Animals

1. mymba

   Domestic animal / pet

   Usage

   The general word for an animal kept by people; handy when you cannot name the species

2. jagua

   Dog

   Usage

   Every house has a guard dog; stop walking if one barks at you

3. mbarakaja

   Cat

   Usage

   The initial mb is a prenasalised stop, a common Guaraní sound

4. kavaju

   Horse

   Usage

   Spanish caballo adapted to Guaraní sounds; still a working animal in the countryside

5. vaka

   Cow

   Usage

   Cattle ranching is central to Paraguay, and so is beef on the table

6. kure

   Pig

   Usage

   Aimed at a person the word is an insult, so keep it about the animal

7. ovecha

   Sheep

   Usage

   From Spanish oveja

8. kavara

   Goat

   Usage

   From Spanish cabra

9. ryguasu

   Chicken / hen

   Usage

   In every yard; "ryguasu rupi'a" is an egg

10. ype

    Duck

    Usage

    Seen by ponds and rivers. The letter y is Guaraní's sixth vowel and is also the word for water

11. guyra

    Bird

    Usage

    The general word for birds; Paraguay is rich in species and many names start with it

12. tu'ĩ

    Parakeet / parrot

    Usage

    They fly in noisy flocks. The ĩ is nasal. Trading wild-caught birds is illegal

13. ñandu

    Rhea

    Usage

    The large flightless bird of the Chaco grasslands. The same word also means spider, which is why Paraguay's famous lace is called ñandutí, "spider web"

14. pira

    Fish

    Usage

    The general word for fish; river fish from the Paraná and Paraguay are what reach the table

15. surubi

    Surubí (large catfish)

    Usage

    The big catfish of the Paraguay river and the star of the river-fish menu; you will see the name on restaurant boards

16. kapi'yva

    Capybara

    Usage

    The world's largest rodent, seen in groups by wetlands and rivers; the English word capybara comes from this Guaraní name

17. tatu

    Armadillo

    Usage

    Nocturnal, digging around fields; the Spanish tatú comes from this word

18. mborevi

    Tapir

    Usage

    South America's largest land mammal, occasionally seen in Chaco and forest reserves

19. ka'i

    Monkey (capuchin)

    Usage

    Lives in forested areas. Do not feed them; they will open your bag

20. jaguarete

    Jaguar

    Usage

    The big cat of the deep Chaco, almost never seen. The English jaguar traces back through Guaraní jagua

21. aguara guasu

    Maned wolf

    Usage

    Literally "big fox": a long-legged reddish animal of the grasslands, now protected as numbers fall

22. guasu

    Deer

    Usage

    The same word also means "big", so make sure the context is clearly about the animal

23. mbói

    Snake

    Usage

    Paraguay has venomous species; wear boots and long trousers in tall grass

24. jakare

    Caiman

    Usage

    Lives in wetlands and rivers; the Spanish and Portuguese jacaré come from this word. Do not enter the water at the bank

25. karumbe

    Turtle / tortoise

    Usage

    One word for both land and water turtles

26. ju'i

    Frog

    Usage

    Loud after rain. The ' is the puso, a glottal stop

27. teju

    Lizard (tegu)

    Usage

    The larger lizard that turns up in yards; the English tegu comes from this word. It does not attack people

28. anguja

    Mouse / rat

    Usage

    Use it to report one at your lodging

29. mbopi

    Bat

    Usage

    Out flying at dusk; do not handle them

30. ñati'ũ

    Mosquito

    Usage

    The insect that matters most to travellers: it spreads dengue and chikungunya, so repellent is essential. The ũ is nasal

31. mberu

    Fly

    Usage

    Comes up when eating outdoors

32. tahýi

    Ant

    Usage

    They arrive fast if food is left out. The ý is the accented sixth vowel

33. kava

    Wasp

    Usage

    They nest under eaves; the sting swells badly, so keep away

34. tarave

    Cockroach

    Usage

    Use it to report one at your lodging

35. panambi

    Butterfly

    Usage

    They gather by rivers after rain; the word turns up often in songs, dances and shop names

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