100+ Animals in Spanish

Last Updated on April 23, 2024 by Bilingual Kidspot

Want to learn the names of animals in Spanish? From the cuddly “oso” (bear) to the majestic “águila” (eagle), Spanish animal vocabulary is great fun for young learners. In this article, we will introduce you to over 100 animals in Spanish to learn with your kids at home.

Spanish Vocabulary, Animals

If you have been following, you would have already seen our Learn Spanish for Kids free lessons where we introduced a range of vocabulary to learn in Spanish.

Today is all about learning the animals in Spanish. There are so many animals but we will dive into the most common to help your little one learn and identify the animals in Spanish.

Animals In Spanish

First let’s start with the most common, then we will move onto the whole list of animals in Spanish broken up in groups to make it easier.

Common Animals in Spanish

1. perro – dog
2. gato – cat
3. oso – bear
4. tigre – tiger
5. elefante – elephant
6. león -lion
7. jirafa – giraffe
8. cebra – zebra
9. mono – monkey
10. rana – frog

Spanish Animal Sounds

Just like in English, animals in Spanish make different sounds. Here are some common examples:

• El perro ladra – The dog barks
• El gato maulla – The cat meows
• El león ruge – The lion roars
• La vaca muge – The cow moos
• El gallo canta – The rooster crows

Fun Fact: Spanish Animal Names Can Vary

In Spanish-speaking countries, animal names can sometimes vary from region to region. For example, a “mapache” (raccoon) in Spain is known as a “cacomixtle” in Mexico. This diversity adds richness to the Spanish language and offers an insight into the cultural and geographical differences across Spanish-speaking regions.

Pet Animals in Spanish

These animals represent those you can keep as a pet at home.

• perro – dog
• gato – cat
• pez – fish
• conejo – rabbit
• pájaro – bird
• hamster – hamster
• Lagarto – Lizard
• tortuga – turtle

Farm Animals in Spanish

• vaca – cow
• oveja – sheep
• caballo – horse
• cerdo – pig
• cabra – goat
• gallina – hen
• pollo – chicken
• rooster – gallo
• pato – duck
• ganso – goose
• toro – bull
• burro – donkey
• mula – mule

Sea Animals in Spanish

• pez – fish
• tiburón – shark
• delfín – dolphin
• ballena – whale
• tortuga marina – sea turtle
• estrella de mar – starfish
• caballito de mar – seahorse
• cangrejo – crab
• manta raya – manta ray
• pulpo – octopus
• medusa – jellyfish

Wild Animals in Spanish

• león – lion
• tigre – tiger
• pantera – pantha
• guepardo – cheetah
• leopard – leapord
• elefante – elephant
• oso – bear
• jirafa – giraffe
• cebra – zebra
• mono – monkey
• hyena – hyena
• suricata – meerkat
• antilope – antelope
• hipopótamo – hippopotamus
• rinoceronte – rhinoceros
• cocodrilo – crocodile
• búfalo – buffalo
• jabali – wild boar

Birds in Spanish

• pájaro – bird
• aguila – eagle
• halcón – falcon
• búho – owl
• cuervo – crow
• pato – duck
• ganso – goose
• pollo – chicken
• pavo – turkey
• buitre – vulture
• flamenco – flamingo
• colibri – hummingbird
• loro – parrot
• golondrina – swallow
• avestruz – ostrich
• pelícano – pelican

Insects & Small Animals in Spanish

• mosca – fly
• abeja – bee
• mariposa – butterfly
• libélula – dragonfly
• escarabajo – beetle
• hormiga – ant
• cucaracha – cockroach
• araña – spider
• mosquito – mosquito
• araña – spider
• escorpión – scorpion
• saltamontes – grasshopper

Teaching Kids Spanish Animals

Exploring Spanish animals is not just about learning new words; it’s about immersing yourself in the beauty and diversity of the natural world.

An important piece of advice I can give is when teaching the animals in Spanish to kids it is important to engage them in what you are trying to teach. Here are some tips:

• Teach a few new animals per day, and go over the ones you learned yesterday.
• Use play animals so kids can see a visual when learning.
• Use animal sounds when teaching each animal.
• See this post to help roll r’s

Whether you’re roaring like a lion or hopping like a frog, learning Spanish animal vocabulary is a fun way to teach your kids Spanish vocabulary.

Looking for more Spanish resources? Check out these posts:

• Spanish Resources for Kids
• Learn Spanish Colors
• Learn Spanish Alphabet
• Learn Spanish Greetings

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