Learning a new language can be an exciting journey, and if you’re a pet lover or interested in animals, knowing related vocabulary in your target language can enhance your experience. For those studying Ukrainian, understanding pet and animal-related terms can help in everyday conversation, especially since pets are often considered part of the family. Below, we’ll explore essential Ukrainian words in this rich and descriptive category, complete with their English translations, definitions, and example sentences.
Собака (sobaka) – Dog
A loyal and beloved domesticated animal that is often kept as a pet.
Моя собака любить грати у парку.
(My dog loves to play in the park.)
Кіт (kit) – Cat
A small, domesticated feline known for its independence and being a common pet.
Цей кіт завжди спить на моєму дивані.
(This cat always sleeps on my sofa.)
Риба (ryba) – Fish
An aquatic animal that people commonly keep in tanks or aquariums.
У моїй акваріумі п’ять риб.
(I have five fish in my aquarium.)
Папуга (papuha) – Parrot
A colorful bird that is capable of mimicking speech and sounds and is often kept as a pet.
Папуга мого друга може казати “добрий день”.
(My friend’s parrot can say “good day.”)
Хом’як (khomyak) – Hamster
A small, nocturnal rodent often kept as a gentle, low-maintenance pet.
У дитячій кімнаті кожен хоче пограти з хом’яком.
(In the children’s room, everyone wants to play with the hamster.)
Тварина (tvaryna) – Animal
A general term for any living organism that feeds and grows, usually used to refer to non-human creatures.
У зоопарку дуже багато різних тварин.
(There are many different animals in the zoo.)
Птах (ptah) – Bird
A feathered vertebrate animal that lays eggs and is typically able to fly.
Цей птах співає кожного ранку біля мого вікна.
(This bird sings every morning by my window.)
Коник (konyk) – Guinea Pig
Another small rodent that is commonly kept as a pet; known for its social nature.
Мій коник має м’яку коричневу шерсть.
(My guinea pig has soft brown fur.)
Жаба (zhaba) – Frog
An amphibious animal known for its jumping abilities, croaking sounds, and smooth or slimy skin.
Вдень жаби ховаються під листям.
(During the day, frogs hide under the leaves.)
Ящірка (yashchyrika) – Lizard
A small reptile that is often seen sunning on rocks and is known for its ability to regenerate its tail.
Ящірка швидко побігла у тріщину у стіні.
(The lizard quickly ran into the crack in the wall.)
While expanding your Ukrainian vocabulary with these animal and pet-related words, remember that practice and immersion are key to language learning. Use these terms when you encounter pets and animals, or if you’re crafting sentences in class or with a language partner. Observing animals in real life or even in Ukrainian media can also provide a great context for these terms, making them easier to remember. Whether you’re visiting a zoo, a pet store, or just enjoying nature, the addition of these words to your Ukrainian lexicon will surely help you communicate more effectively and with more enjoyment.