French pet vocabulary, including common pet names, related verbs, and phrases for talking about pets.

This guide covers the most common French words for pets, as well as useful verbs and phrases to help you talk about caring for them and describing their behavior. Each section includes example sentences to show how the vocabulary is used in context.

Pet Names

These are the most common pets people have, along with their French names.

Singular/Plural	English	French Example	English Example
le chien / les chiens	dog / dogs	J’ai un chien.	I have a dog.
le chat / les chats	cat / cats	Elle a deux chats.	She has two cats.
le poisson / les poissons	fish / fish	Il a un poisson rouge.	He has a goldfish.
l’oiseau / les oiseaux	bird / birds	Nous avons un oiseau.	We have a bird.
le lapin / les lapins	rabbit / rabbits	Mon lapin est blanc.	My rabbit is white.
le hamster / les hamsters	hamster / hamsters	J’ai un hamster.	I have a hamster.
la tortue / les tortues	turtle / turtles	La tortue est lente.	The turtle is slow.
le cheval / les chevaux	horse / horses	Elle monte un cheval.	She rides a horse.
le cochon d’Inde / les cochons d’Inde	guinea pig / guinea pigs	Il a un cochon d’Inde.	He has a guinea pig.
le serpent / les serpents	snake / snakes	Le serpent est dans sa cage.	The snake is in its cage.

Describing Pets

These adjectives help you describe your pets’ size, color, and personality.

French Adjective	English Adjective	French Example	English Example
petit / petite	small	Mon chat est petit.	My cat is small.
grand / grande	big	Le chien est grand.	The dog is big.
noir / noire	black	J’ai un chat noir.	I have a black cat.
blanc / blanche	white	La tortue est blanche.	The turtle is white.
mignon / mignonne	cute	Le lapin est mignon.	The rabbit is cute.
vieux / vieille	old	Mon chien est vieux.	My dog is old.
jeune	young	Le chat est jeune.	The cat is young.
gentil / gentille	kind	Le hamster est gentil.	The hamster is kind.
actif / active	active	Mon oiseau est actif.	My bird is active.
paresseux / paresseuse	lazy	Le chat est paresseux.	The cat is lazy.

El conejo es ___.

What is the French word for 'cute' (masculine)?

mignonne

mignon

gentil

grand

mignon

'Mignon' means 'cute' in the masculine form in French.

Pet Care Verbs

Use these verbs when talking about feeding, cleaning, and playing with pets.

French Verb	English Verb	French Example	English Example
nourrir	to feed	Je nourris le chien chaque matin.	I feed the dog every morning.
promener	to walk	Je promène mon chien le soir.	I walk my dog in the evening.
jouer	to play	Le chat joue avec une balle.	The cat plays with a ball.
nettoyer	to clean	Je nettoie la cage du hamster.	I clean the hamster’s cage.
brosser	to brush	Je brosse le lapin.	I brush the rabbit.
entraîner	to train	J’entraîne mon chien à s’asseoir.	I train my dog to sit.
surveiller	to watch/monitor	Je surveille le poisson.	I watch the fish.
changer	to change	Je change l’eau de la tortue.	I change the turtle’s water.
caresser	to pet	Je caresse mon chat.	I pet my cat.
garder	to keep/watch	Je garde le chien de mon amie.	I’m watching my friend’s dog.

Talking About Pets

These common phrases will help you have simple conversations about pets in French.

French Phrase	English Translation	French Example	English Example
J’ai un animal de compagnie.	I have a pet.	J’ai un animal de compagnie à la maison.	I have a pet at home.
Quel âge a ton / votre ... ?	How old is your ...?	Quel âge a ton chien ?	How old is your dog?
Il / Elle s’appelle ...	His / Her name is ...	Elle s’appelle Mimi.	Her name is Mimi.
Mon / Ma ... aime ...	My ... likes ...	Mon chat aime dormir.	My cat likes to sleep.
J’adore les animaux.	I love animals.	J’adore les animaux, surtout les chiens.	I love animals, especially dogs.
Est-ce qu’il / elle ... ?	Does he / she ...?	Est-ce qu’il sort le soir ?	Does he go outside at night?
Il / Elle dort ...	He / She sleeps ...	Mon lapin dort beaucoup.	My rabbit sleeps a lot.
Je prends soin de ...	I take care of ...	Je prends soin de mon hamster.	I take care of my hamster.
Mon ... est très ...	My ... is very ...	Mon chien est très joueur.	My dog is very playful.
Est-ce que tu as des animaux ?	Do you have any pets?	Est-ce que tu as des animaux chez toi ?	Do you have any pets at home?

Pet Supplies

Here are some common items you might have if you own a pet.

French Noun	English Noun	French Example	English Example
la nourriture pour animaux	pet food	J’achète de la nourriture pour chiens.	I buy dog food.
la laisse	leash	Je mets la laisse au chien.	I put the leash on the dog.
la cage	cage	Le hamster est dans sa cage.	The hamster is in its cage.
le collier	collar	Le chat porte un collier rouge.	The cat is wearing a red collar.
le bol	bowl	Le chien mange dans un bol.	The dog eats from a bowl.
le jouet	toy	Le lapin joue avec un jouet.	The rabbit plays with a toy.
la litière	litter	Je nettoie la litière du chat.	I clean the cat’s litter.
le panier	basket/bed	Mon chien dort dans son panier.	My dog sleeps in its basket.
la brosse	brush	J’utilise une brosse pour le chat.	I use a brush for the cat.
l’aquarium	aquarium	Le poisson est dans l’aquarium.	The fish is in the aquarium.

This completes the French pet vocabulary guide. You can now name common pets, describe them, talk about their care, have simple conversations, and identify their supplies in French!

Je mets ___ au chien.

What is the French word for 'leash'?

le collier

la laisse

la cage

le bol

la laisse

'La laisse' means 'leash' in French.

Flashcards (1 of 50)

Singular/Plural: le chien / les chiens

English: dog / dogs
English Example: I have a dog.

Next Up: Farm Animals

Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025