Animals

1. Kare

   Dog

   Usage

   Kept as guard dogs — a bite needs rabies treatment

2. Kyanwa

   Cat

   Usage

   Common in homes and markets

3. Tsuntsu

   Bird

   Usage

   Birds in general

4. Kifi

   Fish

   Usage

   Dried river fish is a market staple

5. Doki

   Horse

   Usage

   Famous from the durbar horse processions at festival time

6. Jaki

   Donkey

   Usage

   The standard pack animal — you will meet them on village roads

7. Alfadari

   Mule

   Usage

   Stronger than a donkey and used for hauling

8. Raƙumi

   Camel

   Usage

   Long used by Sahel caravans — seen in northern markets

9. Saniya

   Cow

   Usage

   Fulani herders move large herds along the roads

10. Sa

    Bull / ox

    Usage

    Used for ploughing and hauling

11. Akuya

    Goat

    Usage

    Wanders freely through towns, and a market staple

12. Tunkiya

    Sheep

    Usage

    Central to festival meals — common in markets

13. Kaza

    Chicken / hen

    Usage

    The same word is used for the meat

14. Zakara

    Rooster

    Usage

    They crow before dawn

15. Agwagwa

    Duck

    Usage

    Kept in riverside villages

16. Giwa

    Elephant

    Usage

    Seen in parks such as Yankari

17. Zaki

    Lion

    Usage

    Also used in names and titles — rare in the wild now

18. Damisa

    Leopard

    Usage

    For talking with park guides

19. Biri

    Monkey

    Usage

    Do not approach with food — they will take your bag

20. Kada

    Crocodile

    Usage

    In rivers and lakes — always ask locals before swimming

21. Maciji

    Snake

    Usage

    Watch out in grass and farmland — go straight to hospital if bitten

22. Ƙadangare

    Lizard

    Usage

    Orange-headed agamas are everywhere on walls and rocks, and harmless

23. Kunkuru

    Tortoise

    Usage

    A folk-tale regular, always cast as the trickster

24. Kwaɗo

    Frog

    Usage

    Noisy at night in the rainy season

25. Ɓera

    Rat / mouse

    Usage

    Grounds for asking to change rooms — note ɓ is not plain b

26. Jemage

    Bat

    Usage

    Great flocks fly at dusk — do not handle them

27. Zomo

    Hare / rabbit

    Usage

    Common in open country, and a folk-tale character

28. Sauro

    Mosquito

    Usage

    Carries malaria — a net and repellent are essential

29. Ƙuda

    Fly

    Usage

    Useful when asking for a cover over food

30. Tururuwa

    Ant

    Usage

    Do not leave food out in your room

31. Ƙudan zuma

    Honeybee

    Usage

    Literally "honey fly" — honey is a market staple

32. Gizo-gizo

    Spider

    Usage

    Mostly harmless — the clever trickster of folk tales

33. Kyankyaso

    Cockroach

    Usage

    Show this when asking to change rooms

34. Kunama

    Scorpion

    Usage

    Common in dry areas — always check inside your shoes

35. Ƙuma

    Flea

    Usage

    If you keep getting bitten, grounds for asking to change the bedding

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