Animals in Spanish

There are so many times in life when you'll want to talk about animals in Spanish. Maybe you want to talk about your pet, or point out an animal while visiting a Spanish zoo. No matter what your reason is for wanting to say animal words, luckily, this page is full of Spanish to English translations to help you out.

Look below for Spanish to English translations of many animal words and sentences. First up is a list of 141 animals in Spanish, then there's the same list, but this time organized into categories, followed by a list of 24 translated animal-related sentences to help you better understand how each word may be naturally said in conversation. There's also a video further down the page that deals with animals that can help you with your Spanish pronunciation.

List of Animals in Spanish (with English Translations)

Here is our big list of animal names in Spanish a-z. You can also view these words with translations from English to Spanish.

(Words in bold added during the last update.)

Spanish Animals Listed by Category (Land, Sea, and Sky)

You can also view these categories with translations from English to Spanish.

These are the same translations that were listed above, but grouped into categories to help you better remember. I find that it's easier to remember things if they've been presented to me in different ways, but if you are just looking for a specific translation, then the list above will probably be more helpful to you.

As you might be able to tell, I had some difficulty in choosing the category sometimes - I'm not a zoologist, so I just went with my gut feelings. Please forgive any errors.

Land Animals
There are many animals that stay mostly to the land. Some translations for these include: Alce (Moose), Antílope (Antelope), Ardilla (Squirrel), Ardilla listada (Chipmunk), Ardilla voladora (Flying squirrel), Armadillo (Armadillo), Avestruz (Ostrich - I don't believe they fly?), Babuino (Baboon), Bisonte (Bison), Búfalo (Buffalo), Burro (Donkey), Caballo (Horse), Cabra (Goat), Cachorro (Puppy), Camaleón (Chameleon), Camello (Camel), Canguro (Kangaroo), Caracol (Snail), Cebra (Zebra), Cerdo (Pig), Cerdo vietnamita (Pot-bellied pig), Chimpancé (Chimpanzee), Ciempiés (Centipede), Ciervo (Deer), Coala (Koala), Cocodrilo (Crocodile), Comadreja (Weasel), Conejillo de indias (Guinea pig), Conejo (Rabbit), Cucaracha (Cockroach), Elefante (Elephant), Elefante africano (African elephant), Elefante asiático (Asian elephant), Erizo (Hedgehog), Escorpión (Scorpion), Gallina (Chicken), Gato (Cat), Gato montés (Bobcat), Geco (Gecko), Glotón (Wolverine), Gorila (Gorilla), Hámster (Hamster), Hiena (Hyena), Hipopotamo (Hippopotamus), Hormiga (Ant), Hormigas rojas (Fire ants), Hurón (Ferret), Jirafa (Giraffe), Lagartija (Lizard), León (Lion), Leopardo (Leopard), Leopardo cazador (Cheetah), Lince (Lynx), Lobo (Wolf), Mapache (Raccoon), Milpiés (Millipede), Mono (Monkey), Mono araña (Spider monkey), Mula (Mule), Ocelote (Ocelot), Orangután (Orangutan), Oruga (Caterpillar), Oso (Bear), Oso hormiguero (Anteater), Oso negro (Black bear), Oso panda (Panda bear), Oso polar (Polar bear), Oveja (Sheep), Pastor alemán (German Shepherd), Pavo real (Peacock), Perezoso (Sloth), Pingüino (Penguin), Perro (Dog), Puerco espín (Porcupine), Puma (Cougar), Rana (Frog), Rana de árbol (Tree frog), Rata (Rat), Ratón (Mouse), Rinoceronte (Rhinoceros), Salamandra (Salamander), Saltamontes (Grasshopper), Serpiente (Snake), Serpiente de cascabel (Rattlesnake), Tigre (Tiger), Tigre siberiano (Siberian tiger), Tijereta (Earwig), Vaca (Cow), Zarigüeya (Opossum/Possum), Zorrillo (Skunk), and Zorro (Fox).

Sea Animals
Certain animals are water animals (I've listed them as sea, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are only in/on the sea. They could also be in the ocean or lakes, etc.). Translations for these ones include: Bagre (Catfish), Ballena (Whale), Ballena jorobada (Humpback whale), Caballo de mar (Seahorse), Caimán (Alligator - are they more on land or in water?), Calamar (Squid), Calamar gigante (Giant squid), Castor (Beaver), Cisne (Swan), Delfín (Dolphin), Estrella de mar (Starfish), Foca (Seal), Langosta (Lobster), Manatí (Manatee), Mantarraya (Stingray), Morsa (Walrus), Nutria (Otter), Ornitorrinco (Platypus), Peces (Fish - plural), Pez (Fish), Piraña (Piranha), Pez león (Lionfish), Pulpo (Octopus), Tiburón (Shark), Tiburón martillo (Hammerhead shark), Tortuga (Turtle), Tortuga baula (Leatherback turtle), and Tortuga marina (Sea turtle).

Sky Animals
The last category is air - the flying animals. Those translations are: Dragon (Dragon - yes, it's mythical, but it flies, right?), Águila (Eagle), Albatros (Albatross), Ardilla voladora (Flying squirrel - hey it flies... sometimes :P), Avispa (Wasp), Buitre (Vulture), Colibrí (Hummingbird), Faisán (Pheasant - though I think they run more than they fly), Ganso (Goose), Gorrión (Sparrow), Halcón (Falcon), Libélula (Dragonfly), Loro (Parrot), Luciérnaga (Firefly), Mariposa (Butterfly), Mariposa monarca (Monarch butterfly), Mosca (Fly), Mosca de la fruta (Fruit fly), Murciélago (Bat), Pajaro (Bird), Pájaro carpintero (Woodpecker), Pelícano (Pelican), and Polilla (Moth).

Spanish Animal Names Used in Sentences

You can also view these sentences with translations from English to Spanish.

(Words in bold added during the last update.)

*List of Spanish animals last updated: March 28, 2018.

English to Spanish Comprehension:

Can you answer these questions about Spanish animals? Give it a try and then scroll back up to see how you did! Ctrl+F can help you find the answers even faster if you prefer.

1. How do you say animals in Spanish?
2. How do you say I like animals in Spanish?
3. Name two animals that start with M in Spanish.
4. Name two animals in Spanish that start with A.
5. Name two Spanish animals that start with B.
6. Write two animals that start with G in Spanish.
7. How do you spell the animal bat in Spanish?
8. Name two animals that start with O in Spanish.
9. Name two animals in Spanish that start with C.
10. Write two animals that start with P in Spanish.
11. How do you say polar bear in Spanish?
12. List two animal names that start with T in Spanish.
13. Name two Spanish animals that start with F.
14. How do you say bird in Spanish translation?
15. How do you say ostrich in Spanish translation?
16. How do you say cow in Spanish?
17. How do you say grasshopper in Spanish?
18. How do you say armadillo in Spanish?
19. How do you say puppy in Spanish?
20. How do you say hamster in Spanish?

Spanish to English Comprehension:

If you'd prefer to test your knowledge with translations going from Spanish first, then give these questions a try! Check the lists above to check your answers and see how you did.

1. Zorro is Spanish for what animal?
2. What does murcielago mean in English?
3. What is the English translation of tiburon?
4. Translate avestruz to English.
5. Translate zarigüeya into English.
6. What is the English translation of mi perro es muy lindo?
7. Translate vaca from Spanish to English.
8. What is the English translation of ballena?
9. What is the Spanish to English translation of mono?

Next Up

Spanish Colors: Learn how to say Spanish color words.

Or do you want to learn animal words in other languages? - French, German, Japanese, Malay, Mandarin, and Russian.

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Learn Spanish Animals with Videos

Animal names in Spanish with BASHO & FRIENDS - Animales

A very good children's video with a catchy musical flair. Includes translations for several animals - Pig, Chicken, Frog, Horse, Cat, Dog, Sheep, and Bird.

The Fine Print