Talking About Pets

To name a pet in German, use the appropriate word for the animal. For example, der Hund for a dog or die Katze for a cat. You might mention the gender (das Weibchen for female, der Weiben for male), or talk about junge (young animals).

When describing what pets do, use verbs like bellen (dogs bark), fressen (to eat, for animals), or spielen (to play). You could say your pet loves to spielen or that you need to füttern them. People often talk about the pet’s Geselligkeit (sociability), how tapfer (brave) or wachsam (alert) it is, or mention their Stimme (voice, e.g., a cat’s meow).

You might need to discuss taking care of a pet: for example, grooming, or keeping them in a hauschen (a small house, like a doghouse). If your pet is a breeding animal (Zuchttier), you might discuss Zucht (breeding).

Example sentences:

• Mein Hund kann sehr laut bellen.
• Die Katze schläft gern im Hauschen.
• Wir füttern unseren Fisch jeden Morgen.
• Das Kaninchen ist sehr gesellig und spielt gern.

Naming and Describing Wild Animals

Common wild animals have their own names: der Bär (bear), die Giraffe, der Löwe. You can use these when you see animals in the wild or in a zoo.

When talking about wild animals, use verbs like angreifen (to attack), jagen (to hunt—a Jäger is a hunter), or discuss their food habits (Fleischfresser means carnivore). Sometimes you mention their body parts: Stacheln (spines), Feder (feathers), or how they use these for defense or warmth (wärmen).

Wild animals can be discussed in terms of conservation or behavior, like aussterben (to become extinct) or aufzuziehen (to raise, as in young animals). To describe how to take care of young animals, you might use pflegen (to care for), or füttern (to feed). Their home or area is called Region.

Example sentences:

• Der Tiger ist ein Fleischfresser und ein gefährlicher Jäger.
• Die Eule kann sehr gut hören.
• Das Känguru lebt in einer anderen Region.
• Der Pinguin wärmt sich mit seinen Federn.

For both pets and wild animals, you can also use verletzen (to injure), or, in sadder contexts, sterben (to die).

Cultural note: In German-speaking countries, it is common for children to learn animal names and sounds through songs and stories. Talking about animal behavior and habitat can also be part of lessons about environmental protection.