Animals

1. Anjiang

   Dog

   Usage

   The word for the animal dog. Aimed at a person it is an insult, so use it only for the animal

   Grammar Note

   "Anjiang" is the word for dog. It is also an insult when said to a person, so it is kept to the animal only

2. Kuciang

   Cat

   Usage

   The word for cat; it corresponds to Indonesian kucing

3. Buruang

   Bird

   Usage

   The word for bird; it corresponds to Indonesian burung

4. Kudo

   Horse

   Usage

   The word for horse; it corresponds to Indonesian kuda, with the final -o typical of Minangkabau

   Grammar Note

   "Kudo" means the animal kept for riding or pulling carts

5. Jawi

   Cow

   Usage

   The word for cow; it also appears in the West Sumatran bull race "pacu jawi"

6. Kabau

   Water buffalo

   Usage

   The word for water buffalo, the animal behind the name Minangkabau

7. Ayam

   Chicken

   Usage

   The word for chicken, the same word used for the meat

8. Itiak

   Duck

   Usage

   The word for duck; duck dishes are common in West Sumatra

9. Kambiang

   Goat

   Usage

   The word for goat; it corresponds to Indonesian kambing

10. Gajah

    Elephant

    Usage

    The word for elephant; wild elephants live in Sumatra

    Grammar Note

    Example: "salaweh talingo gajah"

11. Harimau

    Tiger

    Usage

    The word for tiger; the Sumatran tiger lives in West Sumatran forests. A variant is "rimau"

    Grammar Note

    "Harimau" has the variant "rimau"

12. Ula

    Snake

    Usage

    The word for snake, as in "biso ula" (snake venom)

    Grammar Note

    Example: "biso ula"

13. Buayo

    Crocodile

    Usage

    The word for crocodile, useful as a warning near rivers

14. Biawak

    Monitor lizard

    Usage

    The word for monitor lizard, sometimes seen along rivers

    Grammar Note

    Example: "ado biawak biasonyo di situ". A variant is "gadabah"

15. Tokek

    Tokay gecko

    Usage

    The word for the tokay gecko, a large loud gecko

    Grammar Note

    "Tokek" means a reptile with spotted skin and a loud call

16. Mancik

    Rat / Mouse

    Usage

    The word for rat or mouse; it corresponds to Indonesian tikus

    Grammar Note

    "Mancik" is defined as tikus

17. Lawah-lawah

    Spider

    Usage

    The word for spider, written as a reduplicated form

    Grammar Note

    Example: "sarang lawah-lawah" (spider web)

18. Langau

    Fly

    Usage

    The word for fly, useful when keeping flies off food

    Grammar Note

    Example: "banyak langau inggok di pungguang kudo"

19. Samuik

    Ant

    Usage

    The word for ant; it corresponds to Indonesian semut

    Grammar Note

    "Samuik" is defined as semut

20. Nyamuak

    Mosquito

    Usage

    The word for mosquito, useful when asking for repellent

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary definition of "nyamuak" is empty, but it appears in the proverb "nyamuak mati, gata indak lapeh"

21. Labah

    Bee

    Usage

    The word for bee; it corresponds to Indonesian lebah

    Grammar Note

    "Labah" means a stinging insect with four wings; its example is "sarang labah" (bee nest)

22. Kaluang

    Bat

    Usage

    The word for bat, in particular the large fruit bat

    Grammar Note

    "Kaluang" is defined as a kind of bat; example: "kaluang pulang ka sarang". The same spelling also means a necklace

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