After you understand about how to say Indonesian numbers, the next topic to learn is animals. In Indonesia, animal is translated as binatang or hewan. The animal kinds in Indonesia quite vary but the English translation can be quite different. Here are some Indonesian words for animals to remember.
A
- Angsa – swan, goose
- Anjing – dog
- Anjing laut – seal
- Ayam – chicken
- Ayam jantan – rooster
- Ayam betina – hen
B
- Babi – pig
- Babi hutan – boar
- Badak – rhinoceros
- Banteng – bull
- Bebek – duck
- Belalang – grasshopper
- Beruang – bear
- Buaya – crocodile, alligator
- Burung – bird
- Burung beo – parrot
- Burung cendrawasih – bird of paradise
- Burung dara – dove
- Burung merak – peacock
- Burung merpati – pigeon
- Burung hantu – owl
- Burung gagak – crow
Learn more about list of Indonesian root words.
C
- Cacing – worm
- Capung – dragonfly
- Cicak – lizard
D
- Domba – sheep
E
- Elang – eagle
G
- Gajah – elephant
- Gorilla – gorilla
- Gurita – octopus
H
- Harimau – tiger
- Hiu – shark
I
- Ikan – fish
- Iguana – iguana
J
- Jangkrik – cricket
- Jerapah – giraffeÂ
K
- Kadal – salamander
- Kancil – mousedeer
- Kalkun – turkey
- Kambing – goat
- Kangguru – kangaroo
- Katak – frog
- Kecoak – cockroach
- Kelinci – rabbit
- Keledai – donkey
- Kepiting – crab
- Kerang – shell
- Kepompong – cocoon
- Kerbau – buffalo
- Kijang – deer
- Kijang betina – doe
- Kucing – cat
- Kuda – horse
- Kuda nil – hippopotamus
- Kumbang – bug
- Kumbang kecil – ladybug
- Kumbang badak – beetle
- Kupu-kupu – butterfly
- Koala – koala
- Kodok – toad
- Komodo – komodo dragon
L
- Lalat – fly
- Lebah – bee
- Lintah – leech
- Lumba-lumba – dolphinÂ
M
- Musang – civet
- Monyet – monkey
N
Here are more Indonesian words for animals
- Naga – dragon
- Nyamuk – mosquito
- Ngengat – moth
O
- Orang utan – orangutan
P
- Panda – panda
- Paus – whale
R
- Rubah – fox
- Rusa – deer
Learn more untranslatable words with no English equivalent.
S
- Sapi – cow
- Sapi jantan – bull
- Siput – snail
- Singa – lion
- Simpanse – chimpanzee
- Singa laut – sea lion
- Semut – ant
- Serigala – wolf
T
- Tikus – mouse
- Tikus besar – rat
- Tokek – gecko
- Tupai – squirrell
U
- Ular – snake
- Udang – shrimp
- Ulat – caterpillar
- Unta – camel
Z
- Zebra – zebra
Learn more Indonesian for family members.Â
Idioms Related to Animals
Some animals are also used in idioms which has a complete different meaning. Take a look at below example.
- Buaya darat – playboy
- Tangisan buaya – fake tears
- Kabar burung – rumours
- Lintah darat – loan shark
- Mata sapi – sunny side egg
- Muka badak – shameless person
- Otak udang – someone stupid
- Ular kepala dua – two headed snake to describe hypocrite
- Kambing hitam – the one who blamed
- Kelas kambing – the cheapest level or class
- Akal kancil – sly trick
Learn more about Indonesian words for bargaining.
Curse word using animals
In Indonesia, some animals may also be used as curse words. In this case, different intonation of the words and the context may turn certain animal as curse word. Take a look at below example.
- Anjing – dog → it is similar to English word bitch which literary means dog.
- Babi – pig → this is usually used to describe someone who eat a lot.
- Monyet – monkey → this is usually used to describe person with bad behavior.
Indonesian animals are very diverse and mostly can be found in English. Similar to English, animal words are also used for idioms and also cursing. When learning Indonesian, it is important to also learn the animals name.
More topics to learn about Indonesian language: