Animals

1. il chaun

   Dog

   Usage

   Use it to talk about a dog or to ask whether dogs are allowed. On hiking trails, keep dogs on a lead near grazing cattle

   Grammar Note

   Chaun is masculine, plural chauns

2. il giat

   Cat

   Usage

   Use it to talk about a cat, or to ask whether the lodging has one. If you are allergic, say so when booking

   Grammar Note

   Giat is masculine; a female cat is giatta

3. l'utschè

   Bird

   Usage

   The general word when pointing out a wild bird. In the mountains you may see raptors, grouse and many others

   Grammar Note

   Utschè is masculine, plural utschels. The article becomes l' before a vowel

4. il pesch

   Fish

   Usage

   Works for the living fish and for fish as food on a menu

   Grammar Note

   Pesch is masculine, plural peschs

5. il chaval

   Horse

   Usage

   Use it for riding or carriage rides. In the Engadin there are horse-drawn sleigh rides in winter

   Grammar Note

   Chaval is masculine, plural chavals

6. la vatga

   Cow

   Usage

   Cows graze on the high pastures in summer. On a hike keep your distance from the herd, especially from calves

   Grammar Note

   Vatga is feminine, plural vatgas

7. il portg

   Pig

   Usage

   Use it on a farm visit, or when asking about the ingredients if you avoid pork

   Grammar Note

   Portg is masculine. The wild boar is portg selvadi

8. la giaglina

   Chicken (hen)

   Usage

   Use it on a farm or when naming the bird. Giaglina is the form for the hen

   Grammar Note

   Giaglina is feminine and is also used for the pheasant family of birds

9. l'anda

   Duck

   Usage

   Use it for ducks on a lake or pond

   Grammar Note

   Anda is feminine; the article becomes l' before a vowel

10. la chaura

    Goat

    Usage

    Use it for goats on mountain farms, or when talking about goat's cheese

    Grammar Note

    Chaura is feminine, plural chauras

11. la nursa

    Sheep

    Usage

    Flocks of sheep are common on summer pastures. Guard dogs may be with them, so do not get too close

    Grammar Note

    Nursa is feminine, plural nursas

12. l'asen

    Donkey

    Usage

    Use it to name a donkey. It also turns up in children's books and farm visits

    Grammar Note

    Asen is masculine; the article becomes l' before a vowel

13. la vulp

    Fox

    Usage

    Use it for the red fox seen in forests and meadows. Do not feed wild animals

    Grammar Note

    Vulp is feminine, and la vulp is used for both sexes. Plural vulps

14. l'erizun

    Hedgehog

    Usage

    Use it for the small spiny animal sometimes seen in gardens and parks at dusk

    Grammar Note

    Erizun is masculine; the article becomes l' before a vowel

15. il portg selvadi

    Wild boar

    Usage

    Use it for the wild boar of the forests. If you meet one, do not approach; back away quietly

    Grammar Note

    Built as "pig + wild"; the adjective follows the noun

16. il tschierv

    Red deer

    Usage

    The large deer common in Graubünden's forests and uplands. In the autumn rut stags can be aggressive, so keep away

    Grammar Note

    Tschierv is masculine. The same spelling is also the name of a village in the Val Müstair

17. il capricorn

    Alpine ibex

    Usage

    A wild goat of high rocky terrain and the heraldic animal of Graubünden. If you see one, watch from a distance

    Grammar Note

    Capricorn is masculine; the female is chaura-capricorn. It is also called stambutg or macun

18. la muntanella

    Alpine marmot

    Usage

    A large burrowing rodent of the alpine meadows, often seen on hikes. It gives a sharp whistle to warn the others

    Grammar Note

    Muntanella is feminine; the standard language also has the variant marmotta

19. il chamutsch

    Chamois

    Usage

    A small antelope-like animal of Alpine slopes and rocks. If you see one, watch quietly from a distance

    Grammar Note

    Chamutsch is masculine; tsch is pronounced like English ch

20. l'evla da la pizza

    Golden eagle

    Usage

    A large raptor of the high Alps. With binoculars you may spot it soaring above the ridges

    Grammar Note

    Literally "eagle of the peak"; evla is feminine and the article becomes l' before a vowel

21. il luf

    Wolf

    Usage

    The wolf has returned to the Alps and comes up in talk about pastures. Follow local notices and keep dogs close

    Grammar Note

    Luf is masculine, plural lufs. The lynx is luf-tscherver

22. la columba

    Pigeon (dove)

    Usage

    Use it for the pigeons seen in town squares

    Grammar Note

    Columba is feminine; it is a broad word that also covers the dove

23. il stgilat

    Squirrel

    Usage

    Use it for squirrels in forest and park trees

    Grammar Note

    Stgilat is masculine; the cluster stg at the start is pronounced roughly "shtch"

24. il cunigl

    Rabbit

    Usage

    Use it to name a rabbit, including pet and farm contexts

    Grammar Note

    Cunigl is masculine. The hare is a separate word (lieur)

25. la mieur

    Mouse

    Usage

    Use it to tell your host if a mouse shows up in a hut or storeroom

    Grammar Note

    Mieur is feminine, plural mieurs

26. il pipistrel

    Bat

    Usage

    Use it for bats flying at dusk or roosting in old buildings and caves. Do not touch one

    Grammar Note

    Pipistrel is masculine. Another name is utschè-mezmieur

27. la serp

    Snake

    Usage

    The word for a snake seen on a hike. If bitten, stay still and call the ambulance (144)

    Grammar Note

    Serp is feminine, plural serps

28. la rauna

    Frog

    Usage

    Use it for frogs around ponds and wetlands

    Grammar Note

    Rauna is feminine, plural raunas

29. il mustgin

    Mosquito

    Usage

    Handy in summer by a lake or at dusk, for instance before asking a pharmacy for repellent

    Grammar Note

    Mustgin is masculine. The fly is a separate word (la mustga)

30. la mustga

    Fly

    Usage

    Use it to point out flies on food to staff

    Grammar Note

    Mustga is feminine, plural mustgas

31. l'avieul

    Honey bee

    Usage

    Use it after a sting or to state a bee-venom allergy. Call the ambulance (144) for severe reactions

    Grammar Note

    Avieul is masculine; the article becomes l' before a vowel

32. la vespra

    Wasp

    Usage

    Use it for wasps drawn to sweet drinks at outdoor tables in summer. Cool a sting; call 144 if breathing is affected

    Grammar Note

    Vespra is feminine, plural vespras

33. la furmicla

    Ant

    Usage

    Use it when ants gather on food at a picnic or in a hut

    Grammar Note

    Furmicla is feminine, plural furmiclas

34. il filien

    Spider

    Usage

    Use it to tell your host about a spider in the room or hut

    Grammar Note

    Filien is masculine. Another word is arogn

35. la medusa

    Jellyfish

    Usage

    Used if stung by a jellyfish at the seaside. Switzerland is landlocked, so this mostly comes up abroad

    Grammar Note

    Medusa is feminine and has the same form as in Italian and Latin

Browse all TravelPhrases languages