Spanish · A1 · Everyday language
Animals we know in Spanish
Learn the names of common animals you might see at home, on a farm, or at the zoo. This guide focuses on identifying animals and using the Spanish equivalent of 'a' and 'an' (un and una).
What you'll learn
- Identify common pets and farm animals in Spanish
- Use masculine and feminine indefinite articles correctly
- Ask simple questions about animals to your child
Spanish phrases for animals we know
¡Mira, un perro!
Look, a dog!
'Mira' is the command form for 'Look'.
Tengo un gato.
I have a cat.
'Tengo' is the 'I' form of the verb 'tener' (to have).
La vaca es grande.
The cow is big.
'Grande' stays the same for both masculine and feminine nouns.
¿Qué sonido hace?
What sound does it make?
Literally: 'What sound does it do?'
Un pájaro pequeño.
A little bird.
In Spanish, the adjective 'pequeño' (little/small) comes after the noun 'pájaro'.
¿Te gustan los caballos?
Do you like horses?
Spanish uses the plural 'the horses' (los caballos) when asking about general likes.
El pez nada.
The fish swims.
'Pez' refers to a living fish in water.
Mi animal favorito.
My favourite animal.
Notice the word order: Noun + Adjective.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Pez vs. Pescado
Fish
Use 'pez' for the living animal and 'pescado' for fish served as food.
Macho / Hembra
Male / Female
These terms are used to specify the biological sex of an animal if the name doesn't change.
Indefinite Articles (A / An)
In Spanish, every noun has a gender (masculine or feminine). The word for 'a' or 'an' must match that gender.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | un | un perro (a dog) |
| Feminine | una | una vaca (a cow) |
More examples
Es un elefante gris.
It is a grey elephant.
Elefante is masculine, so we use 'un'.
Una oveja blanca.
A white sheep.
Oveja is feminine, so we use 'una'.