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Learn and Say 200+ Animals in Italian From Cat to Whale

Many people forget to build a key part of their vocabulary when they learn Italian: animal names. Learning animals in Italian might seem less urgent than mastering Italian verbs or Italian phrases, but they pop up more often than you’d think in daily conversations. 

For instance, you might want to ask a local why there are so many gatti (cats) roaming in Rome’s ruins or rush to the closest pharmacy after swimming too close to a medusa (jellyfish)! So grab a coffee and get comfortable—you’re about to learn how to name and pronounce over 100 names of animals in Italian, from beloved pets to wild and native creatures.

How to say ‘animal’ in Italian

The word “animal” in Italian is animale, pronounced ah-nee-MAH-leh. To make it plural, replace the final “-e” with “-i,” and you get animali (animals).

This is an excellent example of an Italian-English cognate (words that share a common origin, spelling, and meaning). Italian cognates are rarely identical to their English equivalents but can be quite close. As in this case, they often differ in the final letter because Italian words never end in a consonant.

Pet names, diminutives, and common breeds in Italian

young girl with small dog sitting on canal in venice talking about animals in italian

Don’t be surprised if you hear someone in Italy calling their dog amore mio (“my love” in Italian). Pets and domestic animals are truly part of the family in Italy.

These animals that live with humans, with no purpose other than companionship, are called animali domestici (domestic animals) or animali da compagnia (companion animals). In the chart below, you’ll find the names of the most common ones and how to pronounce them.

Italian English Pronunciation
il cane/la cagna* (m/f) dog KAH-neh/KAHN-yah
il coniglio rabbit koh-NEEL-lyoh
il criceto hamster kree-CHEH-toh
il gatto/la gatta (m/f) cat GAHT-toh/GAHT-tah
il pesce fish PEH-sheh
il pesce rosso goldfish PEH-sheh ROH-soh
la tartaruga turtle tar-tah-ROO-gah
l’uccello bird ooch-CHEL-loh

*The feminine noun cagna (dog) is also used as an insult. To avoid misunderstandings, replace it with more polite expressions like il cane femmina (the female dog), or la cagnolina (female puppy or small dog), or la cagnolona (big female dog).

Cute Italian diminutives for pets

Diminutivi (diminutives) are also common with pets and small animals. They add a sense of affection and cuteness that the word “puppy” can convey better than just “dog.”

Italian English Pronunciation
il cagnolino/la cagnolina (m/f) puppy or small dog kah-nyoh-LEE-noh/kah-nyoh-LEE-nah
il coniglietto little rabbit or bunny koh-neel-YEHT-toh
il gattino/la gattina (m/f) kitten gaht-TEE-noh/gaht-TEE-nah
il pesciolino little fish peh-shoh-LEE-noh
l’uccellino little bird oo-chehl-LEE-noh

Popular breeds of pets in Italian

Lastly, pets are often referred to by their breed names. Here are the names of some common breeds of pets you’ll find in Italy.

Italian English Pronunciation
il barboncino poodle bar-bohn-CHEE-noh
il bassotto Dachshund bahs-SOT-toh
il bulldog bulldog BOOL-dawg
il boxer boxer BOHKS-er
il canarino canary kah-nah-REE-noh
Il cincillà chinchilla cheen-cheel-LAH
il coniglio d’Angora Angora rabbit koh-NEEL-lyoh dahn-GOH-rah
il cane lupo colloquial for German Shepherd (lit. “dog-wolf”) KAH-neh LOO-poh
il chihuahua Chihuahua kee-WAH-wah
la cocorita parakeet koh-koh-REE-tah
il labrador Labrador lah-brah-DOHR
il pastore tedesco German Shepherd pahs-TOH-reh teh-DEHS-koh
il pechinese Pekingese peh-kee-NEH-zeh
il persiano Persian (cat) pehr-SYAH-noh
il pittbull pit bull PEET-bool
il rottweiler Rottweiler ROTT-wahee-ler
il san bernardo Saint Bernard sahn-behr-NAHR-doh
il siamese Siamese (cat) see-ah-MEH-zeh

Italian words for farm animals

It’s easy to spot animali della fattoria (farm animals) throughout the Italian countryside, whether you’re taking a train across the northern Pianura Padana (Po Valley) or driving through the hills of Umbria. These animals also hold a special place in the Italian imagination.

Many children grow up loving them thanks to the song Nella vecchia fattoria—Italy’s version of Old MacDonald Had a Farm. Italians of all ages often escape the city on weekends to stay at an agriturismo (a countryside farmhouse), where they can reconnect with nature and animals and enjoy homemade food with fresh-picked ingredients.

Italian English Pronunciation
l’agnello lamb lah-NYEL-loh
l’asino donkey LAH-zee-noh
il bue ox BOO-eh
la capra goat KAH-prah
il cavallo horse kah-VAHL-loh
il coniglio rabbit koh-NEEL-lyoh
la gallina hen gahl-LEE-nah
il gallo rooster GAHL-loh
il maiale pig my-AH-leh
il mulo mule MOO-loh
la mucca cow MOOK-kah
l’oca goose LOH-kah
la papera duck PAH-peh-rah
il pavone peacock pah-VOH-neh
il pollo chicken POHL-loh
il pulcino chick pool-CHEE-noh
il pony pony POH-nee
lo stallone stallion stahl-LOH-neh
lo struzzo ostrich oh-STRUH-tsoh
il tacchino turkey tahk-KEE-noh
il topo mouse TOH-poh
il toro bull TOH-roh
il vitello calf vee-TEHL-loh

Fun fact: Topolino means “little mouse” or “small rat” in Italian—but it’s also the name Italians use for Mickey Mouse! So, how do you tell the difference? Italian grammar makes it easy:

  • If there’s an article, it’s a common Italian noun.
    • Ho visto un topolino. = I saw a little mouse.
  • If there are no Italian articles, then the words Topolino/Topolina are proper names.
    • Ho visto Topolino e Topolina = I saw Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

Forest wildlife in Italian

wild boar and deer wandering in Italian hillside

The Italian countryside isn’t just home to farm animals. Hills and mountains cover more than 76% of Italy’s territory, according to the FAO (the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization). This vast land is home to a wide variety of wildlife and includes rich ecosystems, from forests with lakes to the rocky peaks of the Dolomites.

So, if you love hiking or exploring nature, get ready to play the best Italian version of I Spy With My Little Eye. There are plenty of fascinating woodland creatures to discover, and now you’ll know exactly how to name the animals in Italian!

Italian English Pronunciation
la biscia grass snake BEE-shah
il cinghiale wild boar cheen-GYAHL-eh
il capriolo roe deer kah-pree-OH-loh
il cervo deer CHEHR-voh
il daino fallow deer DYE-noh
la donnola weasel DOHN-noh-lah
l’ermellino ermine ehr-mehl-LEE-noh
la faina marten FAH-ee-nah
il ghiro dormouse GEE-roh
l’istrice crested porcupine EES-tree-cheh
la lepre hare LEH-preh
la lince lynx LEEN-cheh
la lucertola lizard loo-CHAIR-toh-lah
il lupo wolf LOO-poh
la marmotta marmot mahr-MOHT-tah
la nutria coypu/nutria NOO-tree-ah
l’orso bear OHR-soh
il pipistrello bat pee-pee-STREHL-loh
il porcospino porcupine por-koh-SPEE-noh
il procione raccoon pro-CHOH-neh
la rana frog RAH-nah
il riccio hedgehog REE-choh
il serpente snake sehr-PEHN-teh
lo sciacallo jackal shah-KAHL-loh
lo scorpione scorpion skor-PYOH-neh
lo scoiattolo squirrel skoy-YAHT-toh-loh
lo stambecco alpine ibex stahm-BEHK-koh
il tasso badger TAHS-soh
la talpa mole TAHL-pah
la volpe fox VOHL-peh

Bird names in Italian

You don’t need to be a bird watching enthusiast to appreciate birds’ spectacular flights or quirky behaviors. But you should know that birds play a surprisingly important role in Italian culture and language.

For example, le rondini (swallows) are beloved in Italy because they signal the return of spring. The white colomba (dove) symbolizes peace and inspires a traditional bird-shaped cake baked during Easter in Italy!

Even pappagalli (parrots) have their place in Italian expressions. If someone says Sei proprio un pappagallo! (You’re such a parrot!), they mean you’re repeating things mindlessly—like “parroting” in English.

Italian English Pronunciation
l’airone heron ahy-ROH-neh
l’aquila eagle AH-kwee-lah
la cicogna stork chee-COH-nyah
il cigno swan CHEEN-nyoh
la civetta owl (small) chee-VEHT-tah
la colomba dove coh-LOHM-bah
il corvo crow KOR-voh
il cuculo cuckoo COO-coo-loh
il falco falcon FAHL-koh
il fenicottero flamingo feh-nee-KOHT-teh-roh
il gabbiano seagull gahb-BYAH-noh
il gufo owl GOO-foh
il merlo blackbird MEHR-loh
il pappagallo parrot pahp-pah-GAHL-loh
il passero sparrow PAH-ser-roh
il pettirosso robin pet-tee-ROH-soh
la pernice partridge pehr-NEE-cheh
il piccione pigeon pee-CHOH-neh
il picchio woodpecker PEEK-kyoh
la quaglia quail KWAH-lyah
la rondine swallow ROHN-dee-neh
il tucano toucan too-KAH-noh
l’usignolo nightingale oo-zee-NYOH-loh

Animals you can see at the zoo or on a safari

You might not see these animals wandering the streets of Italian cities or the countryside, but they still play a role in education, tourism, and popular culture. So, you’ll want to add these terms to your Italian vocabulary arsenal.

Italian English Pronunciation
l’alligatore alligator al-lee-gah-TOH-reh
l’antilope antelope ahn-TEE-loh-peh
l’avvoltoio vulture ahv-vol-TOY-yoh
il bufalo buffalo BOO-fah-loh
il camaleonte chameleon kah-mah-leh-OHN-teh
il cammello camel kahm-MEHL-loh
il canguro kangaroo kahn-GOO-roh
il coccodrillo crocodile kok-koh-DREEL-loh
il coiote/coyote coyote koh-YOH-teh
il dromedario dromedary camel droh-meh-DAH-ree-oh
l’elefante elephant eh-leh-FAHN-teh
la foca seal FOH-kah
il ghepardo cheetah geh-PAHR-doh
il giaguaro jaguar jah-GWAH-roh
la giraffa giraffe jee-RAHF-fah
il gorilla gorilla goh-REEL-lah
la iena hyena ee-EH-nah
l’ippopotamo hippopotamus ee-po-POH-tah-moh
il koala koala koh-AH-lah
il lama llama LAH-mah
il lemure lemur LEH-moo-reh
il leone lion leh-OH-neh
il leone marino sea lion leh-OH-neh mah-REE-noh
il macaco macaque monkey mah-KAH-koh
l’orangotango orangutan oh-rahng-oh-TAHN-goh
l’orso bruno brown bear OHR-soh BROO-noh
l’orso polare polar bear OHR-soh poh-LAH-reh
il panda panda PAHN-dah
la pantera panther pahn-TEH-rah
il pinguino penguin peen-GWEE-noh
il puma puma POO-mah
il rinoceronte rhinoceros ree-no-cheh-ROHN-teh
lo scimpanzè chimpanzee skimp-an-ZEH
la scimmia monkey SHEEM-mee-ah
il tapiro tapir tah-PEE-roh
la tigre tiger TEE-greh
la zebra zebra ZEH-brah

Marine and lake life in Italian

various fish and seafood at a market

Let’s move from the skies to the depths of the sea. The Mediterranean Sea surrounds most of Italy, and the country’s inland areas are full of rivers and lakes. That’s why no list of animals in Italian would be complete without the creatures that swim beneath the surface.

Italian English Pronunciation
l’anguilla eel ahn-GWEE-lah
l’aragosta lobster ah-rah-GOHS-tah
la balena whale bah-LEH-nah
il branzino sea bass brahn-ZEE-noh
il calamaro squid kah-lah-MAH-roh
la cozza mussel KOT-tsah
il delfino dolphin del-FEE-noh
il gambero shrimp GAHM-beh-roh
Il granchio crab GRAHN-kee-oh
la medusa jellyfish meh-DOO-zah
l’orata sea bream RAH-tah
l’orca orca OHR-kah
il pesce spada swordfish PEH-sheh SPAH-dah
il polpo octopus POHL-poh
il riccio di mare sea urchin REE-choh dee MAH-reh
il salmone salmon sahl-MOH-neh
la sardina sardine sahr-DEE-nah
lo squalo shark SKWAH-loh
il tonno tuna TON-noh
la tartaruga marina sea turtle tahr-tah-ROO-gah mah-REE-nah
la trota trout TROH-tah
la vongola clam VON-goh-lah

Insects and tiny creatures in Italian

They might be small, but insetti (insects) and tiny critters like arachnids are essential to ecosystems and to your Italian vocabulary. 

Here, Italian gets especially charming and even onomatopoetic, like zanzara (mosquito), whose name resembles its buzzing sound. It’s the little things, after all, that make a language feel magical. 

Italian English Pronunciation
l’ape bee AH-peh
il bruco caterpillar BROO-koh
il calabrone hornet kah-lah-BROH-neh
la cavalletta grasshopper kah-vahl-LET-tah
la chiocciola snail KYOCH-choh-lah
la cicala cicada chee-KAH-lah
la cimice bed bug CHEE-mee-cheh
la coccinella ladybug koh-chee-NEHL-lah
la farfalla butterfly fahr-FAHL-lah
la falena moth fah-LEH-nah
la formica ant for-MEE-kah
il grillo cricket GREEL-loh
il millepiedi millipede meel-leh-PYEH-dee
la mosca fly MOHS-kah
il pidocchio louse pee-DOH-kyo
la pulce flea pool-CHEH
il ragno spider RAHN-yoh
lo scarafaggio cockroach skah-rah-FAHJ-joh
il tafano horsefly tah-FAH-noh
la tarantola tarantula tah-RAHN-toh-lah
la termite termite tehr-MEE-teh
il verme worm VEHR-meh
la vespa wasp VEH-spah
la zanzara mosquito zahn-ZAH-rah
la zecca tick ZEH-kah

Fun fact: Spotting a coccinella (ladybug) is a sign of good luck in Italy—especially if it lands on you!

Native animals in Italy

Did you know a subspecies of brown bears live only in remote parts of the Italian Apennines? Or that the island Sardinia is home to a wildcat that doesn’t exist anywhere else?

There are many endangered, endemic Italian species living in national parks. You may not spot them easily in the wild, but learning their names is a great way to connect with Italy’s rich biodiversity—and to remember how important it is to protect these animals.

English English Pronunciation
il camoscio appenninico Apennine chamois kah-MOH-shoh ah-pehn-NEE-koh
la felis libica sarda Sardinian wildcat FEH-lees LEE-bee-kah SAR-dah
la lucertola delle Eolie Aeolian wall lizard loo-CHEHR-toh-lah dell-eh EH-oh-lee-eh
il muflone sardo Sardinian mouflon (wild sheep) moo-FLOH-neh SAR-doh
l’orso marsicano Marsican brown bear mar-see-KAH-noh
la raganella italiana Italian tree frog rah-gah-NEHL-lah ee-tah-LYAH-nah
la salamandrina dagli occhiali Spectacled salamander sah-lah-mahn-DREE-nah DAH-lyee ohk-KYAH-lee
il saettone occhirossi Red-eyed Aesculapian snake sah-eht-TOH-neh ohk-kee-ROHS-see
lo scoiattolo nero Calabrian black squirrel skoy-YAHT-toh-loh NEH-roh kah-lah-BREH-zeh
la talpa romana Roman mole TAH-l-pah roh-MAH-nah
il toporagno appenninico Apennine shrew toh-poh-RAHN-yoh ah-pehn-NEE-koh
la vipera dell’Aspromonte Aspromonte viper VEE-peh-rah dell ahs-proh-MON-teh

Generic terms for animals in Italian language

a sleeping cat near the Roman Forum in Rome as animals in italian

There are also other general and collective Italian nouns to describe animals.

Bestia and belva (beast)

These words describe wild or ferocious animals and usually carry a slightly negative connotation. Bestia can also be used metaphorically to describe a violent or uncivilized person.

Fiera (wild beast)

It means the same as belva but with a more old-fashioned flair. It’s used in literature and conveys a sense of nobility—less savage, more majestic.

Bestiame (livestock)

This neutral, technical term is often used in agriculture to talk about livestock and farm animals.

Fauna (fauna)

A scientific word borrowed from Latin and shared with English, it refers to the animal life of a specific region or habitat. For example: la fauna alpina (the Alpine fauna).

Selvaggina and cacciagione (game)

These words refer to wild animals hunted for sport or food.

Italian words for animal groups

To describe a group of animals in Italian, you can use collective nouns such as:

  • branco is a pack or herd of wolves, wild boars, dolphins, etc.
  • gregge refers to a flock of sheep or goats
  • mandria means herd or drove, referring to cattle or large farm animals

Italian idioms about animals

Now that you’ve got all these words for animals in Italian a portata di mano (right at your fingertips), try some colorful expressions inspired by animals. These Italian idioms and sayings can vividly describe people’s behavior, emotions, or everyday situations, making your Italian sound even more natural.

  • Essere un asino. = To be a donkey.
    • Suggests someone is stubborn or slow to learn—much like calling someone a dummy.
  • Essere un pollo. = To be a chicken.
    • Used for someone who is easily fooled or naïve.
  • Mettere la pulce nell’orecchio. = To put a flea in someone’s ear.
    • To plant a suspicious idea in someone’s mind—make them start doubting something.
  • Una rondine non fa primavera. = One swallow does not make spring.
    • Just because something good happens once doesn’t mean a positive trend has begun. It’s a call for patience and caution.

Learning animals in Italian might make you more curious to keep going. So, while building your vocabulary and studying grammar, use these other beautiful Italian words in real conversations.

Rosetta Stone helps you do just that with its Dynamic Immersion method, where you learn through context and online tutoring—the best place to practice speaking with a native Italian.

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