The most common way to say 'animal' in French is, unsurprisingly, animal (the plural is animaux). But just like in English, the French language has a whole kingdom of words to describe our furry, feathered, and scaly friends.

Depending on the context—whether you're talking about a cute pet, a wild beast, or even a pesky bug—there's often a more specific or colorful word to use.

Let's explore 9 different ways to talk about animals in French to make your vocabulary more lively and precise!

1. The general 'animal' – un animal / des animaux

The most straightforward and universally used word for 'animal' in French is un animal. It's the direct equivalent and your primary go-to term.

One of the most important things to learn about this word is its irregular plural form. The singular is un animal (an animal), but the plural is des animaux (animals). The -al ending changes to -aux, a common pattern for nouns with this ending in French.

Animal and animaux are general terms that can refer to any creature, from a small insect to a large mammal. You can use it in any context, whether scientific, casual, or formal.

To specify that you're talking about a pet, the French use the phrase un animal de compagnie, which literally translates to 'an animal of company'. While you might hear other terms, this is the most common and correct way to say 'a pet'.

💡 * J'ai vu un animal étrange dans la forêt. (I saw a strange animal in the forest.)

• Les zoos sont remplis de toutes sortes d'animaux. (Zoos are filled with all sorts of animals.)
• Mon chien est mon animal de compagnie préféré. (My dog is my favorite pet.)
• Est-ce que les insectes sont considérés comme des animaux ? (Are insects considered animals?)
• Il faut bien traiter les animaux. (You must treat animals well.)

The 'beast' or 'critter' – une bête

The 'beast' or 'critter' – une bête

The French word une bête literally translates to 'a beast' or 'an animal.' It's a general term that can refer to any living creature that isn't human, from large mammals to small insects.

While it can be a neutral term for 'animal,' une bête often carries a connotation of something wild, untamed, or simply a 'creature' or 'critter.' For example, you might hear someone refer to a spider as une sale bête ('a nasty critter').

One of the most frequent uses of this word is as an adjective, bête, meaning 'stupid' or 'silly.' Saying 'Tu es bête!' is a very common way to tell someone they are being foolish, ranging from playful teasing to a genuine insult.

Similar to English slang, une bête can also describe someone who is exceptionally skilled or powerful. You could say, 'C'est une bête en maths' ('He's a beast at math') to describe a math genius.

The word is also central to many French idioms. A classic example is 'chercher la petite bête' (literally 'to look for the little beast'), which means to nitpick or get caught up in minor, unimportant details.

From a simple animal to a foolish person or a powerful expert, bête is a highly versatile and expressive word that adds a lot of color to the French language.

💡 * Quelle sale bête ! Il y a une araignée au plafond.

• Ne sois pas si bête, la solution est évidente.
• Mon chien est une bonne bête, il est très doux avec les enfants.
• Ce musicien est une bête de scène, il a une énergie incroyable.
• Arrête de chercher la petite bête et profite du moment.

The 'wild animal' – un animal sauvage

To talk about a 'wild animal' in French, the most direct and common translation is un animal sauvage.

The adjective sauvage translates to 'wild,' 'untamed,' or 'savage.' It describes an animal that lives in its natural environment and is not domesticated.

The noun animal is masculine, so you always use the masculine form of the adjective, sauvage. This makes it simple, as you don't need to worry about a feminine form for this specific phrase.

For the plural, 'wild animals,' the phrase becomes des animaux sauvages. Notice two changes: the noun animal has an irregular plural, becoming animaux, and the adjective sauvage takes an 's' to become sauvages.

This term is the direct opposite of un animal domestique, which refers to a domestic animal or a pet. Understanding this contrast is key to correctly categorizing animals in French.

💡 * Le lion est un animal sauvage très puissant.

• En Afrique, on peut voir beaucoup d'animaux sauvages.
• Il est interdit de nourrir les animaux sauvages dans ce parc.
• Un renard est un animal sauvage, pas un animal domestique.

The 'pet' or 'companion animal' – un animal de compagnie

The 'pet' or 'companion animal' – un animal de compagnie

Un animal de compagnie is the standard and most widely used term for 'pet' in French. It literally translates to 'a companion animal,' emphasizing the relationship between the owner and the animal.

The term is masculine (un animal). When referring to pets in general or a male pet, you use masculine forms. For a specifically female animal, you might hear variations, but un animal de compagnie remains the universal term for the concept of a 'pet'.

This phrase is appropriate in all contexts, from casual conversation to formal settings like veterinary clinics, apartment rental agreements, or official documents. It covers all types of pets, including dogs, cats, birds, and hamsters.

💡 * Avez-vous un animal de compagnie ? (Do you have a pet?)

• Mon animal de compagnie est un petit chien. (My pet is a small dog.)
• Les animaux de compagnie ne sont pas autorisés dans cet appartement. (Pets are not allowed in this apartment.)
• C'est beaucoup de responsabilités d'avoir un animal de compagnie. (It's a lot of responsibility to have a pet.)

1. The 'farm animal' – un animal de la ferme

The 'farm animal' – un animal de la ferme

Un animal de la ferme is the direct and standard French translation for 'a farm animal.' It is a general term used to describe any domesticated animal typically raised in an agricultural setting for labor or to produce commodities such as meat, eggs, or milk.

The phrase breaks down into un animal (an animal), the prepositional phrase de la (of the/from the), and the noun ferme (farm). The structure is quite literal, meaning 'an animal of the farm.'

To refer to more than one farm animal, you use the plural form: des animaux de la ferme. Note the irregular plural of animal, which becomes animaux. The rest of the phrase, de la ferme, remains unchanged.

This term is common in all registers, from children's books and educational materials to conversations about agriculture and rural life. It's the go-to phrase for this category of animals.

💡 * La vache est un animal de la ferme très commun en France.

• Les enfants ont appris à nommer les différents animaux de la ferme.
• Quel est ton animal de la ferme préféré ?
• On peut acheter des produits frais directement chez les éleveurs d'animaux de la ferme.

The 'creature' – une créature

In French, the word une créature is the direct equivalent of the English word 'a creature'. On the surface, its meaning seems straightforward, but its usage can be nuanced and carry significant weight, especially when referring to people.

In its most common and neutral sense, une créature refers to any living being, particularly animals or mythical beings. You can use it to talk about anything from a deep-sea fish to a dragon in a fantasy story. In this context, the word is perfectly safe and carries no negative connotations. For example, 'les créatures de la forêt' means 'the creatures of the forest'.

This is where learners must be cautious. When used to describe a person, especially a woman, une créature is often highly pejorative. It implies that the person is strange, contemptible, or monstrous. Calling someone 'cette créature' is a strong insult, suggesting you find them despicable.

There is one major, positive exception: the expression 'une créature de rêve', which translates to 'a dream creature'. This is a high compliment used to describe someone, usually a woman, who is stunningly beautiful or perfect, almost otherworldly. Outside of this specific phrase, it is best to avoid using créature to refer to people.

💡 * Dans ce film, le héros combat une créature terrifiante. (In this movie, the hero fights a terrifying creature.)

• Je ne supporte pas sa nouvelle patronne, quelle créature ! (I can't stand his new boss, what a creature!)
• Avec sa robe élégante, elle était une véritable créature de rêve. (With her elegant dress, she was a true dream creature.)

The 'bug' or 'small critter' – une bestiole

The word une bestiole is a common, informal French term for any small creature, bug, or 'critter.' It's a feminine noun and is particularly useful when you don't know the exact name of the insect or small animal you're referring to. It's a general-purpose word that covers a wide range of small living things.

You can use une bestiole to describe anything from spiders and beetles to other unidentifiable creepy-crawlies. The tone is generally casual and can even be slightly affectionate, though it's often used for creatures that might give you a little shudder. It's less scientific than un insecte and more colloquial.

The plural form is des bestioles. It's perfect for describing a situation where there are many small bugs or creatures around, for instance, when talking about a garden, an old house, or a forest floor.

💡 * Il y a une drôle de bestiole sur le mur ! (There's a weird little bug on the wall!)

• J'ai peur des bestioles, surtout des araignées. (I'm afraid of critters, especially spiders.)
• Ouvre la fenêtre pour laisser sortir cette bestiole. (Open the window to let that critter out.)
• Mon jardin est plein de petites bestioles en été. (My garden is full of little critters in the summer.)

The 'livestock' – le bétail

The French word for 'livestock' or 'cattle' is le bétail.

Le bétail is a collective, masculine noun used to refer to farm animals raised for agricultural purposes, such as for meat, milk, or labor. It's the direct equivalent of 'livestock'.

This term typically includes animals like cows (les vaches), sheep (les moutons), and goats (les chèvres). It's a general term you would hear in conversations about farming or agriculture.

Note that le bétail does not usually include poultry. For birds like chickens and turkeys, the French use the collective noun la volaille.

💡 * L'éleveur doit s'occuper de son bétail tous les jours. (The farmer must take care of his livestock every day.)

• Le transport du bétail est très réglementé. (The transportation of livestock is highly regulated.)
• Une sécheresse peut être dévastatrice pour le bétail. (A drought can be devastating for the livestock.)

1. The 'poultry' or 'fowl' – la volaille

The primary French word for 'poultry' or 'fowl' is la volaille. This is a feminine noun that serves as a general, collective term for domestic birds raised for their meat or eggs, such as chicken, turkey, duck, and goose. It's the equivalent of 'poultry' in a culinary or agricultural context.

You will most often encounter la volaille in contexts related to food and farming. For instance, a butcher shop (boucherie) will have a section for la volaille, and a restaurant menu might list a plat de volaille (a poultry dish). It refers to the category of meat, rather than a specific live animal.

It's important not to confuse la volaille with un poulet. While a chicken (un poulet) is a type of volaille, the term la volaille is much broader. If you ask for de la volaille at a market, the seller might ask you to be more specific: Quel type de volaille? Un poulet, une dinde? (What type of poultry? A chicken, a turkey?).

To build your vocabulary, here are some common birds that fall under the category of la volaille:

• Le poulet (chicken)
• La dinde (turkey)
• Le canard (duck)
• L'oie (goose)
• La pintade (guinea fowl)

💡 * Le chef prépare un plat principal à base de volaille. (The chef is preparing a main dish based on poultry.)

• À la boucherie, j'ai acheté de la volaille pour le repas de dimanche. (At the butcher shop, I bought some poultry for Sunday's meal.)
• L'élevage de la volaille est une part importante de l'agriculture française. (Poultry farming is an important part of French agriculture.)
• Ce restaurant est célèbre pour sa volaille rôtie. (This restaurant is famous for its roasted poultry.)

Are there other ways to say 'animal' in French?

Are there other ways to say “animal” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “animal” in French. But the language is full of more specific terms, from the scientific term une espèce (a species) to the informal une bestiole (a little creature or bug).

You can expand your vocabulary by doing an online search for specific categories, like “les animaux de la ferme” (farm animals), “les animaux de la savane” (savanna animals), or “les animaux de compagnie” (pets).

When you find a new synonym like une bête, always check its context. Is it used affectionately, scientifically, or perhaps in a negative way? Seeing it in a sentence is the best way to understand its true meaning.

Pay attention as you watch French nature documentaries or read classic fables. You'll discover a rich vocabulary used to describe the animal kingdom and the roles animals play in French culture and storytelling.

For a deeper dive into related vocabulary, from animal sounds to collective nouns for animal groups, the Larousse dictionary entry for ‘animal’ is a fantastic place to start exploring.

I hope you found this guide helpful for your French studies. To finish, here is a perfect quote from the famous French fabulist Jean de La Fontaine: On a souvent besoin d'un plus petit que soi. (One often needs someone smaller than oneself.)