EngToHindi

Animals in Hindi

The animal world — जानवर (जानवर, jaanvar) — in Devanagari with pronunciation, grouped into farm animals, wild beasts and birds, with the cultural notes that matter.

Animals are woven through Indian life, language and faith more deeply than in most cultures, which makes this vocabulary both fun and revealing. The general word for animal is जानवर (jaanvar), and you'll meet many of these creatures in everyday surroundings — a गाय ambling through a market, a बंदर raiding a temple, a हाथी in a festival procession.

Some animals carry special weight: the cow, गाय, is sacred in Hinduism; the tiger, बाघ, is the national animal; and the peacock, मोर, is the national bird. We've split the list into domestic/farm animals, wild animals and birds so it's easier to absorb in groups.

Domestic & farm animals

The animals you'll see around homes, farms and streets.
EnglishHindiPronunciation
Dogकुत्ताkutta
Catबिल्लीbilli
Cowगायgaay
Buffaloभैंसbhains
Ox / bullockबैलbail
Horseघोड़ाghoda
Goatबकरीbakri
Sheepभेड़bhed
Donkeyगधाgadha
Camelऊँटoont
Pigसूअरsuar

Wild animals

The forest and jungle creatures of Indian folklore.
EnglishHindiPronunciation
Lionशेर / सिंहsher / sinh
Tigerबाघbaagh
Elephantहाथीhaathi
Monkeyबंदरbandar
Bearभालूbhaaloo
Deerहिरणhiran
Foxलोमड़ीlomdi
Jackalसियारsiyaar
Snakeसाँपsaanp
Rabbitख़रगोशkhargosh

Birds

Common birds — a bird in general is पक्षी or चिड़िया.
EnglishHindiPronunciation
Peacockमोरmor
Crowकौआkauaa
Parrotतोताtota
Pigeonकबूतरkabootar
Sparrowगौरैयाgauraiya
Owlउल्लूulloo
Hen / roosterमुर्गी / मुर्गाmurgi / murga
Duckबत्तख़battakh
Eagleचीलcheel
The sacred cow — गाय. The cow holds a revered, motherly place in Hinduism, and many Indian states restrict cow slaughter. Cows wander freely through towns and are fed as an act of devotion. Note too the शेर / बाघ distinction: शेर is the everyday word for lion (and loosely any big cat), while the tiger — India's national animal — is precisely बाघ. The peacock, मोर, is the national bird.

Usage notes & culture

Male, female & young. Many animals inflect by gender like nouns: कुत्ता (dog) → कुतिया (bitch); घोड़ा (horse) → घोड़ी (mare); मुर्गा (rooster) → मुर्गी (hen). The -ा/-ी swap is the usual male/female pattern.

Bird, two ways. A bird is पक्षी (pakshi, formal) or चिड़िया (chidiya, everyday, often for a small bird). Both are correct.

Animals in idiom. Hindi is rich with animal sayings — शेर stands for bravery, उल्लू (owl) ironically for a fool, and गधा (donkey) for someone slow-witted. Knowing the animal unlocks the insult or compliment.

A common error is calling every big cat शेर. If you specifically mean a tiger, say बाघ; for a leopard, तेंदुआ (tenduaa).

Translate your own animal words

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Related topics

Frequently asked

How do you say common animals in Hindi?
Dog is कुत्ता (kutta), cat is बिल्ली (billi), cow is गाय (gaay), horse is घोड़ा (ghoda), elephant is हाथी (haathi) and lion is शेर (sher). Animal itself is जानवर (jaanvar).
Why is the cow special in India?
The cow, गाय (gaay), is revered in Hinduism as a sacred, motherly figure, and many states restrict cow slaughter. Cows often wander freely in towns and are fed as an act of devotion.
Does शेर mean lion or tiger?
शेर (sher) is commonly “lion”, and loosely any big cat in speech. The precise word for tiger — India's national animal — is बाघ (baagh), while the lion is formally सिंह (sinh).
What is the national bird of India in Hindi?
The national bird is the peacock, मोर (mor), celebrated in art and dance. A bird in general is पक्षी (pakshi) or चिड़िया (chidiya).