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The Names of Animals in Bulgarian

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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!

Animals in Bulgaria
Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Bulgarian 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.

Pets at Home

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:

КучеKucheDog
КоткаKotkaCat
ПапагалPapagalParrot
ЗаекZaekRabbit
ХамстерHamsterHamster
Златна рибкаZlatna ribkaGoldfish
Златна рибкаMorsko svincheGuinea pig
КостенуркаKostenurkaTurtle
ХамелеонHameleonChameleon
ИгуанаIguanaIguana

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.

Sericulture

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

КраваKravaCow
БикBikBull
БиволBivolBuffalo
МагареMagareDonkey
КонKonHorse
ОвцаOvtsaSheep
КозаKozaGoat
ПрасеPrasePig
КокошкаKokoshkaHen
ПетелPetelRooster
ПуйкаPuykaTurkey
ПаткаPatkaDuck
ГъскаGaskaGoose
    → 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.

Little Fox

Wild Animals in Bulgaria

ВълкValkWolf
ЧакалChakalJackal
ЛисицаLisitsaFox
БелкаBelkaBeech marten
Дива коткаDiva kotkaWildcat
Кафява мечкаKafyava mechkaBrown bear
Див заекDiv zaekWild rabbit
ЕленElenDeer
СърнаSarnaRoe deer
КатерицаKateritsaSquirrel
БобърBobarBeaver
ВидраVidraOtter
ТаралежTaralezhHedgehog
ГлиганGliganBoar

Popular Wild Animals Around the World

ЛъвLavLion
СлонSlonElephant
КамилаKamilaCamel
ЖирафZhirafGiraffe
КенгуруKenguruKangaroo
ТигърTigarTiger
Бяла мечкаByala mechkaPolar bear
ЯгуарYaguarJaguar
ПантераPanteraPanther
МаймунаMaymunaMonkey
КоалаKoalaKoala
ПандаPandaPanda

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.

Marine Animals

Popular Marine Animal Names in Bulgarian

КитKitWhale
АкулаAkulaShark
РибаRibaFish
ОктоподOktopodOctopus
ПингвинPingvinPenguin
ТюленTyulenSeal
МидаMidaClam / Mussel
РакRakCrab
ОмарOmarLobster
Морско кончеMorsko koncheSeahorse
СепияSepiyaCuttlefish
СкаридаSkaridaShrimp

The Most Dangerous Sea Animals in the Black Sea

Черноморска акулаChernomorska akulaBlack Sea shark
Ушата медузаUshata meduzaCommon jellyfish
Риба-мечRiba-mechSwordfish
Морска коткаMorska kotkaCatfish
Морски скорпионMorski skorpionLionfish
Морски драконMorski drakonWeever
Риба звездоброецRiba zvezdobroetsStargazer 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.

Different Types of Bugs and Molluscs

МухаMuhaFly
ОсаOsaWasp
ПчелаPchelaBee
ПаякPayakSpider
БогомолкаBogomolkaPraying mantis
СтършелStarshelHornet
БръмбарBrambarBeetle
КалинкаKalinkaLadybug
СкакалецSkakaletsGrasshopper
КомарKomarMosquito
КърлежKarlezhTick
МравкаMravkaMravka
ПеперудаPeperudaButterfly
ГъсеницаGasenitsaCaterpillar
    → 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

ЗмияZmiyaSnake
ГущерGushterLizard
КостенуркаKostenurkaTurtle

Birds in Bulgaria

Birds

ПтицаPtitsaBird
ЧайкаChaykaSeagull
ВрабчеVrabcheSparrow
ВранаVranaCrow
ЩъркелShtarkelStork
ГълъбGalabPigeon
КукумявкаKukumyavkaScreech-owl
КукувицаKukuvitsaCuckoo
БухалBuhalOwl
ПеликанPelikanPelican
СлавейSlaveyNightingale
ОрелOrelEagle
СоколSokolFalcon
ЛешоядLeshoyadVulture
КълвачKalvachWoodpecker
ЧучулигаChuchuligaLark

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.

Feather

ГлаваGlavaHead
ОчиOchiEyes
УшиUshiEars
ОпашкаOpashkaTail
КрилоKriloWing
ЛапаLapaPaw
КлюнKlyunBeak
ПераPeraFeathering
РогRogHorn
КозинаKozinaFur
НоктиNoktiNails
МуцунаMutsunaMuzzle
ГребенGrebenComb (of a rooster)
ПеркиPerkiFins

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 expressionМагарешки инат
PronunciationMagareshki inat
Literal translationDonkey’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.”

Donkey’s Stubbornness

#2

Bulgarian expressionЗаблудена овца
PronunciationZabludena ovtsa
Literal translationLost 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 expressionНа куково лято
PronunciationNa kukovo lyato
Literal translationIn cuckoo’s summer
We use this expression in reference to something that is impossible or will never happen. 

#4

Bulgarian expressionКато риба на сухо
PronunciationKato riba na suho
Literal translationLike 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 expressionС трици маймуни ще лови.
PronunciationS tritsi maymuni shte lovi.
Literal translationHe 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 expressionЗа вълка говорим, а той в кошарата.
PronunciationZa valka govorim, a toy v kosharata.
Literal translationWe 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 expressionЖеня вълка за овцата.
PronunciationZhenya valka za ovtsata.
Literal translationI marry the wolf to the sheep.
We might say this if we’re trying to do something impossible. 

#8

Bulgarian expressionТой е черната овца.
PronunciationToy e chernata ovtsa.
Literal translationHe 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 expressionКогато стане вълка куче
PronunciationKogato stane valka kuche
Literal translationWhen 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!

Dog

___________________
Parrot

___________________
Horse
Hen

___________________
Turtle

_____________________________
Cat

_____________________________
Goat

_____________________________
Cow

_____________________________
Ant

_____________________________
Donkey

_____________________________
Pig

_____________________________
Butterfly

_____________________________
Rabbit

_____________________________
Deer

_____________________________
Hedgehog

_____________________________
Kangaroo

_____________________________
Snake

_____________________________
Elephant

_____________________________
Giraffe

_____________________________
Monkey

_____________________________

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

Dog

Куче
(Kuche)
Parrot

Папагал
(Papagal)
Horse

Кон
(Kon)
Hen

Кокошка
(Kokoshka)
Turtle

Костенурка
(Kostenurka)
Cat

Котка
(Kotka)
Goat

Коза
(Koza)
Cow

Крава
(Krava)
Ant

Мравка
(Mravka)
Donkey

Магаре
(Magare)
Pig

Прасе
(Prase)
Butterfly

Пеперуда
(Peperuda)
Rabbit

Заек
(Zaek)
Deer

Елен
(Elen)
Hedgehog

Таралеж
(Taralezh)
Kangaroo

Кенгуру
(Kenguru)
Snake

Змия
(Zmia)
Elephant

Слон
(Slon)
Giraffe

Жираф
(Zhiraf)
Monkey

Маймуна
(Maymuna)

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Bulgarian