In French, animal is the general word for talking about a living being that is not human. You can then classify it by the place where it lives, such as the home, the farm, the forest or the sea, and by how it is used, such as companionship, farming or observation. Animaux domestiques designates animals that live close to humans, while animaux sauvages designates those that live free in nature. To talk about several animals, the plural is often used: un animal, des animaux. In everyday life, one also simply says a dog, a cat, a horse or a bird depending on the precise animal.

At home, the most common animals are the dog and the cat. You also hear the fish, the hamster, the rabbit and the parrot. To talk about the animal that someone keeps at home, one often says a pet animal. The dog barks, the cat purrs, the fish swims in its aquarium. When talking about a familiar animal, one often uses the word master or owner for the person who takes care of it, and to feed, to walk or to stroke for daily actions.

chienfuretoiseauchatperruchetortuepoisson rougehamstercochon d Indelapin

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La perruche est un petit oiseau coloré qui peut vivre à la maisonLa tortue est un animal calme qui avance lentement et porte sa maison sur son dosLe hamster est un petit animal de compagnie qui court vite dans sa roueLe cochon d Inde est un petit compagnon tout rond qui couine souventL oiseau de compagnie est un petit animal qui chante et saute beaucoupLe chat est un animal domestique très doux qui aime dormir au soleilLe poisson rouge est un petit poisson que l on garde souvent dans un bocal ou un aquariumLe lapin est un petit animal avec de longues oreilles et beaucoup d énergieLe furet est un animal curieux qui se faufile partout dans la maisonLe chien est un compagnon fidèle qui aime sortir et jouer

Vocabulary of common pets

Word	Definition
chat	The chat is a very soft domestic animal that loves sleeping in the sun.
chien	The chien is a faithful companion who loves going out and playing.
lapin	The lapin is a small animal with long ears and lots of energy.
poisson rouge	The poisson rouge is a small fish that is often kept in a bowl or an aquarium.
oiseau	The oiseau de compagnie is a small animal that sings and hops a lot.
hamster	The hamster is a small pet that runs fast on its wheel.
tortue	The tortue is a calm animal that moves slowly and carries its house on its back.
perruche	The perruche is a small colorful bird that can live in the house.
cochon d Inde	The cochon d Inde is a small round companion that often squeaks.
furet	The furet is a curious animal that hides everywhere in the house.

Scramble

On the farm, the most frequent animals are the cow, the horse, the sheep, the goat, the pig and the chicken. The cow gives milk, the chicken lays eggs, the sheep provides wool. One also says the rooster for the male of the chicken, and the calf for the young of the cow. In simple conversation, the farm often evokes the animals, the tractor, the stable, the henhouse and the yard.

vachepoulecoqdindemoutonânechevalcanardchèvrecochon

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Le canard est un oiseau qui aime l eau et qui marche en se dandinantLa vache est un grand animal de ferme qui donne du laitLe cochon est un animal de ferme qui aime fouiller la terreLe coq est le mâle de la poule et il chante souvent le matinLe cheval est un grand animal rapide qui peut porter une personneLa poule est un oiseau de la ferme qui pond des œufsLa dinde est un gros oiseau de ferme avec une voix très étrangeL âne est un animal de ferme robuste qui porte parfois des chargesLa chèvre est un animal agile qui grimpe facilement sur les rochersLe mouton est un animal couvert de laine qui vit souvent en troupeau

Vocabulary for farm animals

Word	Definition
vache	The vache is a large farm animal that gives milk.
cochon	The cochon is a farm animal that likes to dig in the dirt.
mouton	The mouton is a woolly animal that often lives in a flock.
chèvre	The chèvre is an agile animal that climbs easily on rocks.
poule	The poule is a farm bird that lays eggs.
coq	The coq is the male of the hen and he often crowes in the morning.
canard	The canard is a bird that loves water and walks waddling.
âne	The âne is a sturdy farm animal that sometimes carries loads.
cheval	The cheval is a large fast animal that can carry a person.
dinde	The dinde is a large farm bird with a very strange voice.

Scramble

In books and everyday conversations, one often encounters the lion, the tiger, the elephant, the giraffe, the monkey and the bear. The fox often appears in stories, just like the wolf and the deer. These animals live in nature or in zoological parks. To describe them, one talks about their size, strength or speed: big, fast, strong, dangerous. A child might say: I saw a lion at the zoo or The monkey climbs trees.

renardoursgirafecerflionloupéléphanttigrezèbresinge

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Le tigre est un grand félin rayé qui court très viteLe zèbre est un animal sauvage avec des rayures noires et blanchesLe renard est un petit animal sauvage connu pour sa ruseL éléphant est un animal immense avec une trompe très utileLe singe est un animal agile qui grimpe et saute facilementLa girafe est un animal très grand avec un long couLe cerf est un grand animal des forêts avec de beaux boisLe lion est un grand félin sauvage souvent appelé roi des animauxLe loup est un animal sauvage qui vit souvent en groupeL ours est un gros animal sauvage qui aime le miel et le repos

Vocabulary for common wild animals

Word	Definition
lion	The lion is a large wild feline often called the king of animals.
tigre	The tigre is a large striped feline that runs very fast.
éléphant	The éléphant is a huge animal with a very useful trunk.
girafe	The girafe is a very tall animal with a long neck.
zèbre	The zèbre is a wild animal with black and white stripes.
ours	The ours is a large wild animal that loves honey and rest.
loup	The loup is a wild animal that often lives in a group.
renard	The renard is a small wild animal known for its craftiness.
cerf	The cerf is a large forest animal with beautiful antlers.
singe	The singe is an agile animal that climbs and jumps easily.

Scramble

The woods and the forest evoke the squirrel, the rabbit, the hedgehog, the wild boar, the fox and the deer. The squirrel jumps branch to branch, the hedgehog rolls into a ball, the wild boar lives in the undergrowth. One also associates to the countryside birds like the owl or the owl, which often live in wooded areas. To talk about an animal of the woods, one often uses words related to nature: trunk, branch, nest, burrow, leaves.

hiboumartrelièvrerenardeauchevreuilblaireaucastorsangliertaupeécureuil

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Le renardeau est le petit du renard et il apprend à chasserLe sanglier est un animal robuste avec un groin puissantL écureuil est un petit animal vif qui aime les noisettesLe lièvre est un petit animal rapide avec de longues pattesLe chevreuil est un petit cervidé gracieux qui vit dans les boisLa martre est un petit animal agile qui grimpe bien aux arbresLa taupe est un animal qui creuse des galeries sous terreLe blaireau est un animal qui vit souvent dans un terrierLe castor est un animal qui construit des barrages avec du boisLe hibou est un oiseau nocturne qui voit très bien dans l obscurité

Vocabulary for animals of the woods and forest

Word	Definition
écureuil	The écureuil is a small lively animal that loves hazelnuts.
blaireau	The blaireau is an animal that often lives in a burrow.
lièvre	The lièvre is a small fast animal with long legs.
sanglier	The sanglier is a sturdy animal with a powerful snout.
hibou	The hibou is a nocturnal bird that sees very well in the dark.
chevreuil	The chevreuil is a graceful small deer that lives in the woods.
renardeau	The renardeau is the cub of a fox and learns to hunt.
martre	The martre is a small agile animal that climbs well trees.
taupe	The taupe is an animal that digs galleries underground.
castor	The castor is an animal that builds dams with wood.

Scramble

Near the sea, one talks of the whale, the dolphin, the shark, the sea turtle, the fish and the jellyfish. In the sky and in gardens, the most useful birds are the eagle, the sparrow, the seagull, the duck, the pigeon and the owl. The dolphin swims fast, the seagull flies above the beach, the duck swims on the water and the sparrow is small and common. To understand nature in French, one must also know the verbs to fly, to swim, to dive and to sing.

cygnecorbeaupigeondauphinmouetteaiglephoquemédusebaleinerequin

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Le requin est un grand poisson marin avec des dents pointuesLe corbeau est un oiseau noir connu pour son cri graveLa méduse est un animal marin transparent qui flotte dans l eauLe dauphin est un animal marin très intelligent et joueurL aigle est un grand oiseau de proie qui vole très hautLe cygne est un grand oiseau blanc qui nage avec éléganceLa baleine est un énorme mammifère marin qui vit dans l océanLa mouette est un oiseau de bord de mer qui crie beaucoupLe pigeon est un oiseau très commun que l on voit souvent en villeLe phoque est un animal marin qui se repose sur les rochers ou la glace

Vocabulary for marine animals and birds

Word	Definition
dauphin	The dauphin is a very intelligent and playful marine animal.
baleine	The baleine is a huge marine mammal that lives in the ocean.
requin	The requin is a large marine fish with sharp teeth.
phoque	The phoque is a marine animal that rests on rocks or ice.
méduse	The méduse is a transparent marine animal that drifts in the water.
mouette	The mouette is a seashore bird that cries a lot.
cygne	The cygne is a large white bird that swims with elegance.
aigle	The aigle is a large bird of prey that flies very high.
pigeon	The pigeon is a very common bird that is often seen in towns.
corbeau	The corbeau is a black bird known for its grave cry.

Scramble

Around us, one often sees the ant, the bee, the fly, the mosquito, the butterfly, the spider and the ladybug. In everyday French, one says a little creature to talk about a very small animal, often an insect or something that resembles it. The bee pollinates flowers, the ant walks in a group, the mosquito bites, the butterfly flies from flower to flower. The spider is not an insect, but it is often grouped with the small creatures in everyday language.

grenouillecoccinellepapillonescargotmoustiquefourmiaraignéemille pattesabeillescarabée

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La grenouille est un petit animal qui saute et vit près de l eauLa fourmi est un petit insecte travailleur qui vit en colonieL abeille est un insecte qui fait du miel et vole de fleur en fleurLe mille pattes est une petite bête allongée avec beaucoup de pattesLe papillon est un insecte coloré avec de grandes ailesLe moustique est un petit insecte qui pique souvent la nuitLa coccinelle est un petit insecte rouge à pois noirsL araignée est une petite bête qui tisse une toileL escargot est un petit animal qui avance très lentement avec sa coquilleLe scarabée est un insecte à carapace dure souvent brillant

Vocabulary for small creatures and insects

Word	Definition
fourmi	The fourmi is a small working insect that lives in a colony.
abeille	The abeille is an insect that makes honey and flies from flower to flower.
moustique	The moustique is a small insect that often bites at night.
papillon	The papillon is a colorful insect with large wings.
araignée	The araignée is a small creature that weaves a web.
coccinelle	The coccinelle is a small red insect with black spots.
mille pattes	The mille pattes is a small elongated creature with many legs.
escargot	The escargot is a small animal that moves very slowly with its shell.
scarabée	The scarabée is a beetle with a hard, often shiny shell.
grenouille	The grenouille is a small animal that hops and lives near water.

Scramble

To talk about animal behavior, one uses simple verbs: to bark, to meow, to sing, to climb, to swim, to fly, to run, to bite and to sting. One says the dog barks and the cat meows. For care, one uses to feed an animal, to give water, to walk a dog, to treat an animal and to put water in the bowl. Some expressions are very common: to be afraid like a rabbit, to be as cunning as a fox, to be as stubborn as a mule. These phrases are used to describe a person through a familiar animal.

Common usages of verbs with animals

Usage	Explanation
Fast movement	We use courir to say that an animal moves quickly on the ground.
Jump	We use sauter to show that an animal leaves the ground in a single jump.
Flight	We use voler to talk about an animal moving in the air.
Swimming	We use nager for an animal moving through water.
Nibbling	We use grignoter for an animal that nibbles gradually.
Making noise	We use rugir for the loud cry of some large animals.
Hiding	We use se cacher when an animal wants to stay discreet.
Sleeping	We use hiberner for an animal that sleeps for a long time in winter.
Grooming	We use se lécher for an animal that cleans its fur.
Caring for	We use nourrir to say that you feed an animal.

In French, many animal names change to the feminine with -e, as the lion and the lioness, the cat and the female cat, the dog and the bitch, the wolf and the she-wolf. Other names have a different form, such as the rooster and the hen, the horse and the mare, the bull and the cow. In the plural, the most common form adds -s: the cats, the dogs, the lions. Some names already end with -s, -x or -z in the singular and do not change in speech: a fox, some foxes ; an animal, animals. The young of animals often have precise names: the kitten, the puppy, the calf, the chick, the cub.

Rules of gender and plural for animals

Idea
We often add an s to the plural of animal nouns.
Some nouns change completely in the feminine.
Masculine and feminine can have different forms for the same animal.
Some words do not change in the plural.
The feminine can be formed with the ending e for certain animals.