Previously, we looked at a few common animal names in Japanese. But if you are looking for a longer list, you are in the right place. You probably know cat and dog, but do you know how to say "hedgehog" in Japanese? I'm sure Sonic knows, but if you aren't Sonic, read on.
Introduction
First, the word for “animal” is 動物 doubutsu. This literally means moving (動) thing (物).
Also, if you are looking for animal sounds in Japanese (like nya for a cat or wan for a dog), click here.
One Minute Japanese Video
Animal Names in Japanese
A
alligator – ワニ wani | |
ant – アリ ari | |
armadillo – アルマジロ arumajiro |
B
bat – こうもり koumori | |
bear – 熊 kuma | |
birds – 鳥 tori | |
bee – 蜂 hachi | |
beetle – カブトムシ kabutomushi | |
butterfly – 蝶々 chou chou |
|
C
cat – 猫 neko | |
camel – ラクダ rakuda | |
chicken – ニワトリ niwatori | |
crane – 鶴 tsuru | |
cow – 牛 ushi | |
crab – カニ kani | |
crow – からす karasu | |
carp – こい koi | |
cricket – コオロギ koorogi |
|
D
dinosaurs – 恐竜 kyou ryuu | |
dog – 犬 inu | |
dolphin – イルカ iruka | |
donkey – ロバ roba | |
dragon – 竜 ryuu | |
duck – アヒル ahiru |
|
E
eagle – 鷲 washi | |
elephant – 象 zou |
F
fox – 狐 kitsune | |
frog – カエル kaeru | |
firefly – 蛍 hotaru | |
fish – 魚 sakana |
G
goldfish – 金魚 kin gyo | |
giraffe – キリン kirin | |
goat – ヤギ yagi | |
Godzilla – ゴジラ gojira [Godzilla supposedly was a merging of ゴリラ (gorilla) and クジラ (whale)] | |
gorilla – ゴリラ gorira |
|
H
hawk – 鷹 taka | |
hamster – ハムスター hamusuta– | |
hippo – カバ kaba | |
horse – 馬 uma |
|
I
insects – 虫 mushi |
J
jaguar – ジャガー jaga– | |
jellyfish - クラゲ kurage |
K
kangaroo – カンガルー kangaru– | |
koala – コアラ koara |
L
lamb – 子羊 kohitsuji | |
lion – ライオン raion | |
leopard – ヒョウ hyou |
|
M
mosquito – か ka | |
mouse / rat – ネズミ nezumi | |
monkey – 猿 saru | |
moth – 蛾 ga | |
mule / donkey – ロバ roba |
|
N
Nautilus – オウムガイ oumugai | |
Newt – イモリ imori | |
Nightingale – サヨナキドリ or ナイチンゲール sayonakidori or naichinge-ru |
|
O
owl – フクロウ fukurou | |
Octopus – 蛸 tako | |
Orangutan – オランウータン oranu-tan | |
Otter -川獺 kawauso | |
Oriole – コウライウグイス kouraiugaisu | |
Ostrich – ダチョウ dachou | |
P
panda – パンダ panda | |
penguin – ペンギン pengin | |
pig – 豚 buta | |
polar (white) bear – 白熊 shiro kuma |
|
Q
quail – 鶉 uzura |
R
rabbit – ウサギ usagi | |
rat / mouse – ネズミ nezumi | |
rhino – サイ sai |
|
S
sparrow – スズメ suzume | |
stork – コウノトリ kou no tori | |
swan – 白鳥 haku chou | |
shark – サメ same | |
scorpion – さそり sasori | |
sheep – 羊 hitsuji | |
skunk – スカンク sukanku | |
snake – 蛇 hebi | |
snail – 蝸牛 katatsumuri | |
squid – イカ ika |
|
T
tiger – トラ tora | |
turtle – 亀 kame |
U
unicorn – 一角獣 ikkakujuu |
V
Vulture – はげたか hagetaka |
W
whale – 鯨 kujira | |
wasp – スズメバチ suzumebachi | |
worm – ミミズ mimizu | |
wild boar – 猪 inoshishi | |
wolf – 狼 ookami |
|
Y
yak – ヤク yaku |
Z
zebra – シマウマ shima uma |
Hey!
First of all, great article. I would need the toucan word in japanese. Can you help me?
Thank you!
Hi Gréta,
toucan is オオハシ oohashi
shika = deer
Thanks Alan, i will update this post and eventually add more.
Hello,
What is, “Hedgehog” in Japanese?
Thank you.
Hi Charilyn!
Hedgehog is はりねずみ (harinezumi). But sometimes Sonic the Hedgehog is written with the katakana ヘッジホッグ (hejjihoggu).