Here’s a list of 100 common domestic animals with their names in English and Swahili. I’ve grouped them by category to make it easier to review:
Farm & Livestock
- Cow – Ng’ombe
- Bull – Ng’ombe wa kiume
- Calf – Kijiboko
- Ox – Ng’ombe wa kulisha/wa kazi
- Goat – Mbuzi
- Kid (young goat) – Mbuzi mchanga
- Sheep – Kondoo
- Lamb – Mwanakondoo
- Pig – Nguruwe
- Sow – Nguruwe kiangazi
- Piglet – Nguruwembebe
- Horse – Farasi
- Stallion – Farasi kiume
- Mare – Farasi wa kike
- Foal – Kifaru au kama “farasi mchanga”
- Donkey – Punda
- Mule – Mvulana (punda × farasi)
- Camel – Ngamia
- Dromedary – Ngamia mmoja
- Bactrian camel – Ngamia wenye josi mbili
- Buffalo – Nyati
- Yak – Yak
- Llama – Lama
- Alpaca – Alpaka
- Reindeer – Punda-milaya wa theluji
- Ostrich – Mbuni
- Emu – Emu
- Turkey – Bata mzinga
- Chicken – Kuku
- Hen – Kuku wa kike
- Rooster – Kuku wa kiume (jini/jiko)
- Chick – Kuku mchanga
- Duck – Bata
- Drake – Bata wa kiume
- Duckling – Bata mdogo
- Goose – Gani
- Gander – Gani wa kiume
- Gosling – Gani mdogo
- Turkey poult – Bata mzinga mchanga
- Guinea fowl – Kuku-mbarubu
- Quail – Kwala
- Pigeon – Njiwa
- Dove – Njiwa mdogo
- Pheasant – Djabu/mkipi
- Partridge – Bata msituni
- Goose – Gani
- Emu – Emu
- Peacock – Bata-peacock (kipekee huchanganywa)
- Peacock (male) – Bata wa kiume
- Peahen – Bata wa kike
Pets
- Dog – Mbwa
- Puppy – Mbwa mdogo
- Cat – Paka
- Kitten – Paka mdogo
- Rabbit – Sungura
- Bunny – Sungura mchanga
- Guinea pig – Ngiri
- Hamster – Hamsta
- Gerbil – Jearbili
- Ferret – Fereti
- Hedgehog – Pankipango
- Chinchilla – Chinchila
- Chameleon – Chameleon
- Gecko – Gecko
- Iguana – Iguana
- Turtle – Kasa
- Tortoise – Kasa mkavu
- Fish – Samaki
- Goldfish – Samaki wa dhahabu
- Betta fish – Samaki Betta
- Turtle (water) – Kasa wa maji
- Toad – Kobe mdogo
- Frog – Chura
- Hermit crab – Kaa wa nyumba
- Parrot – Kasuku
- Budgerigar (budgie) – Kasuku mdogo
- Canary – Tanali
- Cockatiel – Kasili
- Lovebird – Kasuku wa mapenzi
- Macaw – Macaw
- Cockatoo – Kakatoo
- Finch – Finchi
- Sparrow – Spawa
- Canary – Tanali
- Sugar glider – Ski glida
- Axolotl – Axolotl
- Measuring millipede – Minililimi
- Stick insect – Mijusi
- Tarantula – Tarantula
- Guinea pig – Ngiri (repeat accepted)
Semi-Domestic & Other
- Pigeon (rock) – Njiwa mlima
- Racing pigeon – Njiwa wa mbio
- Carrier pigeon – Njiwa wa barua
- Honeybee – Asali nyuki
- Silkworm – Mdudu wa hariri
- Mink – Mwenye ngozi laini
- Mink (domestic) – Mink wa kupandisha
- Skunk – Skunki (domesticated rare)
- Raccoon – Rakuni (rare pet)
- Otter – Panya-maji (rarest)
Tips for Use
- Many names follow gendered terms by adding wa kiume (male) or wa kike (female).
- Some animal names are borrowed directly (e.g., hamsta, skunki, raccoon) due to novelty.
- Pronunciation follows typical Swahili phonetics:
- “Ny” like Nyati
- “Ng” like Ng’ombe
- Soft “c” as “ch” (e.g., Chura)
Created for students (learners) Not for google search.
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