Raise your hand if you like animals! Zvířata (“animals”) are awesome and necessary for so many reasons. 

You’ll soon find out that if you want to speak Czech, you’re going to need to learn Czech animal names—even if you’re not a fur/feather/fish lover, you don’t intend to marry a Czech farmer, or you don’t want to talk about your mom’s private minizoo. 

Why? 

Let’s see: There is a mouse in my room! I am allergic to dogs. I hate fish; I only eat chicken. No, I can’t have that; there’s cow’s milk in it.

One of the first things Czech babies learn is animal sounds. Jak dělá kráva? Bů! (“What does a cow say? Moo!”). And since you should approach learning a new language just like that—as if you didn’t know any other language—let’s explore the Czech fauna together!

Table of Contents

1. Pets – Mazlíčci
2. On the Farm – Domácí zvířata
3. Wild Animals – Divoká zvířata
4. Aquatic / Marine Animals – Sladkovodní a mořské ryby
5. Bugs and Insects – Hmyz
6. Birds, Reptiles, and Amphibians – Ptáci, plazi, a obojživelníci
7. Talking About Animals
8. Animal-Related Idioms and Slang Expressions
9. How CzechClass101.com Helps You Learn Czech in a Fun Way

1. Pets – Mazlíčci

More than 58% of us share our home with a pet, and this number is still growing. Have you been to the Czech Republic? If your answer is yes, I’m sure you’ve seen many sleepy figures out in the streets clad in PJs early in the morning or around nine p.m…walking their dogs. Roughly 40% of Czechs have a dog (or dogs), while 23% own a cat. We might seem tough, but we sure love our furry friends!

Let’s look at the most common pets in the Czech Republic:

English	Czech
Cat	Kočka
Kitten	Kotě / Koťátko
Dog	Pes
Puppy	Štěně / Štěňátko
Hamster	Křeček
Guinea pig	Morče
Rat	Potkan
Mouse	Myš
Spider	Pavouk
Tarantula	Sklípkan
Chameleon	Chameleon
Parakeet	Andulka
Cockatiel	Korela
Parrot	Papoušek
Gerbil	Pískomil
Bunny	Králík / Králíček
Degu	Osmák degu
Fish	Rybička (literally: “tiny fish”)
Aquarium	Akvárium
Goldfish	Zlatá rybička
Tortoise	Želva
Turtle	Vodní želva
Snake	Had

Cats and dogs are the most common Czech pets.

2. On the Farm – Domácí zvířata

I grew up in a small village. Everybody had chickens, geese, ducks, and other animals. I used to love collecting fresh, warm eggs, and I got bit by an angry goose (geese are very aggressive, beware!) several times. We had fresh cow milk from our neighbors, and I was always wondering why my grandpa’s bunnies kept disappearing (bless my ten-year-old heart).

Things are much different now. The typical Czech would rather go to the supermarket once a week and watch TV the rest of the time. Some people still have chickens, rabbits, or even a pig, but it’s rare.

One thing I’d like to point out: Many Czechs who speak basic English often confuse a “hen” and a “chicken.” Keep that in mind. Don’t be surprised if you get weird looks when you say, “My chickens lay four eggs a day.” Folks around here think that a “chicken” is either the cute little ball of yellow feathers or a neat package from the supermarket. 

Also, there might be “hen soup” on the menu (delicious)—this is correct. Slepičí polévka or slepičí vývar (“hen soup/broth”) and kuřecí polévka or kuřecí vývar (“chicken soup/broth”) are two different things.

If you want to explore more, feel free to check out our lesson on farm animals.

English	Czech
Cow	Kráva
Calf	Tele / Telátko
Goat	Koza
Kid	Kůzle
Pig	Prase
Piglet	Sele / Selátko
Rabbit	Králík
Duck	Kachna
Duckling	Káčátko
Goose	Husa
Gosling	House / Housátko
Horse	Kůň
Stallion	Hřebec
Mare	Kobyla
Foal	Hříbě / Hříbátko
Pony	Poník
Donkey	Osel
Sheep	Ovce
Ram	Beran
Lamb	Jehně / Jehňátko
Hen (Chicken)	Slepice
Rooster	Kohout
Chick	Kuře
Pigeon	Holub

You can find the correct pronunciations, more vocab, and sample sentences on CzechClass101.com.

Sheep are quite common farm animals in the Czech Republic.

3. Wild Animals – Divoká zvířata

Although there are many gorgeous creatures roaming the Czech woods (I’m still talking about animals, not fairies), you’ll find some wilderness in the city as well. Sort of. You’ll definitely have a fair share of encounters with squirrels and pigeons.

I remember my first visit to London. It was a gorgeous sunny day, and my friend and I were walking through a park. I was 25 years old when I discovered that not all squirrels are red. In fact, none of the British ones were red. Czech squirrels, on the contrary, are mostly red.

Here’s a quick list of popular wild animals in the Czech language:

English	Czech
Tiger	Tygr
Tigress	Tygřice
Lion	Lev
Lioness	Lvice
Lion cub	Lvíče
Elephant	Slon
Monkey	Opice
Gorilla	Gorila
Hippopotamus	Hroch
Rhinoceros	Nosorožec
Giraffe	Žirafa
Antelope	Antilopa
Penguin	Tučňák
Polar bear	Lední medvěd (literally: “ice bear”)
Fox	Liška
Wolf	Vlk
Bear	Medvěd
Wild boar	Divoké prase (literally: “wild pig”)
Deer	Jelen
Hare	Zajíc
Squirrel	Veverka
Beaver	Bobr
Weasel	Lasička
Otter	Vydra

Wolves in the Czech Republic are endangered.

4. Aquatic / Marine Animals – Sladkovodní a mořské ryby

Since the Czech Republic isn’t a tropical paradise or a Scandinavian kingdom, the aquatic population of this lovely little patch in the heart of Europe isn’t very exciting. 

The most common Czech fish is the carp, which also happens to be the traditional Czech Christmas food.

In case you’re struggling with pronunciation, you’ll find help here.

English	Czech
Fish	Ryba
Freshwater fish	Sladkovodní ryba (literally: “sweetwater fish”)
Deep-sea fish	Mořská ryba
Salmon	Losos
Lobster	Humr
Shrimp	Kreveta
Seahorse	Mořský koník
Shark	Žralok
Dolphin	Delfín
Whale	Velryba
Orca	Kosatka
Pike	Štika
Catfish	Sumec
Carp	Kapr
Trout	Pstruh
Mackerel	Makrela
Starfish	Mořská hvězdice
Shellfish	Mušle
Oyster	Ústřice
Roe	Jikry

5. Bugs and Insects – Hmyz

Here’s the good news: This country isn’t humid, plus it’s not Australia. If you’re not interested in meeting a giant spider or a bug that’s the size of your uncle Bob’s palm, you’ll love it here.

However, this country is not bug-free. Make sure you check out the list of six- (or more-) legged creatures below.

By the way, writing all these animal names in Czech made me realize something quite adorable:

“Nightmares” are called “night moths” in Czech (“nightmare” – noční můra).

English	Czech
Bug	Brouk
Spider	Pavouk
Bee	Včela
Bumblebee	Čmelák
Wasp	Vosa
Ladybug	Beruška
Fly	Moucha
Firefly	Světluška
Moth	Můra
Butterfly	Motýl
Mosquito	Komár
Ant	Mravenec
Flea	Blecha
Cockroach	Šváb

6. Birds, Reptiles, and Amphibians – Ptáci, plazi, a obojživelníci

I feel like the title suggests this is a list of prehistoric animals. No. It contains words that represent beautiful creatures that chirp, look cute, and defy gravity on a daily basis, and some other creatures that…well…are our friends, too.

Did you know that there’s only one venomous snake in the Czech Republic? An adder. The bite wouldn’t, like, kill you (unless you’re a baby, which, I suppose, you’re not), and adders are endangered and extremely timid. The only thing that could possibly scare you on your hike in the Czech Republic is the lack of trash cans.

Now, here are the most common birds, reptiles, amphibians, and similar members of the animal kingdom.  

English	Czech
Bird	Pták
Reptile	Plaz
Lizard	Ještěr
Swan	Labuť
Hummingbird	Kolibřík
Seagull	Racek
Dove	Hrdlička
Pigeon	Holub
Crow	Vrána
Raven	Krkavec
Eagle	Orel
Hawk	Sokol
Buzzard	Káně
Stork	Čáp
Peacock	Páv
Owl	Sova
Sparrow	Vrabec
Blackbird	Kos
Frog	Žába
Toad	Ropucha
Snail	Hlemýžď (terminus technicus) / Šnek (a colloquial word that most people use when talking about these slimy creatures with “a house”—domeček, which literally means “tiny house”)
Slug	Slimák
Crocodile	Krokodýl
Alligator	Aligátor

Peacocks can be seen in most parks surrounding chateaus all over the country.

7. Talking About Animals

Now that you know the names of animals in Czech, let’s learn a few more useful animal words…

Animal Body Parts

English	Czech
Beak	Zobák
Tail	Ocas
Horn	Roh
Antlers	Parohy
Fur	Srst
Feathers	Peří
Hooves	Kopyta
Mane	Hříva
Claws	Drápy

Animal-related Verbs

English	Czech
To scratch	Škrábat se
To bark	Štěkat
To meow	Mňoukat
To sing (chirp)	Zpívat
To bite	Kousat / Štípat
To peck	Zobat / Klovat
To dig	Hrabat

Pes u veterináře. – “A dog at the vet.”

8. Animal-Related Idioms and Slang Expressions

The Czech language is very playful, and animal idioms are particularly popular. They’re fun, but let’s be honest: Any idiom might cause a lot of confusion, and possibly even an embarrassing situation.

Here’s a list of the most common ones.

Mít motýlky v břiše – “To have butterflies in your stomach”

Mít mravence v noze. – When your arm/leg “falls asleep” (literally: “to have ants in your arm/leg”)

Hladový jako vlk – “Hungry like a wolf”

Volný jako pták – “Free like a bird”

Utahaný/unavený jako kotě – “Tired like a kitten”

Mokrý jako myš – “Wet as a mouse”

Jako zpráskaný pes – “Like a wounded dog” (used when someone is sad or defeated)

Rvát se jako koně – “To fight like horses”

Mazaný jako liška – “Sly as a fox”

Dva kohouti na jednom smetišti – “Two roosters at one junkyard” (two rivals fighting for power or a woman)

Dojná kráva – “Milking cow” (giving without receiving anything in return)

Pyšný jako páv – “Vain like a peacock”

Mlčet jako ryba – “Silent like a fish” (very quiet or secretive)

Tichý jako myška – “Quiet as a small mouse”

9. How CzechClass101.com Helps You Learn Czech in a Fun Way

Stop trying to learn Czech. Learn Czech. Get smarter tools, study smarter, and believe in yourself. The sky’s the limit!

I hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new! In case this wasn’t enough for you, please check out our Basic Bootcamp—the very basic grammar and vocab you’ll need in five compact lessons. 

If you’re taking your Czech studies seriously, you might grab a Czech grammar book or learn online (the latter of which is way more convenient). Learning a new skill has never been easier. Just grab your phone and get to work!

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One last thing: Let us know in the comments what your favorite animal is! Do you remember its name in Czech?