Animal Sounds in German With English Translations

You might think the sounds animals make are universal, but animal noises actually appear differently to people depending on whether they speak German, English, French, Spanish or another language. For example, the way a dog ​barks is written differently in German than it is in English.

With the guide below, review the German spellings for common animal sounds (known as Tiergeräusche) and compare them to the way these sounds are written and described in English. Translations of the German sounds and the animals that make them are provided to improve your understanding. 

First look at the German-to-English animal sound glossary and then look at the English-to-German glossary. When you finish reading the guide, try saying the sounds out loud or practicing them with a partner. Consider putting the German animal sounds on flashcards to test your memory of them.  

Wrapping Up

Now that you've finished reading the guide, note which animal sounds were your favorite. Try singing a nursery rhyme with lots of animal sounds such as "Old McDonald Had a Farm" in English, and then practice singing the animal sounds in German. If you have children or younger brothers and sisters, invite them to join in. Try teaching them the new animal sounds you've learned. Singing the German animal sounds will help you to retain them.