	Bee	Drone	Queen	Pupa
Butterfly	bə́tərflày	Butterflies	Male	Female	Larva
Cockroach	kákròč	Cockroaches	Male	Female	Nymph
Flea	fli	Fleas	Male	Female	Larva
Hornet	hɔ́rnət	Hornets	Drone	Queen	Larva
Mosquito	məskíto	Mosquitoes	Male	Female	Wriggler
Nit	nit	Nits	Male	Female	Nymph
Spider	spayder	Spiders	Male	Female	Spiderling
Wasp	wásp	Wasps	Drone	Queen	Larva

Pet animals in English

Pet animal name (singular)	Pronunciation	Animal name (plural)	Male	Female	Young
Budgie	bhujee	Budgies	Male	Female	Hatchling
Cat	kǽt	Cats	Tom	Dam	Kitten
Dog	dɔ́g	Dogs	Dog	Bitch	Puppy
Goldfish	góldfɪ̀š	Goldfish	Male	Female	Fry
Guinea Pig	gɪ́ni pɪ́g	Guinea Pigs	Boar	Sow	Pup
Hamster	hǽmstər	Hamsters	Buck	Doe	Pup
Mouse	máws	Mice	Buck	Doe	Kitten
Rabbit	rǽbɪ̀t	Rabbits	Buck	Doe	Kit

Animals in English by different countries (by association)

Africa

• Antelopes
• Baboons
• Buffalos
• Cheetahs
• Elephants
• Hyenas

Australia

• Bandicoots
• Bilbies
• Cockatoos
• Crocodiles
• Dingoes
• Echidnas
• Emus
• Kangaroos
• Koalas
• Kookaburras
• Lyrebirds
• Magpies
• Platypus
• Possums
• Quolls
• Tasmanian Devils
• Wallabies
• Wombats

Canada

• Beavers
• Moose
• Polar bears
• Bison
• Walrus
• Caribou

India

• Bats
• Deer
• Monkeys
• Sloths
• Snow leopards
• Tigers

United States

• Bears
• Bison
• Coyotes
• Eagles
• Otters
• Squirrels
• Raccoons

Great Britain

• Badgers
• Deer
• Dormice
• Foxes
• Hedgehogs
• Owls
• Stoats

Songs about animals

Songs are a great way to learn the names of animals in English and animal vocabulary. It’s useful to be able to describe animals in terms of where we see them.

1. At The Zoo With Matt is a fun song for kids about zoo animals

2. Under the Sea is a song and dance about animals under the sea

3. What is it? is a fun guess the pet animal game for kids

4. Animals in Action is a jungle animal song

Animal vocabulary games

I went to the zoo / farm / park / beach and guess what I saw:

This game is played in a group. Player one says, “I went to the zoo and I saw a (animal name). The second player repeats the sentence AND the first player’s animal and then adds their own. The third player must remember and repeat both animals and then add their own, and so on.

The game continues until a player falters and makes a mistake.

Animal squares:

This game is played with blank square grids of any number of squares, and a pencil for each player and can be played individually, in teams, or as a class. Choose a category – zoo animals, farm animals, pets, Australian animals, endangered animals, and so on. Begin with an easy category.

The grid is placed where everyone can see it (if in a class) or where you can write on it (if in a small group).

• Players in small groups take turns to write on the grid the name of an animal in English (which fits the chosen category). A player is out when they cannot think of another animal to add. Because the game requires players to investigate animal environments and names of animals in English, rules can be relaxed to allow the use of the internet or picture books.

OR

• Players in a class call out the names of animals in English and the teacher adds them to the grid. The game is over when players are unable to add any more animals. If the grid is filled, the class wins. Grids (and categories) can be drawn up to match the capability of groups.

What do the following expressions mean?

Sometimes we want to talk about animals in ways that describe or refer to their status in the human world. You may want to do this for research, for paid or volunteer work, or for your own interest. These are all relevant words to add to and expand your animal vocabulary.

• Threatened – the known numbers of this species in the world are very low
• Endangered – there are not many of this species left in the world
• Extinct – there are no known members of this species left
• Protected – the hunting, trapping, or killing of this species is prohibited
• Domesticated – bred and trained to live with humans
• Tame – trained to live safely with humans

What do we mean when we say:

He’s as happy as a pig in mud!	He’s doing what he loves!
Well, that’s just the bee's knees!	That is wonderful!
I’m having a whale of a time!	I’m having the best time ever!
Hold your horses, I’m coming!	Don’t be so impatient, I’m coming!
They always take the lion’s share!	They always take the most!
Well, that’s let the cat out of the bag!	That’s let the secret out!
That really gets my goat!	That is very annoying!
Why are you always so pigheaded?	Why do you argue so much?

Expanding your animal vocabulary

Talking about animals is a passionate pastime for many of us, and it’s a subject with an enormous and dynamic vocabulary. So have fun with it as you expand your English animal vocabulary with all the marvelous creatures that cohabit and share this wonderful Earth with us.

And if you really want to take things to the next level in learning about animals in English? We highly recommend getting acquainted with all the extraordinarily talented Sir David Attenborough and his documentaries.