The Spanish word for animal should be incredibly easy for English speakers to remember as it is spelled in exactly the same way (albeit with a slightly different pronunciation)!
Latin American Pronunciation
European Pronunciation
As in English, the Spanish animal can act as both a noun, describing the living things themselves, or an adjective, denoting animal-like behaviour. When it is used as a noun, it takes the following definite and indefinite articles:
- el animal = the animal
- los animales = the animals
- un animal = an animal
- unos animales = some animals
Hay un animal en el bosque.
There is an animal in the woods.
Un instinto animal natural es escapar del peligro.
A natural animal instinct is to escape from danger.
A domestic animal, or pet, is known as an animal de compañía or animal doméstico in Spanish, whereas a wild animal translates to animal salvaje. The tamest of all animals is, of course, the stuffed animal, which translates to animal de felpa in Spanish.
Before we move on to the figurative meanings, here are a few additional animal terms worth knowing:
- instinto animal = animal instinct
- maltrato animal = animal cruelty
- el reino animal = the animal kingdom
- amante de los animales = animal lover
- derechos de los animales = animal rights
- pruebas de laboratorio con animales = animal testing
- comportamiento animal = animal behaviour
- animal exótico = exotic animal
- animal nocturno = nocturnal animal
- animal acuático = aquatic creature
- animal protegido = protected species
Siempre he sido una amante de los animales.
I’ve always been an animal lover.
A political animal (animal político), in both English and Spanish, refers to a person with a keen interest in social and political issues.
Just as animal in English can refer to a person who lacks human qualities, so too can the Spanish animal mean brute, pig, lout and even fool or moron. When used figuratively, animal can be either a masculine or feminine noun depending on the gender of the subject in question.
Carlos es tan animal. No quiero tener nada que ver con él.
Carlos is such a brute. I want nothing to do with him.
¡Animal!, Barcelona está en España, no en Italia.
You moron! Barcelona is in Spain, not Italy.
Useful idiomatic expressions featuring animal
Ser un animal de bellota
Literal translation: to be an acorn animal
English meaning: to be as thick as two short planks, to be stupid
Comer como un animal
Literal translation: to eat like an animal
English meaning: to eat like a pig
Ser animal de costumbres
Literal translation: to be an animal of habit
English meaning: to be a creature of habit
Trabajar como un animal
Literal translation: to work like an animal
English meaning: to work like a slave
