Pets (Junior Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Pets
Pets are an important part of many people's lives and often come up in everyday conversations. When travelling to Spanish-speaking countries, being able to talk about your pet and buy pet supplies can help you connect with other animal lovers and navigate practical situations.
Types of pets
Learning the names of different pets will help you describe your own animals and understand conversations about pets.
| Spanish | Article | English |
|---|---|---|
| perro | el | dog |
| gato | el | cat |
| pez | el | fish |
| hámster | el | hamster |
| conejo | el | rabbit |
| loro | el | parrot |
| pájaro | el | bird |
| cobayo | el | guinea pig |
Example Sentences in Context:
- Tengo un perro muy grande. (I have a very big dog.)
- Mi gato es muy juguetón. (My cat is very playful.)
- ¿Tienes alguna mascota? (Do you have any pets?)
- El pájaro canta por la mañana. (The bird sings in the morning.)
Grammar note: Notice that most pet names are masculine (el), even when referring to female animals. When you need to specify gender, you can add "macho" (male) or "hembra" (female) after the animal name.
Describing your pet
These adjectives will help you describe what your pet looks like and their personality.
Physical descriptions
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| pequeño/chico | small |
| mediano | medium |
| grande | large |
| peludo | furry/fluffy |
Personality traits
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| amable | friendly |
| juguetón | playful |
| tímido | shy |
| tierno | sweet |
| adorable | adorable |
Pet actions
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| morder | to bite |
| acariciar | to pet/stroke |
| pasear | to walk (take for a walk) |
Worked Example: Describing Your Pet
Step 1: Choose the pet name
- Mi perro (My dog)
Step 2: Add size description
- Mi perro es pequeño (My dog is small)
Step 3: Add personality trait
- Mi perro es pequeño pero muy juguetón (My dog is small but very playful)
Grammar note: Adjectives must agree with the gender and number of the noun. Since most pets are masculine (el perro, el gato), use the masculine form of adjectives: pequeño, juguetón, peludo.
Pet supplies and accessories
When shopping for pet supplies, you'll need to know these essential items.
| Spanish | Article | English |
|---|---|---|
| correa | la | lead/leash |
| collar | el | collar |
| placa de identificación | la | ID tag |
| jaula | la | cage |
| comida | la | food |
| golosinas | las | treats |
| juguetes | los | toys |
| alpiste | el | bird seed |
Shopping Phrases in Practice:
- Necesito comprar una correa nueva. (I need to buy a new lead.)
- ¿Dónde está la comida para perros? (Where is the dog food?)
- Mi pájaro necesita más alpiste. (My bird needs more bird seed.)
- ¿Tienen juguetes para gatos? (Do you have cat toys?)
Pronunciation tip: The "ll" in "collar" is pronounced like the English "y" sound.
Grammar focus: Personal "a" with pets
In Spanish, when talking about people as direct objects, you use the personal "a" (e.g., "Vi a Pablo" - I saw Pablo). With pets, the rule depends on how you view your animal:
Personal "a" with Pets Rules:
- Use personal "a" if you consider your pet part of the family: "Vi a mi perro en el parque." (I saw my dog in the park.)
- Don't use personal "a" if you view it simply as an animal: "Vi mi perro en el parque."
Most pet owners who love their animals use the personal "a" because they see their pets as family members.
Phrase bank
Here are useful phrases for talking about pets:
- ¿Tienes mascotas? (Do you have pets?)
- Tengo un/una... (I have a...)
- Mi mascota se llama... (My pet is called...)
- Es muy cariñoso/a. (He/She is very affectionate.)
- ¿Dónde puedo comprar comida para...? (Where can I buy food for...?)
- Necesito pasear mi perro. (I need to walk my dog.)
Translation practice
Practice Exercise: Test Your Knowledge
Spanish to English:
- Mi gato es muy peludo y juguetón.
- ¿Dónde está la correa de mi perro?
English to Spanish:
- I have a small, friendly rabbit.
- Do you sell bird toys?
Common errors and fixes
Watch Out for These Common Mistakes:
- ✗ Mi perro es pequeno → ✓ Mi perro es pequeño (don't forget the tilde on ñ)
- ✗ La perro → ✓ El perro (perro is masculine)
- ✗ Tengo dos gato → ✓ Tengo dos gatos (don't forget plural endings)
- ✗ Mi mascota tiene cinco año → ✓ Mi mascota tiene cinco años (años is plural)
Translation answers
Answer Key:
Spanish to English:
- My cat is very fluffy and playful.
- Where is my dog's lead?
English to Spanish:
- Tengo un conejo pequeño y amable.
- ¿Venden juguetes para pájaros?
Key Points to Remember:
- Most pet names are masculine (el perro, el gato) even for female animals
- Use the personal "a" with pets you consider family members
- Adjectives must match the gender of the noun (perro pequeño, not pequeña)
- "ll" in words like collar sounds like "y"
- Pet vocabulary helps you connect with other animal lovers in Spanish-speaking countries