- "Uh huh, uh huh… I understand you!"
(Toucan croaks)
"Of course they can come!" - ― Antonio Madrigal (Encanto)
- "Got to say, it sucked. I mean, I've been here for months but I did learn how to speak pigeon."
(pigeon cooing sounds)
"No, you're the best. Peace be with you, my brother." - ― Gary Goodspeed (Final Space)
The power to talk to animal life forms and understand their reactions. Sub-power of Animal Manipulation. Variation of Omnilingualism. Opposite of Human Speech Replication.
Also Called[]
- Anima (The Lorien Legacies)
- Animal Communication/Whispering
- Animal Soul Speaking
- Dolittling
- Faunal/Fauna/Wildlife Communication
- Bestial Speech
Capabilities[]
The user is able to understand the speech and emotions of animal life forms and talk and communicate with them. This ability is quite uncommon and multifaceted. Some variations are magic based while others are natural talents or mental powers, similar to Telepathy (but limited to animals). The use of Zoolingualism is sometimes imagined as imitating animal sounds, like the barking of a dog. Zoolinguists are normally shown using their abilities in their native language, in an animal-language (like Parseltongue or Mangani), or even mentally without any spoken words.
Some users are able to understand animals in every imaginable way, which results in enormous knowledge and foreseeability of their actions.
Applications[]
Variations[]
Associations[]
Origins[]
Magic-based[]
Some cases of magical Zoolingualism are known. A well-known example might be Parseltongue, the magical language of Snakes (Harry Potter). The title character himself was able to speak this mysterious language, without even recognizing it. Parselmouths (users of Parseltongue) are able to understand the thoughts of snakes and even give them commands.
Another form of magical Zoolingualism is the telepathic connection of a Dragon Rider to his Dragon (Eragon). Dragons, shown as intelligent and civilized creatures, may stand on the same level as humans or even higher, but they aren't able to talk.
Both examples are limited to a specified type of nonhuman creatures.
Natural ability[]
Zoolingualism as a natural ability is quite uncommon, especially amongst humans. That would assume a physiological component, like a body part or an organ. However, the humanoid alien race of the moon Pandora, the Na'vi, are able to establish a special physical connection with their fauna, called Tsaheylu (Na'vi for "The bond"). Tsaheylu allows the Na'vi, to link their mind with the brain of animals to wield influence in their actions, without taking their free will.
Mental/Psychic[]
Even in the Pokémon franchise, a world without any normal animals, Zoolingualism is present. The young Pokémon Trainer and "Frontier Brain" Anabel showed the ability to sense the feelings of any Pokémon and communicate with them without even using words, Telepathy. That gives her a great advantage in a Pokémon-Battle, because the enemy is always unaware of her next move. Similar to her, but less apparent, is the gym leader Sabrina, who shared a psychic connection with her Pokémon Kadabra. Both, Anabel and Sabrina, are Psychic-type trainers.
Heredity[]
Some variations of Zoolingualism seem to be heritable. It's known that Dr. Dolittle's daughters, Charisse and Maya Dolittle inherited the ability from her father. The parselmouth Tom Riddle (alias Lord Voldemort) also inherited this ability, as his mother and his whole maternal kinship, back to his ancestor Salazar Slytherin, consisted of a long line of Parselmouths.
Limitations[]
- May be limited to certain kinds of animals.
- Doesn't give control over animals.
- Unless one is multilingual or has the automatic ability to translate, there may be a chance it won't work if the animal is "speaking" in another language.
- The animal may not be intelligent enough to give due response to one who employs this power.
Known Users[]
See Also: Speaks Fluent Animal.
Live Television/Movies[]
- Mo and Sam (50/50 Heroes)
- Dr. John Dolittle (Dr. Dolittle)
- Adam (Son of Bigfoot)
- Bigfoot (Son of Bigfoot)
- David (All Dogs Go To Heaven 2); via angel's spell
- Annie-Marie (All Dogs go to Heaven)
- Charisse Dolittle (Dr. Dolittle)
- Maya Dolittle (Dr. Dolittle)
- Jefferson Reed (The Meteor Man)
- Katrin (Katrin und die Welt der Tiere)
- Sara (Race to Witch Mountain) via Animal Telepathy
- Cole Evans/Red Wild Force Ranger (Power Rangers Wild Force)
- Maya/Yellow Galaxy Ranger (Power Rangers Lost Galaxy)
- Layla's Mother (Sky High)
- Na'vi (Avatar)
- Dar/The Beastmaster (Beastmaster)
- Inuk (Inuk)
- Fairies (The Bureau of Magical Things)
- Kyra (The Bureau of Magical Things)
- Ferals (Feral)
- Moon (Bug Me Not); to insects only
- Marvin Forman (Marvin Marvin)
- London Tipton (The Suit Life Movie); temporarily, with cetacean and fish
- Giselle (Enchanted)
- Eleventh & Twelfth Doctor (Doctor Who)
- Nita (Brother Bear 2); via The Great Spirits' spell
- Haru Yoshioka (The Cat Returns); with cats
- Dean Winchester (Supernatural); via the human/animal mind meld spell
- Mari McCabe (Vixen: the Movie/DC's Arrow); via the Anansi Totem
- Amaya Jiwe (DC's Legends of Tomorrow); via the Anansi Totem
- Tom Turbo (Tom Turbo)
- Charlie Edwards(Pup Academy); dogs only
- Morgen Edwards Sr. (Pup Academy); dogs only
- Morgan Edwards (Pup Academy); dogs only
- Pyras Clan (Heirs of the Night)
- Kronk (Kronk's New Groove)
- Mowgli (Disney's The Jungle Book)
- Tarzan (Disney's Tarzan)
- Antonio Madrigal (Encanto)
- Dolphin boy (Dolphin Boy 2022); marine animals only
- Mavka (Mavka: The Forest Song)
- Selin Aykar (Selena)
- ROZZUM unit 7134/Roz (The Wild Robot)
Cartoons/Comics[]
- Snow White (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)
- Lilliput (Darkwing Duck); via helmet, ants only
- Barbie "Malibu" Roberts (Barbie: Mermaid Power); via Water Magic, aquatic animals only
- Chelsea Roberts (Barbie: Mermaid Power); via Water Magic, aquatic animals only
- Roxy (Winx Club)
- Widget (Widget The World Watcher)
- Elizabeth "Eliza" Thornberry (The Wild Thornberrys)
- Ma-Ti (Captain Planet and the Planeteers)
- Natalie Breez (Hero Factory)
- Tavros (Homestuck)
- Spawn (Image Comics)
- Hazel (Little Charmers)
- Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Marvel Comics); insects and arachnids only
- Ant Man (Marvel Comics); via cybernetic helmet, ants and other higher-order insects only
- Sam Wilson/Falcon (Marvel Comics); via psychic connection; avian life forms only.
- Lizard (Marvel Comics); reptiles only
- Doreen Allene Green/Squirrel Girl (Marvel Comics); squirrels only
- Balder (Marvel Comics)
- Alyosha Kravinoff (Marvel Comics)
- Mari MaCabe/Vixen (DC Comics)
- Grace (El Goonish Shive)
- Guineas (El Goonish Shive)
- Hedge (El Goonish Shive)
- Vlad (El Goonish Shive)
- Kronk (The Emperor's New Groove)
- Dawn (Total Drama)
- Ella (Total Drama)
- Garfield Logan/Beast Boy (DC Comics)
- Super Commando Dhruva (Raj Comics)
- Buddy Baker/Animal Man (DC Comics)
- Ya'Wara (DC Comics)
- Rosa Torez (WildStorm/Wild Girl)
- Bubbles (The Powerpuff Girls)
- Fawn (Disney Faires)
- Fluttershy (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic/My Little Pony: Equestria Girls)
- Hitch Trailblazer (My Little Pony: Generation 5)
- Blythe Baxter (Littlest Pet Shop)
- Jane Boolittle (Monster High)
- Sashabella paws (“Bratzillaz")
- SheZow (SheZow)
- Taranee Cook (W.I.T.C.H.)
- Anne Marie (All Dogs Go to Heaven)
- Penny (The Rescuers)
- Ness (EarthBound)
- Aurora (Disney's Sleeping Beauty)
- Jasmine (Disney's Aladdin)
- Ariel (Disney's The Little Mermaid); fishes only
- Tiana (Disney's The Princess and the Frog)
- Prince Naveen (Disney's The Princess and the Frog)
- Kevin Whitney (Krypto The Superdog); via universal translator
- Cody (The Rescuers Down Under)
- Ashlynn Ella (Ever After High)
- Sofia the First (Sofia the First); via Amulet of Avalor
- Mermaids (Sofia the First)
- Lance Sterling (Spies in Disguise)
- Kate (Puppy in My Pocket: Adventures in Pocketville); via Friendship Heart
- Animan (Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir)
- Chase (PAW Patrol); beavers and owls only
- Marshall (PAW Patrol); cows only
- Cap'n Horatio Turbot (Paw Patrol)
- Tilly Turbot (Paw Patrol)
- Rex (Paw Patrol)
- Anna Banana (Rainbow Rangers)
- Ro/Rosella (Barbie as the Island Princess)
- Luke Triton (Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva)
- Morty Smith (Rick and Morty); via animal mind-reading device
- Mermista (She-Ra: Princess of Power)
- Critterina (Snow White's Happily Ever After)
- Danny Fenton/Phantom (Danny Phantom)
- Creepie Creature (Growing Up Creepie); insects and arachnids only
- Marselino (Marcelino pan y vino); cartoon only
- Rima, The Jungle Girl (Super Friends)
- Tupu (Tupu)
- Mira (The Hollow)
- Lopaka (Flipper and Lopaka); sea creatures only
- King Ezran (The Dragon Prince)
- Yakari (Yakari)
- Mebh Óg MacTíre (Wolfwalkers); birds and wolves only
- Share Bear (Care Bears)
- Rajoo (Upin & Ipin)
- Cleo, Emma and Rikki (Netflix H2O: Mermaid Adventures); marine creatures only
Mythology/Folklore[]
- King David (Islamic Mythology/Religion)
- King Solomon (Islamic Mythology/Religion)
- Melampus (Greek Mythology)
Literature[]
- Katharine (Three Dark Crowns)
- Parselmouths (Harry Potter); only snakes
- Tom Riddle/Lord Voldemort
- Harry Potter
- Peter Pettigrew (Harry Potter); only rats
- John Clayton II/Tarzan (Tarzan of the Apes)
- Mowgli (Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book)
- Jack Stevens (Ripley's Bureau of Investigation), except for snakes
- Sons of Poseidon (Percy Jackson and the Olympians); only with sea creatures, horses, and horse-kin
- Percy Jackson
- Tyson
- Satyrs/Fauns (Percy Jackson and the Olympians/Heroes of Olympus)
- Grover
- Coach Hedge
- Chuck
- Eragon (Inheritance Cycle)
- Faes (Shadow Falls); those gifted with animal communication
- Derek Lakes; via Animal Empathy
- Hannah Brandon; via Animal Telepathy
- Dr. Whitman
- Chameleons (Shadow Falls); with fae and/or werewolf powers
- Kylie Galen; to canines
- High-ranked werewolves (Shadow Falls); limited to canines
- Tessa (Star Darlings); via Animal Telepathy
- Radagast (Lord of The Rings)
- Billy Raven (Charlie Bone)
- Fuzzies (Upside-Down Magic)
- Larka (The Sight); to birds only
- Magnus Chase (Magnus Chase and the gods of Asgard)
Video Games[]
- Minette Napkatti (Bravely Second); to cats only
- Gundham Tanaka (Danganronpa)
- Billie Lurk (Dishonored); via Rat Whispers, to rats only
- Panne (Fire Emblem: Awakening)
- Ivern (League of Legends)
- Aigis (Persona 3); to dogs only
- Luke Triton (Professor Layton)
- Zoo Lou (Skylanders)
- Arietta The Wild (Tales of the Abyss)
- Wolf Link (The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)
- Dogsled Girl (Valkyrie Crusade); to canines only
- Beastmaster (Valkyrie Crusade)
- Caw-kaa (Zombie Vikings); to crows only
Anime/Manga/Manhwa[]
- Jirou Azuma (Black Torch)
- Toshimasa Azuma (Black Torch)
- Sajin Komamura (Bleach)
- Koji Koda (Boku no Hero Academia)
- Shiori Sakurada (Castle Town Dandelion)
- Obanai Iguro (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba); limited to telepathic communication with Kaburamaru, his pet snake.
- Tanjiro Kamado (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba); only shown to Zenitsu Agatsuma's sparrow, Chuntaro
- Inori Yamabuki/Cure Pine (Fresh Pretty Cure!); via Kirun
- Sohma Family (Fruits Basket); to Chinese Zodiac animals
- Shido Fuyuki (Get Backers)
- Ellee-chan/Cure Majesty ( Hirogaru Sky! Pretty Cure)
- Witches (Little Witch Academia)
- Shiori (InuYasha/Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon)
- Mutsumi Otohime (Love Hina); to turtles only
- Seto Kousuke (Kagerou Project)
- Kotoha Hanami/Ha-Chan/Cure Felice (Mahou Tsukai Pretty Cure); limited to Pegasus
- Junpei Kousaka (Nyan Koi); to cats only
- Meowth (Pokémon)
- Anabel (Pokémon) via Animal Telepathy & Animal Empathy
- Dawn (Pokémon) via Animal Empathy
- N (Pokémon)
- Yellow (Pokémon Adventures)
- Hayato Onoe (Ookami-kun wa Hayakawa-san ni Katenai)
- Apis (One Piece)
- Tony Tony Chopper (One Piece)
- Those with the ability to hear "The Voice of All Things" (One Piece)
- Otto Suwen (Re:Zero); via Blessing of Kotodama
- Guardian Characters (Shugo Chara!)
- Golem (Somali and the Forest Spirit)
- Mew Ichigo (Tokyo Mew Mew); to cats only
- Mew Mint (Tokyo Mew Mew); to fowls only
- Mew Pudding (Tokyo Mew Mew); to monkeys only
- Mew Zakuro (Tokyo Mew Mew); to wolves and dogs
- Miu Misaki (Towa no Quon)
- Kim Suho/Lloyd Frontera (The Greatest Estate Developer); to his summoned animals and Bibeong
- Yongbi (Yongbi the Invincible); to horses only
Comic Series[]
- Mother Nature (Nature Wolf Spirits)
- Azalea Galaxy (Nature Wolf Spirits)
- Cloud Galaxy (Nature Wolf Spirits)
Known Objects[]
- Kanohi Rau (BIONICLE)
- Dragon's Heart (Folklore)
- Tongue of Saiping (Xiaolin Showdown)
- Tongue of Cherokee (Xiaolin Chronicles)
- Universal translator (Krypto The Superdog)
- Cybernetic Helmet (Marvel Comics)
- Dreamcast controller (Seamen); to Seamen only
- Food of Understanding (Dot and the Kangaroo)
- Amulet of Avalor (Sofia the First)
- The One Ring (Tolkien)
- Friendship Heart (Puppy in My Pocket: Adventures in Pocketville)
- Wyrm's Heart (The Spiderwick Chronicles)
- Catmancer Asterisk (Bravely Second); to cats only
- Rat Whispers talisman (Dishonored); to rats only
- Animal mind-reading device (Rick and Morty)
- Whisper-Whisper Fruit/Hiso Hiso No Mi Devil Fruit (One Piece)
- Anansi/Spirit Totem (DC's Legends of Tomorrow/Vixen)
- Geode of Kindness (My Little Pony: Equestria Girls)
- Pyras Ruby (Heirs of the Night)
- Heart Ring (Captain Planet and the Planeteers)