Regional names of animals in your country?

[Rudyn]

Most of Hungarian language is mix the base is the uralic language( finno-ugric language) than because of history turk, slavick and german languages also had affect them but the base is finno-ugric language and maybe a little turk. There was also a renew the language time in the 1800's but only some name from that time stay in our language. Many animals name were taken from germans, also sometimes we used the name how they called in their country because of german litterture.

Bear > Medve Some animal name was forbidden in ancient times only the shaman or other similar poeple could told their name. People from that time used some feature of the animals. After Christianity and history this names disappered and the feature name stayed as the animal name Medve: Came from the slavick medvedj which means honey eater animal.
Fox > Róka : Finno-ugrick origin Basicly Cuninngy animal-
Wolf > Farkas We don't know the ancient name of this animals so the name basicly means animal with tail.
Deer > Szarvas: Similar story: Animal with horn.
Roe deer > Őz
Wild boar > Vaddisznó
Moose > Jávorszarvas > Jávor probably was the wisent in older times later it changed to this animal.
Wisent, bison >Bölény Probably turkish origin and meant moose for firs but after it disappered it changed to this animal.
Buffalo > Bivaly: It came from the south slavick: Bivol
Chamois > Zerge
Goat > Kecske: Türkish origin.
Camel > Teve Came from ancient turkish.
Rabbit > Nyúl: Finno-ugrick origin, Uralick origin
Squirrel > Mókus : It just the sound mimick.
Lynx > Hiúz
Bat > Denevér
Mouse > Egér: Finno-ugrick origin
Rat > Patkány: Italian or greek origin
Vole > Pocok: Eastern slavic origin
Shrew > Cickány: German origin
Hedgehog > Sün : Finno-Ugric origin
Porcupine > Sül
Eagle > Sas
Owl >Bagoly
Hawk > Ölyv
Goshawk > Héja: Sound mimick.
Sparrowhawk > Karvaly. Turkish origin
Falcon > Sólyom
Bee-eater > Gyurgyalag
Armadillo > Tatu: From old natural history translations
Turtle and tortoise > Teknős: Turkish rigin
Snake > Kígyó: Finno-Ugric origin
Lizard > Gyík
Frog > Béka: Turkish origin
Dog > Kutya It probably came from slavick dog calling words.
Cat > Macska : Also slavic origin
Capybara > Vízidisznó ( waterpig): German translation
Rhino > Orrszarvú (Horned nose): Latin name translation.
Hippopotamus > Víziló (Water horse): Latin name translation.
Fish > Hal Finno-Ugric origin
Whale > Bálna Came from language renewation time
Seal > Fóka: From latin or german translation.
Shark > Cápa: German origin and language renevation time.
Otter > Vidra: Slavic origin
Beaver > Hód: Finno-Ugric origin
Walrus > Rozmár. Came from latin or scandinavian name bye translations.
Rhea > Nandu
Ostrich > Strucc Probably form Italian or Latin translation
Ant > Hangya Finno-ugric origin
Anteater: Hangyász Basicly means ant eater animal.

 

[Aramar]

Hippo - Nile/River Horse

It's interesting that we call Hippos - Nile Horses in Serbian as well, even tho they are not present there anymore

Actually the word "hippopotamus" comes fron Ancient Greek, where "hippos" means horse and "potamus" means river. Some languages keep the ancient form and others have adapated the term to the modern language, but it's the same meaning in most European languages.

 

[Markiz]

Bear > Medve Some animal name was forbidden in ancient times only the shaman or other similar poeple could told their name. People from that time used some feature of the animals. After Christianity and history this names disappered and the feature name stayed as the animal name Medve: Came from the slavick medvedj which means honey eater animal.

Ay, that sounds familiar

Actually the word "hippopotamus" comes fron Ancient Greek, where "hippos" means horse and "potamus" means river. Some languages keep the ancient form and others have adapated the term to the modern language, but it's the same meaning in most European languages.

Oh yeah I know, the specificity of mentioning Nile, rather than generically "river", was the thing most interesting to me. Like an ancient relic in modern language.

 

[Animal Guardian065]

Koala- translate in Chinese to no tail bear or tree bear; it depends on which Asian country you are from that speaks Chinese or Mandarin
Hippo- translates to river horse
Beaver translates to sea raccoon, although some people call it "river racoon"; it depends on which Asian area you are from
Kangaroo- translates to pouch rat
wild boar translates to simply wild pig
Giant Panda - depends on where you're from in Asia, translates to cat bear or big bear cat
red panda - translates to little panda, although Chinese also call it Firefox
the poor polar bear - translates to arctic bear
Platypus- translates to duck-billed beast
the poor takin translates to antelope cow

 

[DarkTemplar]

eaver translates to sea raccoon, although some people call it "river racoon"; it depends on which Asian area you are from

I think the "raccoon" you refer here is the letter 狸. But 狸 is preferred by the Japanese to describe the raccoon dog, while Chinese are more likely to use 貉. 狸 in Chinese is used more to stand for Leopard Cat or Civet, like 熊狸 "Bear Civet" means Binturong.

 

[Rudyn]

Ay, that sounds familiar

Oh yeah I know, the specificity of mentioning Nile, rather than generically "river", was the thing most interesting to me. Like an ancient relic in modern language.

Here bear, wolf, deer, and boar what we know were in this only the shaman could say their real name chategory on ancient history.

 

[Thylaco]

Here in Australia, Ibis actually have more than one nickname. Bin chicken seems the dominant one (mainly eastern states I think), but back in Hervey Bay, they were called Torquay chicken by some, the joke being that they're on the menu in that suburb.

Crested Pigeons are more often called Topknot pigeons, especially here in South Australia, and Magpie-larks more typically Murray Magpies (I used to think it was Merry Magpie for quite a while).

Masked Lapwings are often just called Plovers, being the more typical one to notice (they are the only Plover that swoops you when nesting, they even have wing spurs. They have a tendency to nest around school ovals, their cry still grabs my attention to this day).

 

[NachoB]

Here in Australia, Ibis actually have more than one nickname. Bin chicken seems the dominant one (mainly eastern states I think), but back in Hervey Bay, they were called Torquay chicken by some, the joke being that they're on the menu in that suburb.

Crested Pigeons are more often called Topknot pigeons, especially here in South Australia, and Magpie-larks more typically Murray Magpies (I used to think it was Merry Magpie for quite a while).

Masked Lapwings are often just called Plovers, being the more typical one to notice (they are the only Plover that swoops you when nesting, they even have wing spurs. They have a tendency to nest around school ovals, their cry still grabs my attention to this day).

Do you know any aboriginal names for local animals?

 

[NachoB]

Since i'm bored and i'm curious, how are some animals called in your country?

I would avoid direct translations from English to spanish, using only names based on native languages or common popular names.

I start:

Jaguar ---> Yaguareté - Origin: guaraní - Meaning: true wild beast (roughly translated from spanish)
Capybara ---> Carpincho - Origin: guaraní (kapiyvar) - Meaning: master/lord of the grasses
Maned wolf ---> Aguará Guazú - Origin: Guaraní - Meaning: Big fox
Giant otter ---> Ariray / Lobo de rio - Origin: guaraní
Howler monkey ---> Mono Carayá - Origin: guaraní - Meaning: Boss of the forest
Giant Armadillo ---> Tatú carreta / Guazú - Origin: guaraní - Meaning: Big armadillo (tatú is the word for armadillo in that languages)
Hairy armadillo ---> Quirquincho o Peludo - Origin: quechua - Meaning: word for armadillo / Peludo means hairy in spanish.
Pink fairy armadillo ---> Pichi ciego - Origin: Mapuche / Mapudungun - Meaning: small / ciego means blind in spanish
Nine-banded armadillo ---> Mulita grande
Greater rhea ---> Ñandú - Origin: Guaraní - Meaning: spider - I honestly have no idea why lol
Lesser rhea ---> Choique - Origin: Mapuche / Mapudungun - Meaning: ostrich
Brazilian tapir ---> Anta - Apparently this Word comes from an Arabic word and it means thick skin. There are other regional names like the guaraní tapiich and in quechua anta means copper but i don't think is related.
Buffed necked ibis ---> Bandurria austral - Bandurria in spanish is also de name of a strings insteument
Ruddy-headed goose ---> Cauquén colorado - Origin: mapuche - Meaning: to be always soaking - Colorado just means deep red in spanish.
Megallan goose ---> Cauquén común
Caracara ---> Carancho - In my country the name of this animal is used as a peyorative word to name unethical oportunistic people usually lawyers.
Southern screamer ---> Chajá - Origin: guaraní - Meaning: "let's go!" "Flee!" - It's name actually comes from the sound it makes which sounds similar to chajá.
Southern lapwing ---> Tero - Name also comes mainly from it's call.
Argentinian horned frog ---> Escuerzo - Origin: old spanish - Meaning: Toad

Patagonian mara is just mara or liebre patagónica (patagonian hare) and coati is just coati ( the name also comes from Guaraní and it means long nose)

If i remember any other it'll add it later.

I have updated my original post with the Origin and Meaning of some of the names.

 

[Fini]

My german favorite is the Blackbuck - Hirschziegenantilope; translated word by word it means StagGoatAntelope - I mean ...wow, which brain came up with that?

 

[KönigDerKaffeebohnen]

My german favorite is the Blackbuck - Hirschziegenantilope; translated word by word it means StagGoatAntelope - I mean ...wow, which brain came up with that?

I actually think i know why its called that!
The antelope part is pretty clear, but what about the other ones?
For the goat, taking a glance at the horns shows a pretty clear similarity in those riffles to those typically found on goat horns!

Also coincidentally theres a wild goat in india that have horns that even mirror their more special curlyness, can you guess who?

For the deer part, i wouldnt say the similarity is as clear, but it is worth noting that female red deer and female black bucks can reasonably be mistaken for each other, especally at distance or at a glance.

So an antelope with goat horns that can be mistaken for deer?
Sure it isnt the most specific name but saying theres no resamblance between the animals would be a lie

 

[Thylaco]

Do you know any aboriginal names for local animals?

Sadly no, when I was in school, they didn't teach an aboriginal language yet (I'm not sure if it's part of every school's curriculum these days, but definitely a thing in some schools).

I've heard about a figure called Tjilbruke in Kaurna dreaming, he apparently lends his name to the Glossy Ibis, having transformed into one, or other waders in other versions of the story.

From the 50 words project (https://50words.online/words) , these are some words from the Kaurna people of the Adelaide region:

• Kuya (Fish)
• Puntunya (Goanna)
• Nantu (Grey Kangaroo)
• Kardi (Emu)
• Kurraka (Magpie)
• Kadli (Dog)
• Karra (Tree)

And some words from the Ikngerre-Ipenhe Arrernte (Eastern Arrernte) people of the Alice Springs area:

• Irrpenge (Fish)
• Thipe (Bird)
• Alewatyerre (Goanna)
• Aherre (Kangaroo)
• Arleye (Emu)
• Arrpwere (Magpie)
• Akngwelye (Dog)
• Arne (Tree)

 

[Marvinb]

Sadly no, when I was in school, they didn't teach an aboriginal language yet (I'm not sure if it's part of every school's curriculum these days, but definitely a thing in some schools).

I've heard about a figure called Tjilbruke in Kaurna dreaming, he apparently lends his name to the Glossy Ibis, having transformed into one, or other waders in other versions of the story.

From the 50 words project (https://50words.online/words) , these are some words from the Kaurna people of the Adelaide region:

• Kuya (Fish)
• Puntunya (Goanna)
• Nantu (Grey Kangaroo)
• Kardi (Emu)
• Kurraka (Magpie)
• Kadli (Dog)
• Karra (Tree)

And some words from the Ikngerre-Ipenhe Arrernte (Eastern Arrernte) people of the Alice Springs area:

• Irrpenge (Fish)
• Thipe (Bird)
• Alewatyerre (Goanna)
• Aherre (Kangaroo)
• Arleye (Emu)
• Arrpwere (Magpie)
• Akngwelye (Dog)
• Arne (Tree)

The word goanna itself is also only a regional term since everywhere else they are called monitors or monitor lizards

 

[NachoB]

[*]Kurraka (Magpie)

This one is interesting because magpie in spanish is Urraca.

 

[Thylaco]

This one is interesting because magpie in spanish is Urraca.

Spelling isn't always that indicative for Aboriginal words, you'd want to listen to the recording on the website I think (https://50words.online/words/magpie). What's interesting is that it's the only one on the database that seems even close to that.

It is also a fairly different bird, aside from being Black & White.

 

[Khaidu]

Here in Australia, Ibis actually have more than one nickname. Bin chicken seems the dominant one (mainly eastern states I think), but back in Hervey Bay, they were called Torquay chicken by some, the joke being that they're on the menu in that suburb.

Crested Pigeons are more often called Topknot pigeons, especially here in South Australia, and Magpie-larks more typically Murray Magpies (I used to think it was Merry Magpie for quite a while).

Masked Lapwings are often just called Plovers, being the more typical one to notice (they are the only Plover that swoops you when nesting, they even have wing spurs. They have a tendency to nest around school ovals, their cry still grabs my attention to this day).

In Queensland magpie larks are known as peewees

Some other ones from Qld
Sulphur crested cockatoo- cocky
Blue tongue lizard - bluey
Kangaroo - roo
Masked lapwing - plover
Gilbert's dragon - tata lizard (because it wants an arm when it looks back after running)
Fresh water crayfish - yabby or Crauchy
Any species of monitor is called a goanna
Freshwater crocodile - Freshie
Barramundi - Barra
Kookaburra - kookie

 

[Frogstrich]

Here In The UK We Call European Robins Either Robin Or Robin Redbreast. They Are Also Heavily Associated With Christmas In The UK.