Animals

1. su cane

   Dog

   Usage

   Basic word for dogs, including sheepdogs and pets

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun, plural canes. The standard spelling keeps the initial c

2. su gatu

   Cat

   Usage

   Used for pet cats and strays

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun. The spelling gattu with a double t also occurs. Su gatu areste is the wildcat

3. su puzone

   Bird

   Usage

   Used to point out a bird, for example while birdwatching

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun, plural puzones

4. su pische

   Fish

   Usage

   Used for fish in the sea or river, and for fish as food

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun, plural pisches

5. su caddu

   Horse

   Usage

   Used for riding and for festival cavalcades; the island is also known for the wild horses of the Giara

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun, plural caddos. Some speakers say cabaddu; the standard spelling is caddu

6. sa baca

   Cow

   Usage

   Used for a dairy cow in a pasture; the ox is su boe

   Grammar Note

   Feminine noun, plural bacas. The standard spelling is baca, not vacca

7. su porcu

   Pig

   Usage

   Word for the farm pig; it can also mean pork as meat

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun, plural porcos. The wild boar has its own word, sirbone

8. sa pudda

   Hen

   Usage

   Used for chickens at a farm or country lodging

   Grammar Note

   Feminine noun, plural puddas. The rooster is puddu

9. s'anade

   Duck

   Usage

   Used for ducks on ponds and wetlands

   Grammar Note

   Feminine noun; sa becomes s' before a vowel. Plural anades. Native check advised for this single-word use

10. sa cabra

    Goat

    Usage

    Used when talking about mountain herding or cheese

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun, plural cabras. In some areas the word is craba or crapa

11. sa berbeghe

    Sheep

    Usage

    Useful on an island of shepherds, for flocks and sheep's-milk cheese

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun, plural berbeghes. The -gh- is the standard spelling

12. s'àinu

    Donkey

    Usage

    Used for the donkey as a pack animal

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; su becomes s' before a vowel. The accent falls on the third syllable from the end. The female is àina

13. su matzone

    Fox

    Usage

    Used for the wild fox seen on trails and in woods

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun. A Sardinian word of its own, not Italian volpe. Native check advised for this single-word use

14. su sirbone

    Wild boar

    Usage

    Used for the wild boar, which can be dangerous on the hills, and in hunting talk

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun, plural sirbones. Elsewhere it is called sirboni or porcrabu

15. su cherbu

    Deer

    Usage

    Used for deer in the woods, such as the Sardinian deer native to the island

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; the doe is cherba. Su cherbu sardu is the Sardinian deer

16. su gabbianu

    Gull

    Usage

    Used for gulls seen on beaches and in harbours

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun, plural gabbianos. Native check advised for this single-word use

17. su conigliu

    Rabbit

    Usage

    Used for rabbits seen in the fields

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun, plural coniglios. The spelling conillu also occurs

18. su sòrighe

    Mouse

    Usage

    Used to report a mouse in a lodging or hut

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun. The accent falls on the third syllable from the end (an unmarked sorighe also occurs). Plural sòrighes

19. sa colovra

    Snake

    Usage

    Used when you notice a snake on a trail

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun, plural colovras. Some speakers say su serpente

20. sa rana

    Frog

    Usage

    Used for frogs near ponds and streams

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun, plural ranas

21. sa musca

    Fly

    Usage

    Used when flies bother you at a meal or outdoors

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun, plural muscas

22. s'ape

    Bee

    Usage

    Used after a sting or when talking about honey

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; sa becomes s' before a vowel. Plural apes

23. sa formiga

    Ant

    Usage

    Used for ants at a picnic or in a room

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun, plural formigas

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