As babies begin picking up their native language, what are some of the first words they learn? Besides the obvious “mommy” and “daddy,” most children become familiar early on with the names of animals and the sounds they make. 

So why not take a similar approach when learning a foreign language? 

BulgarianPod101 has prepared this beginner-level Bulgarian animals list to help you immerse yourself in the Bulgarian language as naturally as little children do. In this article, you’ll learn the names of pets, farm animals, wild and dangerous animals in Bulgaria, marine animals, birds, reptiles, and even endangered species that are included in The Red Data Book of Bulgaria. 

Why start with animal names? They’re easy to remember and they’re rather fun to say, so learning them will resemble a game. We advise you to make flashcards for animals in each of the categories presented here and regularly review them until you’ve achieved mastery. Enjoy!

Table of Contents

1. Pets at Home
2. Farm Animals
3. Land Animals: Mammals in the Wild / Forest / Safari
4. Aquatic / Marine Animals in the Black Sea
5. Bugs and Insects
6. Birds and Reptiles
7. Animal Body Parts
8. 9 Animal-Related Idioms and Slang Expressions
9. Animal Names Game
10. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn the Bulgarian Language
11. Answers to the Animal Names Game

Pets at Home

Just like people of other nations, Bulgarians love taking care of pets. The most preferred pets in Bulgaria are cats and dogs, though some people own more exotic pets like parrots, chameleons, or rodents.

There are many reasons we enjoy having pets around the house: 

• A pet makes a good companion, especially for seniors and lonely people.
• Having children take care of a pet is a great way to teach them how to be more responsible.
• Pets love their owners and respond to their attention and care.
• Owning a pet has many health benefits.

Now, take a look at the following list of pet names in Bulgarian:

Куче	Kuche	Dog
Котка	Kotka	Cat
Папагал	Papagal	Parrot
Заек	Zaek	Rabbit
Хамстер	Hamster	Hamster
Златна рибка	Zlatna ribka	Goldfish
Златна рибка	Morsko svinche	Guinea pig
Костенурка	Kostenurka	Turtle
Хамелеон	Hameleon	Chameleon
Игуана	Iguana	Iguana

Farm Animals

Bulgarians have been livestock breeders for centuries and have always relied on animals for food. Farm animals produce meat, dairy products, and eggs, which make up an integral part of the Bulgarian diet.

The main sectors in livestock breeding in Bulgaria are: 

• Cattle breeding
• Sheep breeding
• Goat breeding
• Pig breeding
• Horse breeding
• Poultry breeding

It’s interesting to note that ostrich farming, beekeeping, and sericulture are also well-developed in Bulgaria.

Let’s take a look at the most popular farm animals in Bulgaria:

Крава	Krava	Cow
Бик	Bik	Bull
Бивол	Bivol	Buffalo
Магаре	Magare	Donkey
Кон	Kon	Horse
Овца	Ovtsa	Sheep
Коза	Koza	Goat
Прасе	Prase	Pig
Кокошка	Kokoshka	Hen
Петел	Petel	Rooster
Пуйка	Puyka	Turkey
Патка	Patka	Duck
Гъска	Gaska	Goose

→ In our Absolute Beginner lesson Farm Animals, you can find out more about different farm animals in Bulgaria.

Land Animals: Mammals in the Wild / Forest / Safari

There are a variety of wild animals in Bulgaria. Unfortunately, many of them are threatened with extinction and are listed in The Red Data Book of Bulgaria to be protected under law. In this section, we’ve listed some of the most popular mammals that reside in Bulgaria and around the world.

Wild Animals in Bulgaria

Вълк	Valk	Wolf
Чакал	Chakal	Jackal
Лисица	Lisitsa	Fox
Белка	Belka	Beech marten
Дива котка	Diva kotka	Wildcat
Кафява мечка	Kafyava mechka	Brown bear
Див заек	Div zaek	Wild rabbit
Елен	Elen	Deer
Сърна	Sarna	Roe deer
Катерица	Kateritsa	Squirrel
Бобър	Bobar	Beaver
Видра	Vidra	Otter
Таралеж	Taralezh	Hedgehog
Глиган	Gligan	Boar

Popular Wild Animals Around the World

Лъв	Lav	Lion
Слон	Slon	Elephant
Камила	Kamila	Camel
Жираф	Zhiraf	Giraffe
Кенгуру	Kenguru	Kangaroo
Тигър	Tigar	Tiger
Бяла мечка	Byala mechka	Polar bear
Ягуар	Yaguar	Jaguar
Пантера	Pantera	Panther
Маймуна	Maymuna	Monkey
Коала	Koala	Koala
Панда	Panda	Panda

Aquatic / Marine Animals in the Black Sea

Bulgaria’s eastern border encompasses the Black Sea Coast. For this reason, Bulgaria boasts a vast diversity of marine animals. There are 1,966 animal species in the Black Sea and several more in Bulgaria’s rich collection of rivers.

Here, we’ll give you the names of popular marine animals as well as those of the most dangerous sea animals in the Black Sea.

Popular Marine Animal Names in Bulgarian

Кит	Kit	Whale
Акула	Akula	Shark
Риба	Riba	Fish
Октопод	Oktopod	Octopus
Пингвин	Pingvin	Penguin
Тюлен	Tyulen	Seal
Мида	Mida	Clam / Mussel
Рак	Rak	Crab
Омар	Omar	Lobster
Морско конче	Morsko konche	Seahorse
Сепия	Sepiya	Cuttlefish
Скарида	Skarida	Shrimp

The Most Dangerous Sea Animals in the Black Sea

Черноморска акула	Chernomorska akula	Black Sea shark
Ушата медуза	Ushata meduza	Common jellyfish
Риба-меч	Riba-mech	Swordfish
Морска котка	Morska kotka	Catfish
Морски скорпион	Morski skorpion	Lionfish
Морски дракон	Morski drakon	Weever
Риба звездоброец	Riba zvezdobroets	Stargazer fish

→ You can learn even more vocabulary in this list of marine animals by BulgarianPod101. We have included a sample sentence with each word to help you understand how to use them.

Bugs and Insects

Considering that there are at least 900,000 insect species, it’s safe to say that there are more insect species than any other animal species in the world. As already mentioned, some creepy-crawlies (like bees and silkworms) play an important role in the lives of Bulgarian people. Others (like hornets, ticks, and centipedes) can be quite dangerous. 

Below, you’ll find a brief list of the most popular Bulgarian bugs and insects.

Муха	Muha	Fly
Оса	Osa	Wasp
Пчела	Pchela	Bee
Паяк	Payak	Spider
Богомолка	Bogomolka	Praying mantis
Стършел	Starshel	Hornet
Бръмбар	Brambar	Beetle
Калинка	Kalinka	Ladybug
Скакалец	Skakalets	Grasshopper
Комар	Komar	Mosquito
Кърлеж	Karlezh	Tick
Мравка	Mravka	Mravka
Пеперуда	Peperuda	Butterfly
Гъсеница	Gasenitsa	Caterpillar

→ If you would like to learn the pronunciation of these words, make sure to visit our lesson Bugs and Insects on BulgarianPod101.com! 

Birds and Reptiles

There are 426 bird species in Bulgaria, making it the European country with the second-greatest diversity of birds. 

In addition, there are 33 species of reptiles residing in Bulgaria: 4 species of turtles, 16 species of snakes, and 13 species of lizards.

Reptiles in Bulgaria

Змия	Zmiya	Snake
Гущер	Gushter	Lizard
Костенурка	Kostenurka	Turtle

Birds in Bulgaria

Птица	Ptitsa	Bird
Чайка	Chayka	Seagull
Врабче	Vrabche	Sparrow
Врана	Vrana	Crow
Щъркел	Shtarkel	Stork
Гълъб	Galab	Pigeon
Кукумявка	Kukumyavka	Screech-owl
Кукувица	Kukuvitsa	Cuckoo
Бухал	Buhal	Owl
Пеликан	Pelikan	Pelican
Славей	Slavey	Nightingale
Орел	Orel	Eagle
Сокол	Sokol	Falcon
Лешояд	Leshoyad	Vulture
Кълвач	Kalvach	Woodpecker
Чучулига	Chuchuliga	Lark

Animal Body Parts

Now that you know the essential animal names in Bulgarian, you should also pick up a few words related to animal body parts. This will help you better describe animals and make you more familiar with the topic in general.

Глава	Glava	Head
Очи	Ochi	Eyes
Уши	Ushi	Ears
Опашка	Opashka	Tail
Крило	Krilo	Wing
Лапа	Lapa	Paw
Клюн	Klyun	Beak
Пера	Pera	Feathering
Рог	Rog	Horn
Козина	Kozina	Fur
Нокти	Nokti	Nails
Муцуна	Mutsuna	Muzzle
Гребен	Greben	Comb (of a rooster)
Перки	Perki	Fins

9 Animal-Related Idioms and Slang Expressions

There are a variety of colorful Bulgarian idioms and slang expressions inspired by the disposition, behavior, and appearance of different animals. The following phrases are likely to come up in your conversations with native Bulgarian speakers from time to time. 

#1

Bulgarian expression	Магарешки инат
Pronunciation	Magareshki inat
Literal translation	Donkey’s stubbornness
This expression refers to showing great stubbornness. It’s close in meaning to the English expression “to be as stubborn as a mule.”

#2

Bulgarian expression	Заблудена овца
Pronunciation	Zabludena ovtsa
Literal translation	Lost sheep
This one refers to a person who does not do the right thing, or in other words, someone who has lost their way.

#3

Bulgarian expression	На куково лято
Pronunciation	Na kukovo lyato
Literal translation	In cuckoo’s summer
We use this expression in reference to something that is impossible or will never happen.

#4

Bulgarian expression	Като риба на сухо
Pronunciation	Kato riba na suho
Literal translation	Like fish on dry land
This refers to someone who is not feeling well. The closest English expression is “like a fish out of water.”

#5 

Bulgarian expression	С трици маймуни ще лови.
Pronunciation	S tritsi maymuni shte lovi.
Literal translation	He is going to hunt monkeys with bran.
We use this expression in reference to someone who is trying to attain something large or valuable using very little.

#6

Bulgarian expression	За вълка говорим, а той в кошарата.
Pronunciation	Za valka govorim, a toy v kosharata.
Literal translation	We are talking about the wolf and he is in the pen.
We often use this phrase when the person we’re talking about suddenly shows up. It’s similar in meaning to the English expression “speak of the devil.”

#7

Bulgarian expression	Женя вълка за овцата.
Pronunciation	Zhenya valka za ovtsata.
Literal translation	I marry the wolf to the sheep.
We might say this if we’re trying to do something impossible.

#8

Bulgarian expression	Той е черната овца.
Pronunciation	Toy e chernata ovtsa.
Literal translation	He is the black sheep.
Like in English, we use this expression in reference to someone whom others have a bad opinion about or who has abruptly separated themself from others.

#9

Bulgarian expression	Когато стане вълка куче
Pronunciation	Kogato stane valka kuche
Literal translation	When the wolf becomes a dog
This refers to something that will never happen.

Animal Names Game

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, we advise you to use flashcards in order to memorize these Bulgarian animal names easier. Although it can take a long time to fully memorize new vocabulary, learning animal names is a critical step in your language learning journey. 

To make this a little more fun, let’s make it a game!

Below, we have provided pictures of different animals. Your job is to fill in the blanks with the corresponding Bulgarian animal names. You can check your answers at the end of this article—and don’t forget that you can also print these out to use as flashcards later on!

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How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn the Bulgarian Language

BulgarianPod101 has prepared this extensive overview of the most popular animal names in the Bulgarian language to help you memorize them more easily. 

To continue learning about the Bulgarian language and culture, create your free lifetime account on BulgarianPod101.com. We provide a range of study tools, including free vocabulary lists and a number of audio/video lessons. 

If you feel that you need some personal assistance in your Bulgarian-language studies, our MyTeacher service gives you access to your own tutor. They will guide you from beginner to advanced, helping you gain confidence in each of the key language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. 

We’d be glad to hear your feedback about this lesson. Did you find the Animal Names Game easy to complete, or were some of the names difficult to remember? Speaking of…

Answers to the Animal Names Game

Куче (Kuche)	Папагал (Papagal)
Кон (Kon)	Кокошка (Kokoshka)
Костенурка (Kostenurka)	Котка (Kotka)
Коза (Koza)	Крава (Krava)
Мравка (Mravka)	Магаре (Magare)
Прасе (Prase)	Пеперуда (Peperuda)
Заек (Zaek)	Елен (Elen)
Таралеж (Taralezh)	Кенгуру (Kenguru)
Змия (Zmia)	Слон (Slon)
Жираф (Zhiraf)	Маймуна (Maymuna)