Animal words often come in groups. Some animals are wild, some live with people, and some live on farms. A lion is a wild animal, a dog is a domestic animal, and a cow is a farm animal. English also uses habitat words to show where animals live. Forest, desert, ocean, river, and home are common examples. A bear lives in a forest, a camel lives in a desert, a fish lives in water, and a cat may live in a home with people. For more words in this area, see Nature and Vocabulary.

Animal groups and habitat words

Word	Definition	Example
mammal	A mammal is an animal that is usually born alive and drinks milk from its mother.	A mammal like a dog can live with people.
bird	A bird is an animal with feathers and wings.	The bird sings in the tree.
fish	A fish is an animal that lives in water and breathes through gills.	The fish swims near the rocks.
reptile	A reptile is a cold blooded animal such as a snake or lizard.	The reptile warms itself in the sun.
insect	An insect is a small animal with six legs.	The insect lands on the flower.
wild animal	A wild animal lives in nature and does not live with people.	A wild animal may live far from towns.
domestic animal	A domestic animal lives with people or is kept by people.	A domestic animal can sleep in a home or a barn.
forest	A forest is a place with many trees.	The deer walks through the forest.
desert	A desert is a very dry place with little rain.	A camel can live in the desert.
ocean	An ocean is a very large area of salt water.	The whale lives in the ocean.

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Wild animals live in nature, not in people’s houses or on farms. Common examples are bear, lion, tiger, elephant, monkey, deer, wolf, and fox. These animals often live in a habitat that fits their needs. A forest has trees and shade. A grassland has open land and grass. A mountain area is high and often cold. A jungle is hot, wet, and full of plants. Use animal + live in + habitat to describe the place clearly: bears live in forests, elephants live in grasslands, and foxes live in woods. These words also connect well with Nature and Landscapes.

Wild animals and nature habitats

Word	Definition	Example
lion	A lion is a large wild cat that lives in parts of Africa and Asia.	The lion rests in the shade.
tiger	A tiger is a large wild cat with stripes.	The tiger moves quietly through the grass.
elephant	An elephant is a very large animal with a long trunk.	The elephant drinks water from the river.
giraffe	A giraffe is a tall animal with a very long neck.	The giraffe reaches leaves high in the tree.
bear	A bear is a strong wild animal with thick fur.	The bear looks for food near the trees.
jungle	A jungle is a hot place with thick plants and many animals.	Monkeys live in the jungle.
savanna	A savanna is a grassy place with some trees and warm weather.	The zebra runs across the savanna.
mountains	Mountains are very high areas of land.	Goats can live in the mountains.
river	A river is a long stream of moving water.	The hippo stays near the river.
cave	A cave is a dark space in rock or a hill.	The bear sleeps in a cave.

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Domestic animals live with people. Pet is the general word for an animal kept at home. Dog, cat, rabbit, hamster, and fish are common pets. Farm animals live on farms and often give food or other useful products. Cow, pig, sheep, chicken, goat, and horse are the most common names. Milk comes from cows, eggs come from chickens, and meat can come from pigs, sheep, chickens, or cows. English often uses animal + produce + food to talk about this: cows produce milk and chickens produce eggs. These words belong to everyday Vocabulary and also connect to food talk.

Pets livestock and farm words

Word	Definition	Example
pet	A pet is an animal that people keep for company.	My pet cat sleeps on the sofa.
dog	A dog is a common pet that often lives with people.	The dog waits by the door.
cat	A cat is a small pet with soft fur and sharp claws.	The cat curls up in the chair.
cow	A cow is a farm animal that gives milk.	The cow eats grass in the field.
horse	A horse is a strong animal that people can ride or work with.	The horse runs across the farm.
sheep	A sheep is a farm animal with wool.	The sheep stands near the fence.
goat	A goat is a farm animal that likes to climb and eat plants.	The goat jumps onto the rock.
chicken	A chicken is a farm bird that gives eggs and meat.	The chicken pecks at the ground.
barn	A barn is a building on a farm for animals or food.	The animals sleep in the barn.
milk	Milk is a white drink that comes from cows or other animals.	I drink milk with breakfast.

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Birds are animals with feathers and beaks. Many birds lay eggs and can fly, although some cannot fly. Common bird words include bird, eagle, owl, duck, goose, sparrow, and penguin. Fish live in water and breathe through gills. Freshwater means water in rivers and lakes. Saltwater means water in seas and oceans. A salmon lives in freshwater and saltwater during its life, while a goldfish usually lives in freshwater. Use bird + has feathers and fish + lives in water to describe them in simple English. These words fit naturally with Nature and Weather when you describe the places they live.

Bird and fish vocabulary

Word	Definition	Example
feathers	Feathers are the soft covering on a bird's body.	The duck has white feathers.
beak	A beak is the hard mouth part of a bird.	The bird opens its beak.
nest	A nest is a place where a bird lays eggs and raises young birds.	The robin builds a nest in the tree.
egg	An egg is a round object that some animals lay.	The bird sits on an egg.
sparrow	A sparrow is a small common bird.	A sparrow hops on the path.
salmon	A salmon is a fish that lives in the sea and in rivers.	The salmon swims upstream.
freshwater	Freshwater is water that is not salty.	Some fish live in freshwater lakes.
saltwater	Saltwater is water that contains salt, like ocean water.	Sharks live in saltwater.
gills	Gills are the body parts that fish use to breathe in water.	The fish uses its gills under the water.
fin	A fin is a part of a fish or sea animal that helps it move.	The fish moves with its fin.

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Reptiles are animals such as snake, lizard, crocodile, turtle, and iguana. Many reptiles are cold-blooded, which means their body temperature changes with the environment. They often have scales. Insects are small animals such as ant, bee, butterfly, fly, mosquito, and beetle. Many insects have wings and antennae. English uses animal + has wings for birds, butterflies, and bees, and animal + has antennae for insects like ants and beetles. A snake has no legs, a butterfly has wings, and a beetle has antennae. These animal words are part of everyday Vocabulary and work well with nature descriptions.

Reptile and insect words

Word	Definition	Example
snake	A snake is a long reptile with no legs.	The snake slides across the ground.
lizard	A lizard is a small reptile with a long body and tail.	The lizard sits on the warm stone.
crocodile	A crocodile is a large reptile that lives near water.	The crocodile waits in the river.
turtle	A turtle is a reptile with a hard shell.	The turtle moves slowly on the sand.
cold blooded	An animal that is cold blooded changes body temperature with the weather.	A cold blooded animal may need the sun to warm up.
ant	An ant is a very small insect that often lives in groups.	The ant carries a crumb.
bee	A bee is an insect that makes honey and can sting.	The bee visits the flower.
butterfly	A butterfly is a colorful insect with large wings.	The butterfly flies from plant to plant.
wings	Wings are body parts that help some animals fly.	The bird spreads its wings.
antennae	Antennae are the feeler parts on the heads of some insects.	The insect moves its antennae.

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English has many common sound words for animals. A cow says moo. A dog says woof or bark. A cat says meow. A horse says neigh. A sheep says baa. A lion says roar. A bird says chirp. A bee says buzz. A duck says quack. These sound words are usually verbs or interjections in simple sentences: the cow moos, the dog barks, the lion roars, and the bee buzzes. Children’s books and everyday speech use these words often, so they help you recognize animal language quickly.

A zoo is a place where people can see animals from many parts of the world. Common zoo animals include elephant, giraffe, zebra, lion, tiger, monkey, bear, and penguin. People usually say see the animals, visit the zoo, or buy a ticket. Some animals are in cages or enclosures, and others are in open areas or behind glass. Use simple phrases like ticket booth, entrance, exit, and zoo map when you talk about a visit. You can also say the animal is in an enclosure, the family bought tickets, or the children watched the giraffes near the fence.