Animals Живо́тные
21 Russian words on the topic of animals — each with a picture, an audio recording and an example sentence. Pets, the farm and the wild — including the bear, Russia’s favorite.
| Picture | English | Russian · Ру́сский | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | dog | соба́ка | Feminine even for male dogs. Explicitly male: пёс. |
 | cat | кот | 🔀 Several meaningsкот = tomcat; female or generic: ко́шка. |
 | bird | пти́ца | 🔗 Word familyThe diminutive пти́чка is very common in everyday speech. |
 | fish | ры́ба | |
 | horse | лоша́дь | ⚠️ GenderFeminine (soft-sign ending). A male horse is конь. |
 | cow | коро́ва | The male is бык. Also a rude word for a clumsy woman. |
 | bull | бык | Set simile: здоро́в как бык — 'strong as an ox'. |
 | pig | свинья́ | 🔗 Word familyThe meat is свини́на. Also an insult, just like 'pig'. |
 | sheep | овца́ | The ram is бара́н — also an insult for a stubborn fool. |
 | goat | коза́ | The male, козёл, doubles as a strong insult — careful. |
 | hen | ку́рица | 🔀 Several meaningsAlso the meat (chicken). The rooster is пету́х. |
 | rabbit | кро́лик | A hare is за́яц — Russian keeps the two apart. |
 | mouse | мышь | ⚠️ GenderFeminine (soft-sign ending). Also the computer mouse. |
 | lion | лев | The е drops in declension: льва, львы. Also the name Leo (Лев Толсто́й). |
 | tiger | тигр | 🔗 Word familyCognate of 'tiger'. One closed syllable, тигр. |
 | elephant | слон | 🔀 Several meaningsIn chess, слон is the bishop. |
 | monkey | обезья́на | 🔀 Several meaningsCovers both monkey and ape. Note the ь in the middle. |
 | bear | медве́дь | ⚠️ GenderMasculine despite the soft sign. 🔗 Word familyLiterally 'honey-eater' (мёд = honey). |
 | turtle | черепа́ха | 🔗 Word familyFrom че́реп (skull). 🔀 Several meaningsOne word for turtle and tortoise. |
 | snake | змея́ | Also a treacherous person, just like 'snake' in English. |
 | butterfly | ба́бочка | 🔀 Several meaningsAlso means 'bow tie'. |