Learning a new language opens up a world of opportunities, not least the ability to communicate with people from different cultures. If you’re interested in South African culture or planning a trip to the region, one of the languages you might want to pick up is Afrikaans. And what better way to start than with the names of animals? Animals are a common topic of conversation, and knowing their names in Afrikaans will be both fun and practical. Here’s a list of animal names in Afrikaans to get you started on your learning journey.

Hond (Dog)
Defined as a domesticated carnivorous mammal that typically has a long snout, an acute sense of smell, and a barking, howling, or whining voice.
Die kind speel happily met die hond buite. (The child is playing happily with the dog outside.)

Kat (Cat)
This word refers to a small domesticated carnivorous mammal with soft fur, a short snout, and retractable claws.
Die kat sit op die vensterbank en kyk na die voëls. (The cat sits on the windowsill and watches the birds.)

Perd (Horse)
A large plant-eating domesticated mammal with solid hoofs and a flowing mane and tail, used for riding, racing, and to carry and pull loads.
Ons gaan vandag perdry op die plaas met die perde. (We are going horseback riding on the farm with the horses today.)

Koei (Cow)
A fully grown female animal of a domesticated breed of ox, used as a source of milk or beef.
Die koei wei in die veld langs die rivier. (The cow is grazing in the field next to the river.)

Skaap (Sheep)
A domesticated ruminant animal with a thick woolly coat and (typically only in the male) curving horns.
Die boer het vyftig skape op sy plaas. (The farmer has fifty sheep on his farm.)

Olifant (Elephant)
A very large plant-eating mammal with a prehensile trunk, long curved ivory tusks, and large ears, native to Africa and southern Asia.
Die olifante speel in die water. (The elephants are playing in the water.)

Leeu (Lion)
A large tawny-colored cat that lives in prides, found in Africa and northwestern India.
Ons het ‘n leeu in die wildreservaat gesien. (We saw a lion in the game reserve.)

Luiperd (Leopard)
A large solitary cat that has a fawn or brown coat with black spots, native to the forests of Africa and southern Asia.
Die luiperd sluip stil-stil nader aan sy prooi. (The leopard stealthily sneaks closer to its prey.)

Renoster (Rhinoceros)
A large, heavy mammal with thick skin and one or two horns on its snout.
Die renoster staan en eet gras onder die boom. (The rhinoceros is standing and eating grass under the tree.)

Sebra (Zebra)
An African wild horse with black-and-white stripes and an erect mane.
Die sebras kruis die pad in ‘n lang ry. (The zebras are crossing the road in a long line.)

By starting with these animal names, you can build your vocabulary and gradually add other words and phrases that will help you converse more fluently in Afrikaans. Remember, the key to language learning is practice, so try to use your new words as often as possible, whether you’re speaking with someone else or just to yourself. Veels geluk met jou taalleer-reis! (Good luck with your language learning journey!)