Animal Names in Afrikaans
With a nearly endless amount of animals in the world, this page will eventually be a gold mine for new Afrikaans vocabulary. At the moment we are working on adding to this list of animal names in Afrikaans, but we already have over 150 translations for you to learn from.
Before the main list of animal names, you'll find a list of some Afrikaans to English translated animal categories like amphibian, marsupial, insect, ect. Plus the translations for words like herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore. After the long list of animal names you'll find some animal-related phrases that may also be interesting to learn.
Afrikaans Animal Names:
Words in bold added during the last update. You can also view this list of animal words from English to Afrikaans.
General Animal Words in Afrikaans
Here are some more general animal words that you might want to learn before we get to the master list of animal names.
Amfibi ➔ Amphibian
Buideldier ➔ Marsupial
Insek ➔ Insect
Knaagdier ➔ Rodent
Primaat ➔ Primate
Reptiel ➔ Reptile
Soogdier ➔ Mammal
Herbivoor ➔ Herbivore
Karnivoor ➔ Carnivore
Omnivoor ➔ Omnivore
List of Animal Names in Afrikaans from A-Z
And here we have the master list of animal names in Afrikaans, ordered by the Afrikaans spelling of the name.
A (Aap to Asiatiese olifant)
Aap ➔ Monkey
Afrika-olifant ➔ African elephant
Akkedis ➔ Lizard
Asiatiese olifant ➔ Asian elephant
B (Baars to By)
Baars ➔ Perch
Beekforel ➔ Brook trout
Beer ➔ Bear
Bewer ➔ Beaver
Bloedwurm ➔ Bloodworm
Bloureier ➔ Blue heron
Blouwalvis ➔ Blue whale
Bok ➔ Goat
Boompadda ➔ Tree frog
Bruinbeer ➔ Brown bear
Bruinforel ➔ Brown trout
Brulpadda ➔ Bullfrog
Budjie ➔ Budgie
Buffel ➔ Buffalo
Bultrugwalvis ➔ Humpback whale
By ➔ Bee
D (Dolfyn to Donkie)
Dolfyn ➔ Dolphin
Donkie ➔ Donkey
E (Eekhoring to Erdwurm)
Eekhoring ➔ Squirrel
Eendbekdier ➔ Platypus
Erdvark ➔ Aardvark
Erdwurm ➔ Earthworm
F (Flamink)
Flamink ➔ Flamingo
G (Garnaal to Gryseekhoring)
Garnaal ➔ Shrimp
Gevlekte hiëna ➔ Spotted hyena
Gordeldier ➔ Armadillo
Groot panda ➔ Giant panda
Grootbekbaars ➔ Largemouth bass
Grysbeer ➔ Grizzly bear
Gryseekhoring ➔ Grey squirrel
H (Haai to Hond)
Haai ➔ Shark
Hamerkophaai ➔ Hammerhead shark
Hamster ➔ Hamster
Heuningby ➔ Honeybee
Hoender ➔ Chicken
Hommelby ➔ Bumblebee
Hond ➔ Dog
J (Jagluiperd to Jaguar)
Jagluiperd ➔ Cheetah
Jaguar ➔ Jaguar
K (Kabeljou to Krokodil)
Kabeljou ➔ Cod
Kaketoe ➔ Cockatoo
Kakkerlak ➔ Cockroach
Kameel ➔ Camel
Kameelperd ➔ Giraffe
Kangaroe ➔ Kangaroo
Kapibara ➔ Capybara
Karp ➔ Carp
Kat ➔ Cat
Keiserpikkewyn ➔ Emperor penguin
Kleinbekbaars ➔ Smallmouth bass
Kokketiel ➔ Cockatiel
Komododraak ➔ Komodo dragon
Koningpikkewyn ➔ King penguin
Kraai ➔ Crow
Kraanvoël ➔ Crane
Krap ➔ Crab
Krap spinnekop ➔ Crab spider
Krewe ➔ Crayfish
Kriek ➔ Cricket
Krimpvarkie ➔ Hedgehog
Krokodil ➔ Crocodile
L (Lama to Luiperd)
Lama ➔ Llama
Lamantyn ➔ Manatee
Leerskilpad ➔ Leatherback turtle
Leeu ➔ Lion
Lelkraanvoël ➔ Whooping crane
Lieweheersbesie ➔ Ladybug
Luiaard ➔ Sloth
Luiperd ➔ Leopard
M (Makriel to Myt)
Makriel ➔ Mackerel
Mier ➔ Ant
Miskruier ➔ Dung beetle
Mol ➔ Mole
Mossel ➔ Mussel
Mot ➔ Moth
Muil ➔ Mule
Muis ➔ Mouse
Muskiet ➔ Mosquito
Muskusos ➔ Muskox
Myt ➔ Mite
N (Naakslak to Naaldekoker)
Naakslak ➔ Slug
Naaldekoker ➔ Dragonfly
O (Oester to Orangoetang)
Oester ➔ Oyster
Olifant ➔ Elephant
Opossum ➔ Opossum
Orangoetang ➔ Orangutan
P (Padda to Pylinkvis)
Padda ➔ Frog
Panda ➔ Panda
Papegaai ➔ Parrot
Pelsrob ➔ Fur seal
Perd ➔ Horse
Pikkewyn ➔ Penguin
Platwurm ➔ Flatworm
Poema ➔ Puma
Potvis ➔ Sperm whale
Pylinkvis ➔ Squid
R (Raaf to Rot)
Raaf ➔ Raven
Reënboogforel ➔ Rainbow trout
Reier ➔ Heron
Rendier ➔ Reindeer
Renoster ➔ Rhinoceros
Ringwurm ➔ Ringworm
Rob ➔ Seal
Rooijakkals ➔ Red fox
Rot ➔ Rat
S (Salm to Sywurm)
Salm ➔ Salmon
Sardyn ➔ Sardine
Sebra ➔ Zebra
Seekat ➔ Octopus
Seekoei ➔ Hippopotamus
Siberiese tier ➔ Siberian tiger
Skaap ➔ Sheep
Skilpad ➔ Tortoise
Skilpad ➔ Turtle
Skoenlapper ➔ Butterfly
Slak ➔ Snail
Slang ➔ Snake
Sonvisse ➔ Sunfish
Spinnekop ➔ Spider
Sprinkaan ➔ Grasshopper
Steenarend ➔ Golden eagle
Swartbeer ➔ Black bear
Sywurm ➔ Silkworm
T (Tasmaniese duiwel to Tier)
Tasmaniese duiwel ➔ Tasmanian devil
Termiet ➔ Termite
Tier ➔ Tiger
V (Vark to Voël)
Vark ➔ Pig
Varswatervis ➔ Freshwater fish
Veelvraat ➔ Wolverine
Verkleurmannetjie ➔ Chameleon
Vis ➔ Fish
Vlermuis ➔ Bat
Vlieg ➔ Fly
Vlinder ➔ Butterfly
Voël ➔ Bird
W (Walvis to Wurm)
Walvis ➔ Whale
Wasbeer ➔ Raccoon
Waterjuffer ➔ Damselfly
Weekdier ➔ Mollusk
Weeluis ➔ Bedbug
Wesp ➔ Wasp
Wildsbok ➔ Antelope
Withaai ➔ Great white shark
Witsterthert ➔ White-tailed deer
Wolf ➔ Wolf
Wurm ➔ Worm
Y (Ysbeer to Ystervark)
Ysbeer ➔ Polar bear
Ystervark ➔ Porcupine
Animal-Related Phrases in Afrikaans
Here are a couple more phrases that could be worth adding to your vocabulary that also include animal names.
Stadig soos 'n slak ➔ Slow as a snail
Ystervarke is plantetend ➔ Porcupines are herbivores.
This list of Afrikaans animal names was last updated on July 30, 2025.
Next Up
Planet Names and Space Words in Afrikaans: Learn how to speak of the planets and other space words in Afrikaans.
Perhaps you want to learn animal words in these other languages?
Afrikaans, Bengali, Bosnian, Burmese, Dutch, French, German, Hawaiian, Japanese, Malay, Mandarin, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish.
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