Learning the names of animals is a great way to expand your vocabulary and understand Arabic culture better. The general word for animal in Arabic is hayawan (حيوان), and the plural is hayawanat (حيوانات). Let’s explore some of the most common animals, categorized to help you learn them easily.
Domestic Animals in Arabic (حيوانات أليفة)
The phrase for pet in Arabic is hayawan alif (حيوان أليف), which literally means “tame animal.” Here are 20 common domestic animals in Arabic you might have as a pet or see in a home.
- Cat in Arabic: qittah (قطة)
- Dog in Arabic: kalb (كلب)
- Bird in Arabic: ‘asfurah (عصفورة)
- Rabbit in Arabic: arnab (أرنب)
- Horse in Arabic: hisan (حصان)
- Pony in Arabic: hisan saghir (حصان صغير)
- Parrot in Arabic: babagha’ (ببغاء)
- Hamster in Arabic: hamster (هامستر)
- Guinea Pig in Arabic: khinzir ghana (خنزير غانا)
- Goldfish in Arabic: samakah dahabiyyah (سمكة ذهبية)
- Tortoise in Arabic: sulhufah (سلحفاة)
- Mongoose in Arabic: nims (نمس)
- Canary in Arabic: kanar (كنار)
- Ferret in Arabic: namis (نميس)
- Gerbil in Arabic: yarbu’ (يربوع)
- Chinchilla in Arabic: shanshil (شنشيل)
- Hedgehog in Arabic: qunfudh (قنفذ)
- Lizard in Arabic: suhliyya (سحلية)
- Mouse in Arabic: fa’r (فأر)
- Dove in Arabic: hamamah (حمامة)
Farm Animals in Arabic (حيوانات المزرعة)
Farm animals, hayawanat al-mazra’a (حيوانات المزرعة), have always been important in Arab culture, especially in rural areas. Knowing these words is very useful.
- Cow in Arabic: baqarah (بقرة)
- Goat in Arabic: ma’iz (ماعز)
- Sheep in Arabic: kharuf (خروف)
- Donkey in Arabic: himar (حمار)
- Camel in Arabic: jamal (جمل)
- Bull in Arabic: thawr (ثور)
- Chicken in Arabic: dajajah (دجاجة)
- Rooster in Arabic: dik (ديك)
- Duck in Arabic: battah (بطة)
- Pig in Arabic: khinzir (خنزير)
- Turkey in Arabic: dik rumi (ديك رومي)
- Calf in Arabic: ‘ijl (عجل)
- Lamb in Arabic: hamal (حمل)
- Goose in Arabic: iwazzah (إوزة)
- Hen in Arabic: dajajah (دجاجة)
- Mule in Arabic: baghl (بغل)
- Ostrich in Arabic: na’amah (نعامة)
- Pigeon in Arabic: hamam (حمام)
- Llama in Arabic: lama (لاما)
- Reindeer in Arabic: raynah (رينة)
Wild Animals in Arabic (حيوانات برية)
The term wild animal in Arabic is hayawan barri (حيوان بري). These animals live in the wilderness and are often seen in a zoo in Arabic, which is called hadikat al-hayawanat (حديقة الحيوانات).
- Lion in Arabic: asad (أسد)
- Tiger in Arabic: nimr (نمر)
- Leopard in Arabic: fahd (فهد)
- Elephant in Arabic: fil (فيل)
- Giraffe in Arabic: zarafah (زرافة)
- Monkey in Arabic: qird (قرد)
- Deer in Arabic: ghazal (غزال)
- Wolf in Arabic: dhi’b (ذئب)
- Bear in Arabic: dubb (دب)
- Fox in Arabic: tha’lab (ثعلب)
- Zebra in Arabic: himar wahshi (حمار وحشي)
- Hippopotamus in Arabic: faras an-nahr (فرس النهر)
- Rhinoceros in Arabic: wahid al-qarn (وحيد القرن)
- Cheetah in Arabic: fahd (فهد)
- Gorilla in Arabic: ghurilla (غوريلا)
- Kangaroo in Arabic: kangar (كنغر)
- Panda in Arabic: panda (باندا)
- Koala in Arabic: koala (كوالا)
- Jaguar in Arabic: jagwar (جاكوار)
- Coyote in Arabic: dhayya (ذئب البراري)
Sea Animals in Arabic (حيوانات بحرية)
The Arabic term for sea animals is hayawanat bahriyya (حيوانات بحرية). Here are 20 examples.
- Fish in Arabic: samakah (سمكة)
- Shark in Arabic: qirsh (قرش)
- Whale in Arabic: hut (حوت)
- Dolphin in Arabic: dulfin (دلفين)
- Octopus in Arabic: ukhtubut (أخطبوط)
- Crab in Arabic: sartan (سرطان)
- Jellyfish in Arabic: qindil al-bahr (قنديل البحر)
- Starfish in Arabic: najjim al-bahr (نجم البحر)
- Seal in Arabic: ‘ijil al-bahr (عجل البحر)
- Walrus in Arabic: fil al-bahr (فيل البحر)
- Squid in Arabic: habbār (حبار)
- Seahorse in Arabic: hisan al-bahr (حصان البحر)
- Oyster in Arabic: mahdarah (محارة)
- Shrimp in Arabic: jambari (جمبري)
- Lobster in Arabic: karak (كرك)
- Coral in Arabic: murjan (مرجان)
- Turtle in Arabic: sulhufah (سلحفاة)
- Crocodile in Arabic: timsah (تمساح)
- Alligator in Arabic: timsah (تمساح)
- Pelican in Arabic: baga’ (بجع)
Insects and Reptiles in Arabic (حشرات وزواحف)
The Arabic term for insects is hasharat (حشرات) and reptiles is zawāhif (زواحف).
- Ant in Arabic: namlah (نملة)
- Bee in Arabic: nahla (نحلة)
- Fly in Arabic: dhibabah (ذبابة)
- Mosquito in Arabic: ba’udah (بعوضة)
- Spider in Arabic: ‘ankabut (عنكبوت)
- Worm in Arabic: dudah (دودة)
- Butterfly in Arabic: farashah (فراشة)
- Cockroach in Arabic: sarsar (صرصار)
- Lizard in Arabic: sihliyah (سحلية)
- Frog in Arabic: difda’ (ضفدع)
- Snake in Arabic: thu’ban (ثعبان)
- Scorpion in Arabic: ‘aqrab (عقرب)
- Cricket in Arabic: sarsar (صرصار)
- Beetle in Arabic: khunfusā’ (خنفساء)
- Grasshopper in Arabic: jarād (جراد)
- Centipede in Arabic: mi’a qadam (مئة قدم)
- Dragonfly in Arabic: dhi’b al-ma’ (ذئب الماء)
- Snail in Arabic: halzun (حلزون)
- Caterpillar in Arabic: yasrua’ (يسروع)
- Moth in Arabic: ‘uth (عث)
Learning Arabic Animals Vocabulary
Here is a quick reference table for some of the Arabic animals vocabulary we covered, with example sentences to help you use them.
| English | Arabic (Pronunciation) | Example Sentence (English) | Example Sentence (Arabic) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal | hayawan (حيوان) | The lion is a wild animal. | الأسد حيوان بري. (Al-asad hayawan barri.) |
| Animals | hayawanat (حيوانات) | I love all kinds of animals. | أنا أحب كل أنواع الحيوانات. (Ana uhibb kull anwa’ al-hayawanat.) |
| Pet | hayawan alif (حيوان أليف) | My cat is a pet. | قطتي حيوان أليف. (Qittati hayawan alif.) |
| Zoo | hadikat al-hayawanat (حديقة الحيوانات) | We went to the zoo today. | ذهبنا إلى حديقة الحيوانات اليوم. (Dhahabna ila hadikat al-hayawanat al-yawm.) |
| Wild Animals | hayawan barri (حيوان بري) | The fox is a wild animal. | الثعلب حيوان بري. (Ath-tha’lab hayawan barri.) |
| Farm Animals | hayawanat al-mazra’a (حيوانات المزرعة) | The sheep is a farm animal. | الخروف حيوان مزرعة. (Al-kharuf hayawan mazra’a.) |
| Deer | ghazal (غزال) | The deer ran through the forest. | الغزال ركض في الغابة. (Al-ghazal rakada fi al-ghabah.) |
| Goat | ma’iz (ماعز) | The goat eats grass. | الماعز يأكل العشب. (Al-ma’iz ya’kul al-‘ushb.) |
| Cat | qittah (قطة) | I have a small cat. | لدي قطة صغيرة. (Ladaya qittah saghirah.) |
| Lion | asad (أسد) | The lion is the king of the jungle. | الأسد هو ملك الغابة. (Al-asad huwa malik al-ghabah.) |
conclusion
Learning the names of animals in Arabic, from the deer in arabic to the goat in arabic, is a fun and essential step for any learner. It not only expands your vocabulary but also connects you to the rich culture where these words have deep meanings and history.
To continue your journey into the richness of the Arabic language and its cultures, consider using the Kaleela app. It provides comprehensive lessons on Modern Standard Arabic and various dialects, helping you master not just the words but also the traditions behind them.