Dutch animal names translated literally.

Apr 13, 2017 10:28 AM

Buidelrat - Pouch Rat

Struisvogel - Sturdy Bird

Schildpad - Shield Toad

Zeeschildpad - Sea Shield Toad

Nijlpaard - Nile Horse

Aardvarken - Earth Pig

Zeehond - Sea Dog

Vleermuis - Wing mouse

Walvis - Land Fish

Neushoorn - Nose Horn

Wandelende Tak - Walking Branch

Gordeldier - Belt Animal

Papegaaiduiker - Parrot Diver

Dolfijn - Crazy Fun

Stekelvarken - Prickle Pig

Stokstaartje - Stick Tail

Wasbeer - Wash Bear

Vogelbekdier - Bird Beak Animal

Naaktslak - Naked Snail

Duizendpoot - Thousand Legs

And finally the feared "Tuinslang" , meaning Garden Snake.

dutch

animals

translation

Prickle Pig

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Is the last one a hose??

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

The Dutch words for hose and snake are the same :)

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

OP - fag

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

Also possibly Dutch

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

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[deleted]

9 years ago (deleted Feb 18, 2026 4:10 AM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

How would you translate wal?

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

[deleted]

[deleted]

9 years ago (deleted Feb 18, 2026 4:11 AM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

Maybe shore fish would be a better yeah.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

It's most likely from hvael (germanic) or squalus (latin), so nothing to do with dutch "wal"

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Probably. What do those words mean?

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

it means some sort of big fish (maybe from Finnish kval/kala = fish). So the literal Dutch translation would be "walvis = fish fish"!

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

and of course a whale's not a fish, so the Dutch is twice as wrong :)

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0