A German dog says wau wau, a German rooster says kikeriki, and a German who is lucky hat Schwein, literally "has pig". Animals turn up all over everyday German, not just at the zoo.
Here are the pets, the farm animals and the wild ones you may meet on a walk, plus what they say and a few rules if you plan to get a dog in Germany.
Pets
pet
das Haustier
dog
der Hund
puppy
der Welpe
cat
die Katze
kitten
das Kätzchen
rabbit
das Kaninchen
guinea pig
das Meerschweinchen
hamster
der Hamster
budgie
der Wellensittich
goldfish
der Goldfisch
tortoise
die Schildkröte
Practice these words
das Haustier
Kaninchen or Hase? Strictly, a Kaninchen is a rabbit and a Hase is a hare. In everyday speech, and certainly at Easter, people call both Hase. The Osterhase is the Easter bunny.
Meerschweinchen literally means "little sea pig". Guinea pigs and rabbits are classic first pets for German children.
On the Farm
farm
der Bauernhof
cow
die Kuh
bull
der Stier
calf
das Kalb
pig
das Schwein
horse
das Pferd
donkey
der Esel
sheep
das Schaf
goat
die Ziege
chicken
das Huhn
hen
die Henne
rooster
der Hahn
chick
das Küken
duck
die Ente
goose
die Gans
Practice these words
der Bauernhof
Huhn is the general word for a chicken, and the meat in the supermarket is Hähnchen. Küken and Kalb are neuter, like most words for young animals.
Wild Animals You'll Meet in Germany
fox
der Fuchs
roe deer
das Reh
wild boar
das Wildschwein
hedgehog
der Igel
squirrel
das Eichhörnchen
stork
der Storch
bird
der Vogel
Practice these words
der Fuchs
Watch out: Wildschweine live in forests all over Germany and even wander into the outskirts of cities like Berlin. If you meet one, especially with young, keep your distance and back away calmly.
Igel are protected and often live in gardens. Germans leave piles of leaves for them in autumn, and a hedgehog crossing a road is a common reason to slow down.
What Animals Say
| Animal | Sound | Verb |
|---|---|---|
der Hund | wau wau | bellen |
die Katze | miau | miauen |
die Kuh | muh | muhen |
das Schwein | grunz | grunzen |
das Schaf | mäh | blöken |
der Hahn | kikeriki | krähen |
die Ente | quak | quaken |
der Esel | i-ah | iahen |
das Pferd | (no fixed sound) | wiehern |
Children learn these early, and they turn up in picture books and songs.
Talking to Dog Owners
Do you have pets?
Haben Sie Haustiere?
What's his name?
Wie heißt er?
Can I stroke your dog?
Darf ich Ihren Hund streicheln?
Does he bite?
Beißt er?
She's very friendly.
Sie ist ganz lieb.
Please put your dog on the lead.
Bitte nehmen Sie Ihren Hund an die Leine.
Dogs must stay outside.
Hunde müssen draußen bleiben.
Practice these words
Haben Sie Haustiere?
Good to know: always ask before you stroke someone's dog: Darf ich? Most owners say yes. Signs saying Wir müssen draußen bleiben, with a picture of a dog, are common on bakeries and supermarkets, because food shops usually don't allow dogs inside.
Animal Idioms
| German | Literally | Means |
|---|---|---|
Schwein haben | to have pig | to be lucky |
hundemüde sein | to be dog-tired | to be exhausted |
einen Kater haben | to have a tomcat | to have a hangover |
der Angsthase | fear hare | a scaredy-cat |
Da steppt der Bär. | the bear is tap dancing there | it's a great party |
die Katze im Sack kaufen | to buy the cat in the bag | to buy a pig in a poke |
Ich glaub, mein Schwein pfeift! | I think my pig is whistling | I don't believe it! |
der Hahn im Korb | the rooster in the basket | the only man among women |
Getting a Dog in Germany
- Hundesteuer: almost every town charges a yearly dog tax. Register the dog with your town when you get it.
- Insurance: dog liability insurance, Hundehaftpflicht, is required for every dog in some federal states, such as Berlin, Hamburg and Lower Saxony, and for large or listed breeds in others. It's a good idea everywhere.
- Lead rules differ by state and town. Many parks require a lead, and some states require one in forests during the breeding season, roughly April to July.
- Renting: small pets like hamsters are generally allowed. A blanket ban on all pets in a rental contract isn't valid, but a dog or cat still usually needs your landlord's agreement, so ask before you sign.
- Tierheim: many people adopt from the local animal shelter. Expect a visit or a few questions about your home, and a fee, the Schutzgebühr, often a few hundred euros for a dog.