u cane
Dog
Usage
The basic word when warned about a dog or asking whether dogs are allowed
Grammar Note
Masculine; the plural is i cani. Ghjacaru is another word for dog
u ghjattu
Cat
Usage
The word for the cats you meet around lodgings and villages
Grammar Note
Masculine; ghj is a palatal sound. Another spelling is gattu
l'acellu
Bird
Usage
Use it to point out a bird on a nature walk
Grammar Note
Masculine; u becomes l' before a vowel. The plural is l'acelli. Other spellings are ucellu and aceddu
u pesciu
Fish
Usage
The word for fish in the sea or river; on a menu the same word means fish as food
Grammar Note
Masculine; the plural is i pesci. Other spellings are pisciu and pesce
u cavallu
Horse
Usage
The word for a horse at a riding stable or mountain pasture
Grammar Note
Masculine; another spelling is cavaddu
a vacca
Cow
Usage
The word for a cow met on a mountain path or pasture
Grammar Note
Feminine. In casual speech it can be an insult when said of a person, so keep it for animals
u porcu
Pig
Usage
The word for a pig, including the free-ranging ones; pork is the base of Corsican charcuterie
Grammar Note
Masculine; another word is u purcellu. It can also be an insult when said of a person
a gallina
Hen
Usage
The word for a hen at a farm stay
Grammar Note
Feminine; another spelling is ghjallina
l'anatra
Duck
Usage
The word for a duck on a pond or river
Grammar Note
Feminine; a becomes l' before a vowel. Another spelling is anata
a capra
Goat
Usage
The word for goats on mountain pastures, and for talking about goat's cheese
Grammar Note
Feminine. Ziga is another word for goat
a pecura
Sheep
Usage
The word for a sheep, and for the milk behind sheep's cheeses such as brocciu
Grammar Note
Feminine; strictly it is the ewe. Another spelling is pecora
l'asinu
Donkey
Usage
The word for a donkey on a trail or pasture
Grammar Note
Masculine; u becomes l' before a vowel. Said of a person it means a fool. Prisoghju is another word for donkey
a volpe
Fox
Usage
The word for a fox seen near the hills or villages
Grammar Note
Feminine; another spelling is vorpe. Codilonga is another word for fox
u ricciu
Hedgehog
Usage
The word for a hedgehog seen in a garden or on a path at dusk
Grammar Note
Masculine. The same word can also mean a sea urchin or a chestnut husk, so context decides
u cignale
Wild boar
Usage
The word for a wild boar met in the hills, or for boar meat on a menu
Grammar Note
Masculine; other spellings are signaru and singhjari. It is not written like Italian cinghiale
u cervu
Deer
Usage
The word for the deer living in Corsican forests
Grammar Note
Masculine. The island's own subspecies is u cervu di Corsica
a muvra
Mouflon
Usage
The wild sheep of the Corsican mountains, a symbol of the island, often seen in nature park guides
Grammar Note
Feminine and often used for the species in general. The male is also called u muvrone or u mufrone
u gabbianu
Seagull
Usage
The word for a gull at the harbour or on the coast
Grammar Note
Masculine, ending in -u. It is not written like Italian gabbiano
u culombu
Pigeon
Usage
The word for a pigeon in a square or by the sea
Grammar Note
Masculine; another spelling is colombu. The word also covers doves and wood pigeons
u cunigliu
Rabbit
Usage
The word for a rabbit, and for rabbit as food
Grammar Note
Masculine; gl is a single palatal sound, close to Italian gli
u topu
Mouse / Rat
Usage
The word for reporting a mouse or rat at a lodging or hut
Grammar Note
Masculine; a small mouse is also tupichju. It does not separate mouse from rat
u serpu
Snake
Usage
The word for a snake met on a hike
Grammar Note
Masculine; other spellings are sarpu and serpe, with plurals i sarpi and i serpi. Anguì is another word for snake
a ranochja
Frog
Usage
The word for a frog heard at a pond or riverside
Grammar Note
Feminine; chj is a palatal sound. Other spellings are granochja and ranocchia. Botta and ciomba are other words for frog
a mosca
Fly
Usage
The word for flies at a meal or in a room
Grammar Note
Feminine
l'apa
Bee
Usage
The word for a bee sting or a visit to an apiary
Grammar Note
Feminine; a becomes l' before a vowel. Another spelling is aba
a vespa
Wasp
Usage
The word for a wasp sting, or a wasp that comes to your meal
Grammar Note
Feminine. It is the same form as the Vespa scooter name
a furmicula
Ant
Usage
The word for ants in a tent or on food
Grammar Note
Feminine; other spellings are frumicula and furmica
u ragnu
Spider
Usage
The word for a spider found in a room or hut
Grammar Note
Masculine; another spelling is aragnu
a zinzala
Mosquito
Usage
The word for mosquitoes on a summer night, and when asking for repellent
Grammar Note
Feminine; other spellings are zanzala and zinzara
a zecca
Tick
Usage
The word to tell a doctor or pharmacist about a tick bite after a hike
Grammar Note
Feminine; another spelling is zicca
a medusa
Jellyfish
Usage
The word for a jellyfish sting at the beach, or for asking whether there are any
Grammar Note
Feminine. Carnaccia is another word for jellyfish
More Corsican phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
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- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
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- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
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- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
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- Business & Work
- School & Education
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- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Yoga & Wellness
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences