Pets & Home
Around the house
The animals you'll point at first, at home and in the street.
A masculine noun. A female dog is کتی (kutti). You'll hear it constantly, from real dogs to friendly teasing.
Feminine. The male cat is بلا (billa). Cats are common household companions across Pakistan.
The general word for any bird. The plural is پرندے (parinday).
Feminine. Famous from the children's rhyme 'machhli jal ki rani hai' (the fish is the queen of the water).
On the Farm
Farm animals
The animals of the village and the household yard.
The cow is respected and cared for across South Asia, and a key source of milk.
Central to Eid-ul-Adha. The male goat is بکرا (bakra).
Feminine. A rooster is مرغا (murgha). Also the word for chicken as food.
Masculine; a mare is گھوڑی (ghori). A proud animal in Urdu poetry and history.
The water buffalo, a very common sight in Pakistan and a major source of milk.
In the Wild
Wild animals
The animals of stories, zoos, and Urdu idioms.
Also means 'brave'. Calling someone 'sher' is a real compliment, like 'you legend'.
Masculine. A gentle giant in stories and a symbol of strength and memory.
Calling a playful, mischievous child 'bandar' is common and affectionate.
Masculine. Appears often in folk tales and warnings.
Masculine. A staple of children's stories.
Small Creatures & Birds
The little ones
The everyday creatures children learn to name first.
Masculine. A beloved pet bird; 'tota' also hints at someone who repeats things.
Masculine. Clever and common; the star of many desi folk stories.
Feminine, and a sweet nickname for a lively little girl.
Masculine. A mouse or rat, and a playful nickname for a small quick child.
Feminine. A symbol of hard work and patience.
Quick Reference
All words at a glance
Keep this table handy while you practise.
Animals live inside the language
Urdu is full of animals, and not just at the zoo. Call a brave friend شیر (sher, lion), a playful child بندر (bandar, monkey), or a hard worker چیونٹی (cheonti, ant). These aren't insults, they're warm, everyday shorthand.
Animal names are also one of the first things desi children learn, through rhymes like 'machhli jal ki rani hai'. If you're raising bilingual kids, this vocabulary is a joyful, natural place to start.
Practice
Try it yourself
Read each scenario and say the Urdu out loud. Tap "show answer" when you're ready.
What would you say?
Picture yourself in each situation and say it out loud.
Want to practise with a real teacher?
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