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Punjabi Animal Names for Kids

February 24, 2026

Learn the names of common animals in Punjabi with Gurmukhi script and fun pronunciation guides.

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Kids love animals — and learning their Punjabi names is a great way to build vocabulary while having fun. Here are common animals your child will encounter in stories, at the zoo, and in everyday life.

Pet & Farm Animals

GurmukhiPunjabi (Roman)English
ਕੁੱਤਾKuttaDog
ਬਿੱਲੀBilliCat
ਗਾਂGaaCow
ਘੋੜਾGhoraHorse
ਮੁਰਗੀMurgiHen
ਮੁਰਗਾMurgaRooster
ਬੱਕਰੀBakkriGoat
ਖਰਗੋਸ਼KhargoshRabbit

Wild Animals

GurmukhiPunjabi (Roman)English
ਸ਼ੇਰSherLion
ਹਾਥੀHaathiElephant
ਬਾਂਦਰBaandarMonkey
ਰਿੱਛRichhBear
ਡੱਡੂDadduFrog
ਸੱਪSappSnake
ਮੱਛੀMachhiFish
ਚਿੜੀChirhiSparrow

Insects & Small Creatures

GurmukhiPunjabi (Roman)English
ਤਿਤਲੀTitliButterfly
ਮੱਖੀMakkhiFly
ਮਧੂ ਮੱਖੀMadhu MakkhiHoney Bee
ਕੀੜੀKeerhiAnt

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