In short: Common animals: നായ / പട്ടി (naaya / patti) dog, പൂച്ച (poocha) cat, പശു (pashu) cow, ആന (aana) elephant, കടുവ (kaduva) tiger, കുരങ്ങ് (kurangu) monkey, പക്ഷി (pakshi) bird.
Variations & related phrases
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| നായ · പൂച്ച | Naaya · Poocha | Dog · Cat |
| പശു · ആന | Pashu · Aana | Cow · Elephant |
| കടുവ · കുരങ്ങ് | Kaduva · Kurangu | Tiger · Monkey |
| പക്ഷി | Pakshi | Bird |
When & how to use it
Great vocabulary for kids. The elephant (aana) is iconic in Kerala festivals. Mrugam = animal.
Example sentences
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ആന കേരളത്തിന്റെ പ്രതീകമാ. | Aana keralathinte pratheekamaa. | The elephant is a symbol of Kerala. |
| ആ പൂച്ച ഭംഗിയുണ്ട്. | Aa poocha bhangiyundu. | That cat is pretty. |
Want to hear this used in a real conversation? Listen to Episode 16 - Family & Home Talk in the free Listen & Learn library — every line has a Malayalam, romanised and English transcript.
Practise speaking it for real
These pages train your ear. A live 1-to-1 lesson with Reshmi trains your mouth — real-time correction only a teacher can give.
Book a lesson →Frequently asked questions
What are animal names in Malayalam?
Naaya (dog), poocha (cat), pashu (cow), aana (elephant), kaduva (tiger), kurangu (monkey), pakshi (bird).
How do you say dog in Malayalam?
Dog is നായ (naaya) or പട്ടി (patti).
How do you say elephant in Malayalam?
Elephant is ആന (aana).
How do you say cat in Malayalam?
Cat is പൂച്ച (poocha).