Learn and Say 200+ Animals in Italian From Cat to Whale - Rosetta Stone (2025)

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

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.

*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.”

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 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.

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

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!

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.

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.

Marine and lake life in Italian

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.

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.

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.

Generic terms for animals in Italian language

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.