Top 10 German Pets: Haustiere Vocabulary
Cats and dogs top the list of favorite German pets, just like in most countries — but a few of the other eight might surprise you. In this lesson, we cover the German names for the 10 most popular pets (Haustiere), then practice describing your own pet with a full sentence.
The Top 10 German Pets
der Hund (dog), die Katze (cat), der Vogel (bird), der Fisch (fish), der Hamster (hamster), das Kaninchen (rabbit), das Meerschweinchen (guinea pig), die Schildkröte (turtle), das Pferd (horse), die Schlange (snake).
Talking About Your Pet in German
Ich habe einen Hund. (I have a dog.) Meine Katze heiĂźt Luna. (My cat is called Luna.) Since every pet name has its own grammatical gender, it helps to be confident with der, die, das before describing your own pet.
Bonus: Not Every Country Agrees on “Normal”
What counts as a common household pet varies a lot from country to country — a pet that's completely ordinary where you live might be considered unusual somewhere else, and vice versa.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two most popular pets in Germany?
Der Hund (dog) and die Katze (cat).
How do you say “guinea pig” in German?
Das Meerschweinchen.
How do you say “I have a dog” in German?
Ich habe einen Hund.
What gender is “die Schildkröte” (turtle)?
Feminine — die Schildkröte.
How do you say “rabbit” in German?
Das Kaninchen.
Ready to talk about your own pets and much more in German? Start with our A1 German course.
