Language/English/Vocabulary/Animals

English Vocabulary: Animals

Learning the names and some facts about animals can enhance your English vocabulary. This article provides definitions for a variety of animals, from common pets like dogs and cats to more exotic wildlife such as sharks and eagles.

Mammals

• Dog - A domesticated carnivorous mammal (Canis familiaris) known for its loyalty and often kept as a pet or used for hunting or guarding.
• Cat - A small domesticated carnivorous mammal (Felis catus) with soft fur, a short snout, and retractable claws, known for its independence and commonly kept as a pet.
• Donkey - A domesticated hoofed mammal of the horse family with long ears and a braying call, used as a working animal in many countries.
• Cow
  • Calf - The young of domestic cattle (Bos taurus), raised for their meat (beef and veal), milk, and hides.
• Mouse - A small rodent with a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate, commonly found in many parts of the world.
• Squirrel - A rodent with a bushy tail, typically living in trees and known for its quick movements and ability to gather and store nuts for the winter.
• Zebra - A wild horse (genus Equus) native to Africa, distinguished by its black and white striped coat.

Birds

• Bird - A warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrate distinguished by feathers, wings, and beaks. Birds range widely in size and habitat.
  • Pigeon - A stout seed- or fruit-eating bird with a small head, short legs, and a cooing voice, often found in cities.
  • Hawk - A bird of prey with broad rounded wings and a long tail, known for its keen eyesight and powerful flight.
  • Eagle - A large bird of prey with a massive hooked bill and long broad wings, renowned for its keen sight and powerful soaring flight.
  • Geese - Large waterbirds with a long neck, large body, webbed feet, and a wide, flat bill. Often migratory, geese are known for flying in a "V" formation.
  • Chicken - A domestic fowl kept for its eggs or meat, particularly the young of the domestic fowl.
  • Owls - Nocturnal birds of prey with large eyes, a facial disk, a hooked beak, and typically a silent flight. Owls are known for their distinctive call.
  • Duck - A waterbird with a broad blunt bill, short legs, webbed feet, and a waddling gait. Ducks are often domesticated for their eggs and meat.
  • Falcon - A bird of prey with long pointed wings and a notched beak, known for its speed and precision while hunting.
  • Parrot - A bird with a distinctive curved beak and an ability for mimicry, known for its colorful plumage and social behavior.
  • Cardinals - Small to medium-sized birds with vivid red coloring found in North and South America, known for their singing and vibrant appearance.

Fish

• Fish - A limbless cold-blooded vertebrate animal with gills and fins, living wholly in water.
  • Bass - A large variety of freshwater and marine fish, known for their strong fight when caught.
  • Tuna - A saltwater fish that belongs to the tribe Thunnini, known for its speed and commercial value as food.
  • Catfish - A diverse group of ray-finned fish named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers.
  • Shark - A large fish with a streamlined body and a full cartilaginous skeleton, known for its sharp teeth and often feared as a predator.
  • Anchovy - Small, common saltwater forage fish, often used as human food and bait.
  • Zebrafish - A small freshwater fish that's widely used in scientific research due to its ability to regenerate parts of its heart and other organs.

Reptiles

• Snake - A legless, carnivorous reptile with a long, slender body, covered with overlapping scales, and capable of swallowing prey much larger than its head.

This vocabulary list introduces you to a wide range of animals, offering a glimpse into the diversity of life on our planet and enhancing your English language skills with new words and concepts.