Farm Animals
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| cow | A large animal kept for milk and meat. The cow is in the field. |
| pig | A pink animal known for being kept for pork. Pigs love mud. |
| sheep | A woolly animal kept for wool and meat. A flock of sheep. |
| hen | A female chicken kept for eggs. The hen laid an egg. |
| horse | A large animal used for riding and work. She rides her horse every day. |
| goat | An animal with horns kept for milk. Goats can climb rocks. |
| duck | A bird that swims on water. Ducks live near the pond. |
| rooster | A male chicken. The rooster crows in the morning. |
Wild Animals
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| lion | A large wild cat, called the king of the jungle. A lion roars. |
| elephant | The largest land animal, with a long trunk. Elephants live in Africa and Asia. |
| tiger | A large striped wild cat. Tigers are excellent swimmers. |
| bear | A large, heavy animal that hibernates in winter. A bear is in the forest. |
| wolf | A wild animal related to the dog. Wolves live in packs. |
| fox | A clever reddish-brown wild animal. The fox ran across the field. |
| deer | A graceful animal with antlers (male). A deer crossed the road. |
Tip In English, many animal names have separate words for male/female. For example: lion / lioness, bull / cow, dog / bitch (formal). The most common pattern you need to know is that young animals often have special names: a baby cat is a kitten, a baby dog is a puppy, a baby horse is a foal.
Pets
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| dog | The most popular pet. My dog loves to play fetch. |
| cat | An independent, furry pet. The cat is sleeping on the sofa. |
| rabbit | A fluffy pet with long ears. Rabbits eat carrots and grass. |
| hamster | A small pet that runs on a wheel. My hamster is nocturnal. |
| parrot | A colourful bird that can copy human speech. The parrot says hello. |
| goldfish | An orange fish kept in a tank or bowl. She has three goldfish. |
| guinea pig | A small, round furry pet. Guinea pigs are friendly animals. |
Sea Creatures
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| dolphin | A highly intelligent sea mammal. Dolphins are very playful. |
| shark | A large, powerful fish with sharp teeth. Sharks are predators. |
| whale | The largest animal on Earth. Whales communicate by singing. |
| crab | A sea creature with claws and a hard shell. Crabs walk sideways. |
| octopus | A sea creature with eight arms. An octopus can change colour. |
| jellyfish | A soft, transparent sea creature. Some jellyfish can sting. |
Animal Sounds in English
| Animal | Sound (verb) | Sound (noun) |
|---|---|---|
| dog | to bark | a bark |
| cat | to meow | a meow |
| cow | to moo | a moo |
| pig | to oink | an oink |
| lion | to roar | a roar |
| horse | to neigh | a neigh |
| sheep | to baa | a baa |
| duck | to quack | a quack |
Real world: Talking about animals
"We visited a farm last weekend. There were cows, sheep, and pigs everywhere. A rooster woke us up at 6 in the morning!"
"My favourite animal is the dolphin because they're so intelligent and friendly. I once went swimming with dolphins in New Zealand."
"The wolf is an interesting animal. Wolves live and hunt in packs, and they howl at night — it's a very distinctive sound."
Practice Problems
What sound does a dog make in English?
Show answer
It barks.
Name two wild animals from Africa.
Show answer
lion / elephant / tiger (any two that live in Africa)
What is a baby cat called in English?
Show answer
A kitten
Which sea creature has eight arms?
Show answer
An octopus