Learning the names of farm animals in German is an exciting journey into the world of agriculture and language. Whether you're a beginner or looking to expand your language skills, mastering these terms not only enriches your vocabulary but also deepens your cultural understanding.
Farm animals, known as Bauernhoftiere in German, are often among the first words children learn in school. They play a fundamental role in daily life and are cared for on der Bauernhof (the farm) by der Bauer (the farmer). Understanding these animals' names and their pronunciation helps you connect with German culture, whether you're discussing food, animals, or simply enjoying conversations with native speakers. In this guide, we'll explore a comprehensive list of German farm animals along with their English translations and pronunciation, making it easier for you to grasp and use these essential words in
Farm Animals in german
Farm Animals in German
In German, farm animals are commonly referred to as Nutztiere, which translates to "use animals." This term reflects their practical role in agriculture.
Alternative Terms for Farm Animals
Farm animals are also known as Bauernhoftiere or simply Hoftiere, emphasizing their association with farmyards.
German Farm Animals Vocabulary
| German |
English Translation |
| das Schwein |
pig, swine, hog |
| das Ferkel |
piglet |
| die Sau |
sow, pig, wild boar |
| das Pferd |
horse |
| das Huhn |
chicken, hen |
| die Ente |
duck |
| die Gans |
goose |
| der Truthahn |
turkey (cock) |
| das Schaf |
sheep |
| der Ochs |
ox |
| der Stier |
steer |
| der Bulle |
bull |
| die Kuh |
cow |
| der Esel |
donkey |
| die Ziege |
goat, nanny goat |
| der Ziegenbock |
billy goat |
| die Bergziege |
mountain goat |
Common Phrases and Idioms
| German Phrase |
English Translation |
Meaning |
| die Sau rauslassen |
letting off steam |
Literally "letting the pig out" |
| wie eine gestochene Sau bluten |
to bleed like a stuck pig |
Expression for intense bleeding |
| ein komisches Huhn |
a strange character |
Similar to "an odd duck" |
| die Kuh vom Eis bringen |
to save the day |
Literally "to get the cow off the ice" |
| wie die Kuh vorm neuen Tor dastehen |
to be utterly bewildered |
Literally "to stand like a cow in front of a new gate" |
| den Stier bei den Hörnern packen |
to grab the bull by the horns |
Take decisive action |
German Farm Animals Vocabulary with Pronunciation
Bauernhoftiere, or farm animals, are typically some of the first animal names that children learn in school. These creatures are commonly found on der Bauernhof (the farm) where they are cared for by der Bauer (the farmer).
| German |
English Translation |
Pronunciation |
| das Pferd |
The horse |
/das ˈpfeːɐ̯t/ |
| das Pony |
The pony |
/das ˈpoːni/ |
| die Kuh |
The cow |
/diː kuː/ |
| das Schwein |
The pig |
/das ʃvaɪn/ |
| der Hahn |
The rooster |
/deːɐ̯ han/ |
| die Henne |
The hen |
/diː ˈhɛnə/ |
| das Schaf |
The sheep |
/das ʃaːf/ |
| die Ziege |
The goat |
/diː ˈtsiːɡə/ |
| der Esel |
The donkey |
/deːɐ̯ ˈeːzəl/ |
| der Truthahn |
The turkey |
/deːɐ̯ ˈtruːthaːn/ |
| die Gans |
The goose |
/diː ɡans/ |
| die Ente |
The duck |
/diː ˈɛntə/ |
| das Lama |
The llama |
/das ˈlama/ |
| das Rentier |
The reindeer |
/das ˈʁɛnti̯eːɐ̯/ |
| der Büffel |
The buffalo |
/deːɐ̯ ˈbyfəl/ |
| der Waschbär |
The raccoon |
/deːɐ̯ ˈvaʃbɛːɐ̯/ |
| der Schwan |
The swan |
/deːɐ̯ ʃvaːn/ |
| der Adler |
The eagle |
/deːɐ̯ ˈaːdlɐ/ |
| das Opossum |
The possum |
/das ˈɔpɔsʊm/ |
Overview of Farm Animals in Germany
Livestock Animals
| Farm Animal |
Description |
| Cattle |
Raised for dairy and meat production. They also contribute to biogas production through manure. |
| Pigs |
Mainly bred for pork production. They are also utilized in biogas production. |
| Sheep |
Primarily kept for wool production. They help control vegetation in certain landscapes. |
| Goats |
Valued for milk production and are adaptable to various environments. |
| Horses |
Used traditionally in agriculture and forestry, also prominent in equestrian sports. |
| Chickens |
Raised for egg and meat production, adaptable to intensive farming methods. |
| Turkeys |
Bred mainly for meat production, particularly popular during holidays. |
| Ducks |
Known for their eggs and meat, often raised in small flocks on farms. |
Specialized Livestock
| Farm Animal |
Description |
| Bees |
Kept for honey production and pollination services, crucial for agriculture. |
| Rabbits |
Raised for meat (rabbit meat) and fur, known for their efficient reproduction. |
Farm Animal Names in German
Understanding Nutztiere in German
"Nutztiere" is the German term for farm animals, referring to animals used for commercial purposes in agriculture. This section provides a comprehensive list of common farm animals in German, including their singular and plural forms, as well as terms for males, females, young animals, and collective nouns.
| English Name |
German Animal Name (Singular) |
German Animal Name (Plural) |
Male |
Female |
Young |
Collective Noun |
| Pig |
Schwein |
Schweine |
Eber |
Sau |
Ferkel |
Rotte |
| Chicken |
Huhn |
Hühner |
Hahn |
Henne |
Küken |
Brut |
| Cow |
Rind |
Rinder |
Stier/Bulle |
Kuh |
Kalb |
Herde |
| Sheep |
Schaf |
Schaafe |
Bock |
Mutterschaf |
Lamm |
Herde |
| Goat |
Ziege |
Ziegen |
Bock |
Geiß |
Kitz |
Herde |
| Horse |
Pferd |
Pferde |
Hengst |
Stute |
Fohlen |
Herde |
| Donkey |
Esel |
Esel |
Eselhengst |
Eselstute |
Eselfohlen |
Herde |
| Rabbit |
Kaninchen |
Kaninchen |
Rammler |
Zibbe |
- |
Kolonie |
| Bee |
Biene |
Bienen |
Drohne |
Arbeiterin |
Larve |
Schwarm |
| Duck |
Ente |
Enten |
Erpel |
Ente |
Küken |
Schoof |
| Goose |
Gans |
Gänse |
Ganter/Gänserich |
Gans |
Gänseküken/Gössel |
Schoof |
| Turkey |
Truthahn |
Truthähne |
Truthahn/Puter |
Truthuhn/Truthenne |
Küken |
- |
| Quail |
Wachtel |
Wachteln |
Hahn |
Henne |
Küken |
- |
| Pheasant |
Fasan |
Fasane |
Hahn |
Henne |
Küken |
Bukett |
| Ostrich |
Strauß |
Strauße |
Hahn |
Henne |
Küken |
Herde |
| Emu |
Emu |
Emus |
Hahn |
Henne |
Küken |
Herde |
| Nandu |
Nandu |
Nandus |
Hahn |
Henne |
Küken |
Herde |
| Stag |
Hirsch |
Hirsche |
Bock |
Kuh |
Kalb |
Rudel |
| Deer |
Reh |
Rehe |
Bock |
Kuh |
Rehkitz |
Rudel |
| Llama |
Lama |
Lamas |
Hengst |
Stute |
Fohlen |
Herde |
| Alpaca |
Alpaka |
Alpakas |
Macho/Hengst |
Hembra/Stute |
Cria/Fohlen |
Herde |
| Vicugna |
Vikunja |
Vikunjas |
Hengst |
Stute |
Cria/Fohlen |
Herde |
| Guanaco |
Guanako |
Guanakos |
Hengst |
Stute |
Cria/Fohlen |
Herde |
| Dromedary |
Dromedar |
Dromedare |
Hengst |
Stute |
Fohlen |
Herde |
| Bactrian camel |
Trampeltier |
Trampeltiere |
Hengst |
Stute |
Fohlen |
Herde |
| Yak |
Yak, Jak |
Yaks, Jaks |
Bulle |
Kuh |
Kalb |
Herde |
| Zebu |
Buckelrind |
Buckelrinder |
Bulle |
Kuh |
Kalb |
Herde |
| Water Buffalo |
Wasserbüffel |
Wasserbüffel |
Ochse |
Kuh |
Kalb |
Herde |
| Mule |
Maultier |
Maultiere |
Hengst |
Stute |
Fohlen |
Herde |
| Hinny |
Maulesel |
Maulesel |
Hengst |
Stute |
Fohlen |
Herde |
| Guinea Fowl |
Perlhuhn |
Perlhühner |
Hahn |
Henne |
Perlhuhnküken |
- |
| Moose |
Elch |
Elche |
Bulle |
Kuh |
Kalb |
Rudel |
| Reindeer |
Rentier |
Rentiere |
Renhirsch |
Renkuh |
Kalb |
Tips to Remember Farm Animals in German
Common Farm Animals and Their German Names
| English Name |
German Name |
| Cattle |
Rinder |
| Pigs |
Schweine |
| Sheep |
Schafe |
| Goats |
Ziegen |
| Horses |
Pferde |
| Chickens |
Hühner |
| Turkeys |
Truthähne |
| Ducks |
Enten |
| Bees |
Bienen |
| Rabbits |
Kaninchen |
Visual Associations
- Rinder: Picture a cow with a bell around its neck grazing in a meadow.
- Schweine: Think of a piglet rolling in the mud.
- Schafe: Visualize a fluffy sheep on a green hillside.
- Ziegen: Imagine a goat climbing a rocky mountain.
- Pferde: See a horse running in a field.
- Hühner: Picture a hen laying eggs in a coop.
- Truthähne: Think of a turkey with its tail feathers fanned out.
- Enten: Visualize ducks swimming in a pond.
- Bienen: Picture bees buzzing around flowers.
- Kaninchen: Think of a rabbit hopping in a garden.
Mnemonic Devices
- Cattle (Rinder): "Remember the robust Rinder."
- Pigs (Schweine): "Schweine snort in the swine pen."
- Sheep (Schafe): "Shy Schafe in the shade."
- Goats (Ziegen): "Ziegen zip up the hill."
- Horses (Pferde): "Pferde prance proudly."
- Chickens (Hühner): "Hühner hens lay eggs."
- Turkeys (Truthähne): "Truthähne trot around."
- Ducks (Enten): "Enten enjoy the water."
- Bees (Bienen): "Bienen buzz busily."
- Rabbits (Kaninchen): "Kaninchen nibble quietly."
Practice with Flashcards
Create flashcards with the English name on one side and the German name on the other. Review them regularly to reinforce your memory.
Use in Sentences
- "Die Rinder weiden auf der Wiese." (The cattle graze in the meadow.)
- "Die Schweine spielen im Schlamm." (The pigs play in the mud.)
- "Die Schafe schlafen im Stall." (The sheep sleep in the barn.)
