17+ Common Tagalog Animal Names: An Easy List

Tagalog animal names - A photo of a monkey sitting on a railing

Are you wondering about the common Tagalog animal names? Animal in the Filipino language is called hayop in Tagalog. There are many dialects in the Philippines like Bicolano, Bisaya, Ilocano, Cebuano, Tagalog, and others. However, the commonly used dialect in the country is Tagalog.

In Tagalog, animals or mga hayop have their Tagalog names. These names are common and can be understood anywhere in the country. Ready to learn Tagalog and know more about this exciting topic? Then read on below!

Common Tagalog Animal Names In The Philippines

Knowing the names of animal in other language make you even more fluent in the target language you’re learning. You can learn them through media, books, and even language learning apps like the Ling app. It’s available on Google Play and the App Store and you can get it for free! But for now, here is the list of common Tagalog animal names that can add to your Tagalog vocabulary skills. Let’s get it on!

1. Kalabaw (Carabao Or Water Buffalo)

The Philippines is famous for having rice fields. Also, the country is one of the top rice exporters and is domestically consumed by their neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. The carabao or kalabaw in Tagalog is the best Filipino animal and the national animal of the Philippines (Pambansang Hayop ng Pilipinas). It is the one who helps the farmers in the rice field.

2. Aso (Dog)

Aside from the National animal of the Philippines, the country has also this famous and friendly dog breed, which they call Askal (Asong Kalye or Street Dog) or Aspin (Asong Pinoy). Dogs or mga aso in Tagalog are one of the domesticated pets in the Philippines, though many of them are seen wandering the streets. They are guard dogs to their owners.

3. Pusa (Cat)

Same with dogs, cats are one of the most domesticated pets in the country. They are often called Pusakal which is the short term for Pusang Kalye (Street/Astray Cat). Cats or mga pusa in Tagalog are also seen roaming the streets like the Askals. Moreover, there is this pamahiin or superstition of Filipino people that it is bad luck if you see a black cat or pusang itim.

4. Kabayo (Horse)

Riding a horse or kabayo in Tagalog is one of the recreational activities of many Filipinos because of the vast land areas and islands of the country like in Tagaytay. Another is horse racing in 2018, a Filipina was the very first Southeast Asian to compete in the World Cup in Paris.

5. Baka (Cow)

Since the Philippines has a lot of agricultural land, one of the common animals that you can see eating in the green-land areas are the cows. Cows or mga baka in Tagalog are also one of the common meat the Filipino people eat. The famous mouth-watering Filipino dish to try is Bulalo which the beef shank and marrow inside the bone are the main ingredients.

6. Baboy (Pig)

Like the baka, pig or baboy in Tagalog is also one of the common animals that you can see in the Philippines. Pigs or mga baboy in Tagalog are mostly taken care of by Filipinos who live and work as farmers in various rural areas in the country.

The pig’s meat or pork (karneng baboy in Tagalog) is also one of the main ingredients in making delicious Filipino dishes on special occasions. For instance, one of the favourite Filipino dishes of foreigners is Sinigang na Baboy, because of its sourness and is a great description for panlasang Pinoy (Filipino taste).

7. Ibon (Bird)

The Tagalog word for bird is ibon. Philippine animals live in the forest especially if they are exotic animals. Though some species are extinct, they are kept inside the zoo. Like the Pambansang Ibon ng Pilipinas (National Bird of the Philippines), which is the Eagle. Since it is an exotic bird, you can no longer see an Eagle fly around the sky.

8. Uwak (Crow)

Another type of bird or ibon in Tagalog in the country is the crow. The crow or uwak in Tagalog is also associated with bad luck, the same with the black cat because of its color. Filipino beliefs also say that it symbolizes death.

9. Tupa (Sheep)

Sheep or tupa in the Philippines is not a common animal, but they are raised as indigenous sheep for meat or pets. They are usually raised in rural areas like cows and pigs.

10. Pagong (Turtle)

We all know that the Philippines has many alluring islands and the species living in these islands are also easy on the eye, like the sea turtles. there are many kinds of cute turtles in the Philippines. They have different sizes, colors, and characteristics. Furthermore, turtles or mga pagong in the Philippines often symbolize smartness and down to earth. But most of the time, Filipinos, like other nationalities, see turtles as slowness.

11. Liyon (Lion)

A lion or liyon in Tagalog is also an exotic animal in the Philippines. You cannot search the forest and the wild to look for lions because some of them are taken care of inside the zoo.

12. Palaka (Frog)

Philippine frogs or mga palaka in Tagalog are commonly seen in farms and swamps in the country. Some frogs are also edible like the palakang bukid (farm frog) which some Filipinos say tastes like fried chicken when fried.

13. Dugong (Sea Cow)

Like the Philippine turtle, the sea cow or dugong in Tagalog is commonly seen in various islands of the country. You can also see them in the zoo or the Manila Ocean Park in the Philippines. Some Filipinos associate sea cows with ugliness because various Filipino folktales characterize them as ugly and evil monsters.

14. Tuko (Gecko)

The gecko is a common reptile in the Philippines because several Filipinos say that it can heal people with AIDS and asthma. That’s why many Filipinos are hunting and selling gecko or tuko in Tagalog. However, it is not accredited and there are no medical pieces of evidence and basis that it can cure such illness.

15. Paru-Paro (Butterfly)

Butterflies or mga paru-paro in Tagalog are often associated with good luck. Filipino beliefs say that if you see a butterfly inside your house, it is your family, relative, or loved one who passed away.

16. Bubuyog (Bee)

The Tagalog word for Bee is Bubuyog and the Philippines is one of the exporters of honey in the world. Beekeeping is one of the common works of the Filipino people living in the countryside.

17. Lamok (Mosquito)

One of the numerous and annoying insects in the Philippines is the mosquito or lamok in Tagalog. Since there are many swamps and water inlets in the country, mosquitoes and other flying insects are eminent. If you do not want mosquitoes to bite you, you must use kulambo (mosquito net) when sleeping.

Other Common Tagalog Animal And Insect Names

Do you want to learn more about Tagalog animal names? If so, here is a table of some more animals in the Philippines with their English translation, Tagalog pronunciation, and sound so you can actually hear how they are said.

How Easy It Is To Learn The Tagalog Language?

The Tagalog language is one of the easiest languages to learn because it has the same writing system as the English Alphabet. Also, the pronunciation of Tagalog is quite similar to English which means that Westerners will find it easy to train their ears on how to distinguish the meaning of every word through the way it is spoken.

In addition, people around the world are fascinated by the Philippines, which is why many are interested in learning the language. There is no denying that many consider the country one of the best places for their retirement home. For travelers, most of them fell in love with the country to the point that they wanted to stay another month or even years to learn and appreciate the Philippines deeper.

The most interesting to learn is the Filipino language because by learning this, you both understand the culture and traditions of the country. Somehow, certain Tagalog words can reflect tons about a country’s culture, beliefs, and practices.

Tagalog animal names - A photo of two cows eating grass

Wrapping Up Tagalog Animal Names

Alright, let’s wrap up our look at Tagalog animal names. It’s been really nice to see how animals are called in the Philippines. Each name, from Kalabaw (Carabao) to Pusa (Cat), tells us something special about the country and the Filipino people. Learning these names of animals in Tagalog will let you know a bit about the Philippines itself.

For anyone curious about the country or trying to learn the Tagalog language, knowing these animal names in Tagalog is a fun and simple way to feel more connected. It’s amazing how much you can learn about a place just through the Tagalog animal names!

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