Love animals and want to talk about pets in Spanish? You’re in the right place! In this beginner-friendly guide, you’ll learn essential animal words, how to say what pets you have, and simple phrases to describe them. We’ll practice immediately with short exercises so everything sticks.

Key Words: Animals and Pets

Here are the most common pet names you’ll hear. Remember: we’ll keep explanations in English, and the Spanish words will always include translations.

Quick check: Do you know them?

Try this short quiz. Don’t worry—each question has an explanation.

Grammar: Articles, Gender, and Plurals

• Spanish nouns have gender: masculine or feminine.
  • Masculine: often end in -o (e.g., “perro”). Use “el” (the) and “un” (a).
  • Feminine: often end in -a (e.g., “tortuga”). Use “la” (the) and “una” (a).
• Plurals:
  • Add -s after a vowel: “perros,” “gatos.”
  • Add -es after a consonant: “peces.”
• Possession: Use “tener” (to have) for owning pets: “Tengo un perro.”
• Describing: Use “ser” (to be) with adjectives: “El gato es negro.”

Tip: Match adjective gender and number with the noun:

• “El perro es pequeño.” (masculine singular)
• “La tortuga es pequeña.” (feminine singular)
• “Los peces son pequeños.” (plural)

un perro.

Tengo tortuga.

Tengo dos .

Useful phrases for talking about pets

• “Tengo un perro.” — I have a dog.
• “No tengo mascotas.” — I don’t have pets.
• “¿Tienes una mascota?” — Do you have a pet?
• “Mi gato es negro.” — My cat is black.
• “El perro es grande.” — The dog is big.
• “La tortuga es muy lenta.” — The turtle is very slow.
• “Me gustan los animales.” — I like animals.

Sentence order practice

Put the words in the correct order to make a sentence.

Tener vs. Hay: Two useful verbs

• “tener” = “to have” (possession)
  • “Tengo un hámster.” — I have a hamster.
• “hay” = “there is / there are” (existence)
  • “Hay un perro en el parque.” — There is a dog in the park.

Use “tengo” to talk about your pets. Use “hay” to say that an animal exists somewhere.

Describe your pet: colors and size

Common adjectives:

• “negro/negra” — black
• “blanco/blanca” — white
• “grande” — big
• “pequeño/pequeña” — small

Examples:

Mini-dialogue practice: At the pet shop

Reorder this short conversation. Try first, then check the translation below.

Correct order with translation:

1. B: “Hola, ¿buscas alguna mascota?” — Hi, are you looking for a pet?
2. A: “Hola, sí. Me gustan los animales pequeños.” — Hi, yes. I like small animals.
3. A: “Sí, quiero ver los hámsters.” — Yes, I want to see the hamsters.
4. B: “Perfecto, por aquí.” — Perfect, this way.

Cultural notes: Pets in Spanish-speaking places

• Dogs and cats are the most common pets, just like in many countries. You’ll often hear “perro” and “gato.”
• Adoption is popular. Words you may see: “adopción,” “refugio,” “protectora de animales.”
• In Spain, “perro” can become “perrito” (little dog) as a cute nickname; in Latin America, diminutives like “gatito” (kitten) are also common. These forms show affection.
• When traveling, look for “parque para perros” (dog park) and “veterinario” (veterinarian) for pet care.

Yo soy un perro. → Yo tengo un perro. Use “tener” to express possession of a pet, not “ser.” Tengo dos pez. → Tengo dos peces. Remember the plural of “pez” is “peces.”

Describe and share

Now try these quick fill-ins to talk about your pet or a pet you’d like.

una tortuga blanca.

Mi es grande.

Hay en el parque.

Wrap-up and practice

You learned the core pet words (perro, gato, pez/peces, tortuga, hámster, pájaro, conejo), basic grammar (articles, gender, plurals), and super-useful verbs (“tener” to have, “hay” there is/are). Keep it simple—at A1, short sentences are perfect:

• “Tengo un gato.” — I have a cat.
• “Mi perro es pequeño.” — My dog is small.
• “No tengo mascotas.” — I don’t have pets.

Challenge yourself: write three sentences about a real or imaginary pet in Spanish. For example: “Tengo un perro. El perro es negro. Es muy amigable.”

You’ve got this—keep practicing and your Spanish will grow as fast as a happy “perrito” wagging its tail!