One of the most endearing traits of parrots is their ability to talk. While some species are more gifted than others at mimicking words, you can teach parrots to speak with basic words and phrases.
Among the easiest words to teach your parrot are greetings, such as “hello,” “goodbye,” “hola,” and “goodnight.” Parrots can learn names, numbers, and the alphabet, as well as sounds from pets, like “woof” and “meow.” Since parrots are associated with pirates, you can add nautical words to your bird’s vocabulary, such as “treasure” and “yarr.”
We’ve compiled a list of the easiest words and phrases to teach a parrot – why not try a few?
How many words can parrots say?
African grey parrots can mimic up to 1,000 words – more than any other bird species.
They are the most gifted speakers in the bird world and can use English speech similar to that of young children.
Many other species of parrots can talk:
- Budgerigars: 1,000 words
- Amazon parrots: 300 words
- Indian ring-necked parakeets: 250 words
- Cockatiels: 250 words
- Quaker parrots: 50-60 words
However, this is only an approximate indication. Some parrots say more words, while others say many less. Many factors influence their ability to talk, regardless of species.
How to teach a parrot words
While some parrots copy what you say, they need training to help them string words together and understand basic grammar. Though parrots need to be trained to learn words, their individual level of intelligence also plays an important role.
Nonetheless, you can teach your parrot to mimic by following these steps:
Use simple words
Start with simple one or two-syllable words, which are easier for your parrot to mimic. Once your bird is comfortable mimicking easy words, you can move on to longer and more complex phrases.
Repetition
Parrots learn the words they hear most often, just like human babies learn a language. Repeat the word or phrase you want your parrot to say several times, and it will eventually include it in its vocabulary.
Association
Parrots mimic more quickly when they can associate a word or phrase with something they see or hear, such as a..:
- Object
- Action
- Sound
- Expression
When you carry out this technique, repeat the action, make the sound, and raise the object to your parrot’s eye level. Say the word and repeat these steps several times.
Consistency and patience
You will need a lot of patience and consistency to teach your parrot to speak. Parrots have good memory, but they will need daily training to build a decent vocabulary.
Similarly, training will not always be easy. Some parrots are stubborn, while others might lack good mental capacity due to past events. Be patient and don’t push your parrot too hard to learn.
Create a bond
If you establish a trust bond with your parrot before starting your training, you will likely achieve better results. If you just got your parrot, let it learn to know you before teaching it to talk. Once your parrot trusts and likes you, it will want to imitate you all the time.
Positive reinforcement
Parrots are motivated by rewards, such as treats or affection (which they prefer). Offer your bird its favorite food every time it successfully mimics a word or phrase.
Short lessons
Do not stress your parrot by conducting long training sessions too often. Keep them short so your bird has the best chance of retaining the words and phrases. Also, try to make the sessions as fun as possible.
How long does it take to teach a parrot to talk?
All parrots are different and learn words at their own pace. It can take a few weeks or a few months – it all depends on the birds:
- Gender
- Species
- Background
- Willingness to learn
Most parrots take about 12 months or more to form clear and coherent phrases that humans can understand. More intelligent parrots, like African greys, can learn individual words in just a few weeks. However, that doesn’t mean they sound like the original word. It takes time and practice for parrots to mimic words well.
Similarly, if you have multiple parrots, they are more likely to learn the basics from each other – especially if one of them already has mimicking skills.
Simple words to teach your parrot
If you’re wondering what words parrots can say, try starting with these easy words and phrases and move on to something more difficult once your parrot has developed and improved its mimicking abilities.
Greetings and goodbyes
Greetings and goodbyes are among the easiest words to teach parrots and make a good starting point for your training.
“Hello”
This is one of the first words that owners teach their parrots, as it is short, easy for birds to say, and has a clear and concise meaning that many birds learn to understand.
“Hey”
If your parrot struggles to say “hello” because it’s a two-syllable word, “hey” is an easy solution to try teaching first.
“Hola”
Why not let your feathered friend learn greetings in more than one language? “Hola” is a great way to integrate as many different greetings into its vocabulary as possible.
“Howdy”
“Howdy” is a bit more conversational, but it’s a fun and easy word for teaching your bird how to greet you.
“Ahoy”
Parrots are often associated with pirates, so why not teach your bird fun sailor words and phrases like “ahoy”?
“Goodbye”
“Goodbye” is another good word to teach your parrot, especially if you can train it to understand that it means you are leaving the house.
“Bye-Bye”
This word sounds like “goodbye,” but the repetition of “bye-bye” may be easier for your parrot to say.
“Night-Night”
When it’s time for bed, repeat “night-night” over and over so your parrot learns that it’s time to settle down for sleep.
“Wake-Up”
Similarly, teach your parrot to say “wake up” when it’s time to start the day.
“Rise and shine
“Rise and shine” has softer sounds, so it might be a bit easier to teach than “wake-up.”
“Love You”
If you share a strong bond with your parrot, this is a lovely phrase to train your bird.
Food-related words
Teaching your parrot food-related words makes mealtime easier. You can even teach your bird to tell you when it’s hungry or thirsty.
“Hungry”
Use this word when you fill your parrot’s food bowl. Your parrot will eventually learn what it means and tell you when it’s hungry.
“Thirsty”
The same goes for the word “thirsty.” Say this word whenever you refresh your parrot’s water bowl to give it contextual awareness of what it means.
“Do you want to eat?”
This phrase means that dinner is on the way, giving your bird a reason to get excited about its favorite foods.
“Breakfast”
There’s no better way for your parrot to start the day than with a hearty breakfast. So try waking it up by saying “breakfast” repeatedly.
“Lunch”
Food-motivated parrots will love learning the word “lunch” and may even develop contextual awareness of its meaning.
“Dinner”
“Dinner” starts with a relatively hard-sounding “D,” but with only two syllables, it’s relatively easy to train. Try adding “time” at the end for a more complicated vocal challenge.
“Treat”
Most parrots can’t resist a treat, so add this word to your bird’s vocabulary to make learning tricks easier.
“Orange”
Many parrots enjoy oranges, making it a fun word to train. Don’t stop there – teach your parrot to say all of its favorite fruits.
“Peanut”
Parrots also love peanuts, so why not give this word a try? You could also teach your bird to say “seeds” and “nuts” and all the other associated words.
“Yum”
This will help your bird signal that it enjoyed the food you gave it.
“More”
Beware – your parrot may use this word all the time to get tasty food! However, be sure to stay firm and only give your parrot occasional treats.
“Enough”
Teaching your bird to say “enough” can help you convey boundaries.
“Please”
Teach your bird good manners by only giving treats when it has said “please.” It may take time for your parrot to understand, but it will get there.
“Thank you”
Another manners-related word, “thank you” is easy to say and will amaze your guests with your bird’s politeness.
Nicknames
You will surely come up with unique nicknames for your parrot, but first have fun teaching these sweet nicknames.
“Birdie”
Sometimes, the simplest nicknames are the best – “birdie” is one of them.
“Cutie”
This is an adorable nickname suitable for any parrot, regardless of its gender. Try adding “pie” at the end to extend the nickname.
“Sweetie”
This word can have two meanings. It can either be an adorable nickname or indicate that tasty treats are coming.
“Buddy”
Though the “F” sound is difficult for parrots to produce, some may come close.
“Pal”
If “Buddy” is a bit too hard, then “Pal” is a little easier to teach.
“Matey”
“Matey” is an informal way of saying “friend” and is comical to hear from a parrot’s mouth.
“Pretty Bird”
You don’t need to be a colorful scarlet macaw to be a pretty bird, so be sure to remind your pet how beautiful it is.
“Good Boy/Girl”
This nickname may be associated with a reward to let your parrot know it’s doing a good job.
“Atta Boy”
This one is a bit more conversational and is a great way to reward a male parrot.
Their name
This word should be easy to learn as you will repeat it often when around your bird.
Your name
Your name is a good word to teach if your bird ever needs your attention.
Tricks and Commands
Before starting to teach your parrot tricks or commands, teaching it the associated words makes it easier for it and allows it to assimilate them much more easily.
“Step-Up”
The step-up is one of the easiest tricks to teach, so add this phrase to your parrot’s repertoire to facilitate its learning.
“Kiss”
Parrots don’t have lips, but that doesn’t mean they can’t give a little peck now and then.
“Smooch”
“Smooch” is a one-syllable alternative to “gimme kiss” that your parrot may find easier to learn.
“Come”
“Come” can be used instead of “step-up” to teach the same trick if you wish, or you can use it to encourage your bird to come up to you instead of hopping onto your hand.
“Out”
You can train your parrot to say “out” whenever it wants to leave its cage.
“Away”
If your bird has had enough for today, try teaching it to become aware of what “go away” means.
“Home”
Teach your bird to say “home” when it wants to return to its cage or when it has had enough of being handled.
“Lights”
Say “lights” just before turning them on to warn your bird that they are about to come on.
“Lights out”
The same goes for “lights out” to help your parrot understand that it’s bedtime.
“One”
It’s not very difficult to get your bird to count, especially when it comes to treats. Most parrots only know how to count from one to six, so try these first.
ABCs
Teaching the alphabet can be helpful in teaching parrots to talk, as it means they already understand different vocal sounds.
“Sing”
Encourage your bird to sing by commanding it to “sing.” You can lead by example by starting to sing a simple tune.
“Dance”
Get your parrot moving by saying “dance.” Dance with your bird to strengthen your bond.
“Disco”
“Disco” works just as well and means it’s party time!
“Peekaboo”
What better way to bond with your bird than by playing games together? “Peekaboo” only has three syllables, so it shouldn’t be too hard to teach.
“Marco”
Peekaboo isn’t the only game you can play with your parrot. “Marco Polo” is another fun option.
“Polo”
When your parrot knows how to say “polo”, switch it to “Marco”.
“Up”
Use this word to command your bird to look up. A pointing stick or your finger will help guide your bird’s head during training phases.
“Down”
The same goes for getting your bird to look down. Use actions to help your parrot learn.
“Door”
Teach your parrot to use this phrase when someone is at the door. If your bird feels very clever, try extending this phrase to “someone is at the door.”
“Intruder”
“Intruder” is a good word to teach in case your bird doesn’t recognize someone at the door.
“Keys”
There’s nothing worse than leaving the house and forgetting your keys. Why not train your parrot to remind you of them just before you leave?
“Wallet”
The same goes for your wallet if you are going to the stores.
“Phone”
Encourage your parrot to learn the word “phone” to prevent you from accidentally forgetting it.
Conditional
It’s good to be attuned to your parrot’s desires and needs. These words and phrases will help you communicate more clearly with your bird.
“Happy”
Learning the word “happy” is a good way to understand your parrot’s mood. You can also use a little dance to train your parrot to learn what it means.
“Sad”
You should also teach your bird to let you know when it’s feeling down, so you can help improve its mood.
“Angry”
Hopefully, your bird doesn’t get angry too often, but train it to say this word to avoid preventable issues.
“Hot”
Encourage your bird to communicate with you if it ever gets too hot. This can help you determine whether you need to change the room temperature.
“Cold”
The same goes for the word “cold.” Most parrots come from warm climates, so this word is useful.
“Lonely”
All birds need attention, so it is helpful to know when they need a little more than what you’re providing.
“Play”
Parrots love to play, so repeat “play” whenever it’s time to have fun.
Conversational
Once your bird has learned a few basic words and phrases, start putting them into practice in conversation with little phrases.
“Yes”
“Yes” is one of the simplest yet most effective words to teach your bird. Try to associate it with a positive action to help your bird understand its meaning.
“No”
“No” is another important word, as it can help your parrot communicate that it disagrees with what you are doing.
“What?”
Parrots are curious creatures who love to explore, so encourage their curiosity with the word “what?”.
“Me”
Use the word “me” to let your parrot know who you are.
“You”
You can use “you” in many conversations, depending on the context.
“How are you?”
Asking your parrot how it is doing is a lovely way to show that you care about it.
“What’s up?”
“What’s up” may consist of two words, but it only has two syllables. It should be relatively easy to teach.
“Like”
When your bird likes something, train it to let you know with the word “like.”
“Dislike”
The same goes when your bird dislikes something.
“Ooh La La”
Although this consists of three words with three syllables, “ooh la la” is very easy for birds to understand due to the softer vowels.
“Uh-oh”
When something serious happens, your parrot should be able to let you know, so teach it to say “uh-oh” in case of accidents or emergencies.
“Sorry”
We all make mistakes, and there’s no doubt your bird will too at some point – like spilling its food everywhere!
“Ouch”
Teach your parrot to say “ouch” if it gets hurt or feels unwell.
“TV”
Some parrots enjoy watching television, so turn on the TV and repeat the word “TV” every time a program plays.
“Radio”
Parrots also love to whistle their favorite songs, so add the word “radio” to your bird’s vocabulary when you play music.
Pet-related words
Here are some words and phrases to help your pets get along with each other.
Animal Names
If you have other pets in the house, train your parrot to understand what they are.
“Cat”
This simple word is easy to say and understand for all parrots. Say it every time your cat appears near your parrot’s cage (under supervision, of course).
“Meow”
This is a simple word for those who also own cats. It contains no complex consonants, so it should be fairly easy for your bird to pronounce. It can also mean danger if your cat is not allowed to approach your bird.
“Kitty”
In the same vein as “meow,” “kitty” is a word that parrots living with cats need to understand.
“Dog”
Whenever your parrot comes into contact with your canine friend, say “dog” while pointing at the animal.
“Woof”
Parrots and dogs mix a little better than cats and dogs, so train your parrot to understand the meaning of “woof.”
“Walkies”
A fun word, easy to say and understand for all parrots.
Fun fancy words
Why not have fun with the words you teach your parrot? Here are some words and phrases that add a novelty factor to your bird’s vocabulary.
“Yee-Haw”
In addition to teaching your bird to say “howdy,” why not take it a step further? “Yee-haw” has soft vowels that are easy to mimic.
“Giddy-Up”
Teach your parrot to bob up and down as if it were on horseback by repeating “giddy-up” over and over.
“Yarr”
“Yarr” is a fun way to embrace the pirate culture that parrots are commonly associated with.
“Hearty”
“Hearty” is a pirate word that means “mate,” so use it as a term of endearment.
“Treasure”
Here’s another pirate-themed word that your parrot will love to learn. With only two syllables, “treasure” is much easier to learn than it seems.
“Gold”
Show your parrot something gold and shiny when teaching it to mimic this word.
“Shiny”
Shifting slightly away from the pirate theme, “shiny” doesn’t just mean treasure but all the shiny things that will catch your bird’s attention.
“Alert”
Ask your bird to repeat “alert,” and you’ll have your own alarm system.
“Christmas”
For those who celebrate Christmas, this expression will naturally appear in your bird’s vocabulary at least once a year.
“Birthday”
Whether you’re celebrating your parrot’s birthday or your own, try to have fun with this word so your parrot understands it represents a special day.
“Easter”
Continuing with the holiday theme, “Easter” is a good seasonal word to teach your parrot.
Have fun teaching these words and phrases to your parrot. Take your time and make training sessions as interactive as possible for better results.
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