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Punjabi Animal Names for Kids

Punjabi names for animals your child already knows, with Gurmukhi script and tap-to-hear audio for every word.

Pet & Farm Animals

Wild Animals

Insects & Small Creatures

Pronunciation Tips

  • Kutta — Double “tt” is a hard retroflex sound (tongue curls back to touch the roof of the mouth)
  • Billi — Like “Billy” with a softer “l” sound
  • Sher — Sounds like “share” but shorter. This is the same word used in “Singh” (lion) — a Sikh surname!
  • Chirhi — The “rh” is a flapped sound unique to Punjabi

Animals in Gurbani & Sikh Culture

  • The Sher (ਸ਼ੇਰ) — lion — is closely tied to Sikh identity. “Singh” means lion, and “Kaur” means princess or lioness.
  • In the story of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, there is a famous story about a Haathi (ਹਾਥੀ) — elephant — that was sent to trample Guru Nanak, but instead bowed before him.
  • The Mor (ਮੋਰ) — peacock — is the national bird of India and appears in many Punjabi folk songs.

Practice Activity

Play an animal guessing game:

  1. Make an animal sound and ask: “Eh ki jaanvar hai?” (What animal is this?)
  2. Point to animals in a book: “Eh Sher hai” (This is a lion)
  3. Visit a zoo and name every animal in Punjabi!

More Punjabi Vocabulary

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to questions parents often ask — and great conversation starters.

What is the Punjabi word for lion?

Lion is Sher (ਸ਼ੇਰ). The Sikh name Singh also means lion.

How do you say dog and cat in Punjabi?

Dog is Kutta (ਕੁੱਤਾ) and cat is Billi (ਬਿੱਲੀ).

Are there animals in Sikh stories?

Yes. A well-known story from Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s life tells of an elephant (Haathi) that bowed before him.

Can I hear how to pronounce these Punjabi animal names?

Yes — every word card on this page has a speaker icon. Tap or click any card to hear the word spoken aloud by a native Punjabi speaker, so your child learns the correct pronunciation instead of guessing from the roman spelling.