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Animals are a subject that frequently comes up in everyday conversation, whatever language you’re speaking. If you’re an animal lover, talking about animals in Portuguese is a great way to develop your language skills. This is something you can practice with our tutors, who can set animal-based speaking, listening, reading, and writing tasks tailored to your skill level to promote your learning.
In this post, we’ll go through the names of 100 common animals in Portuguese. If the noun is masculine, it’s marked (m), and if it’s feminine it’s marked (f).
Mammals
Mamíferos (m)
Dog
Cachorro (m)
Cat
Gato (m)
Cow
Vaca (f)
Horse
Cavalo (m)
Pig
Porco (m)
Sheep
Ovelha (f)
Goat
Cabra (f)
Donkey
Burro (m)
Rat
Rato (m)
Mouse
Camundongo (m)
"Camundongo" specifically refers to house mice. Other types of mice are included in the rat family in Portuguese and referred to as ratos.
Squirrel
Esquilo (m)
Bat
Morcego (m)
Fox
Raposa (f)
Deer
Veado (m)
Buffalo
Búfalo (m)
Camel
Camelo (m)
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzé (m)
Gazelle
Gazela (f)
Giraffe
Girafa (f)
Gorilla
Gorila (m)
Ox
Boi (m)
Antelope
Antílope (m)
Bear
Urso (m)
Beaver
Castor (m)
Boar
Javali (m)
Hippopotamus
Hipopótamo (m)
Hyena
Hiena (f)
Kangaroo
Canguru (m)
Rhinoceros
Rinoceronte (m)
Porcupine
Porco-espinho (m)
Lion
Leão (m)
Tiger
Tigre (m)
Cheetah
Chita (f)
Leopard
Leopardo (m)
Jaguar
Jaguar (m)
Panther
Pantera (f)
Monkey
Macaco (m)
Ape
Macaco (m)
In general speech, monkeys and apes are not usually differentiated, although you will sometimes hear grande símio or grande macaco for apes in a more technical context.
Birds
Aves (f)
Chicken
Frango (m)
Hen
Galinha (f)
Rooster
Galo (m)
Chick
Pintinho (m)
Duck
Pato (m)
Crow
Corvo (m)
Magpie
Pega (f)
Owl
Coruja (f)
Flamingo
Flamingo (m)
Falcon
Falcão (m)
Hawk
Gavião (m)
Ostrich
Avestruz (m)
Goose
Ganso (m)
Vulture
Abutre (m)
Pigeon
Pombo (m)
Woodpecker
Pica-pau (m)
Sparrow
Pardal (m)
Swan
Cisne (m)
Seagull
Gaivota (f)
Turkey
Peru (m)
A curious coincidence: the turkey shares a name with a country in both English and Portuguese, but completely different countries!
Aquatic Animals
Animais de água (m)
Fish
Peixe (m)
Crab
Caranguejo (m)
Lobster
Lagosta (f)
Oyster
Ostra (f)
Mussel
Mexilhão (m)
Crocodile
Crocodilo (m)
Alligator
Jacaré (m)
Frog
Rã (m)
Toad
Sapo (m)
Eel
Enguia (f)
Seahorse
Cavalo marinho (m)
Octopus
Polvo (m)
Squid
Lula (f)
Jellyfish
Medusa (f)
Shark
Tubarão (m)
Salmon
Salmão (m)
Trout
Truta (f)
Tuna
Atum (m)
Sole
Linguado (m)
Herring
Arenque (m)
Whale
Baleia (f)
Seal
Foca (f)
Insects, Arachnids, and Reptiles
Insetos (m), aracnídeos (m) e répteis (m)
Ant
Formiga (f)
Fly
Mosca (f)
Mosquito
Mosquito (m)
Beetle
Besouro (m)
Cockroach
Barata (f)
Flea
Pulga (f)
Wasp
Vespa (f)
Bee
Abelha (f)
Spider
Aranha (f)
Cricket
Grilo (m)
Lizard
Lagarto (m)
Scorpion
Escorpião (m)
Snake
Cobra (f)
Tortoise
Tartaruga (f)
Termite
Térmite (EU) (m) / Cupim (BR) (m)
Worm
Verme (m)
Leech
Sanguessuga (f)
Beetle
Besouro (m)
Butterfly
Borboleta (f)
Moth
Traça (f)
You can discover the names of more animals in Portuguese, and how to use them in conversation, if you learn with one of our tutors. Whatever your skill level and availability, with our flexible, personalized lesson plans, you’ll be sure to find the right program for you.