German · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Animal" in German: Tier
das Tier
Animal in German is das Tier, neuter, with plural die Tiere. Pets are Haustiere. Wild animals can be Wildtiere, and a zoo is der Zoo or der Tierpark.
At the zoo
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How to pronounce Tier
Say it
teer
/tiːɐ/
Teer, like English "tear" as in rip, with a clear t. Long i. One syllable.
"Animal" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| das Tier | animal General word. | General word. |
| die Tiere | animals Plural. | Plural. |
| das Haustier | pet House animal. | House animal. |
| der Tierpark | zoo / animal park Place to see animals. | Place to see animals. |
How to use Tier in real life
- 1At the zoo
Welches Tier magst du am liebsten?
Which animal do you like best?
Welches agrees with neuter Tier.
- 2About pets
Hast du ein Tier zu Hause?
Do you have an animal / pet at home?
Ein Tier often means a pet in this question.
- 3Nature talk
Im Wald leben viele Tiere.
Many animals live in the forest.
Plural Tiere.
Mistakes English speakers make with Tier
Incorrect: der Tier
Correct: das Tier
Tier is neuter. Plural die Tiere.
Incorrect: Animalpark
Correct: Tierpark / Zoo
Use the German compounds.
Good to know
Tierpark and Zoo both appear on signs; Tierpark can feel a bit more park-like. Animal welfare talk uses Tierschutz, and many cities fund local Tierheime (shelters).
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Planning a zoo visit with a child
ChatPal
Welches Tier willst du zuerst sehen?
Which animal do you want to see first?
You
Das große Tier dort — den Elefanten!
That big animal there — the elephant!
ChatPal
Gute Wahl. Danach schauen wir andere Tiere an.
Good choice. After that we'll look at other animals.
You
Ja! Ich mag jedes Tier im Park.
Yes! I like every animal in the park.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Animal" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Animal" in German
Is Tier masculine?
No, neuter: das Tier. Plural die Tiere.
How do you say pet?
Das Haustier. Example: Mein Haustier ist eine Katze.
What is Tierarzt?
A vet: Tier + Arzt.
How do you say animal park?
Der Tierpark. Zoo is also widely used.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
