Budgies are among the best talkers, having one of the largest vocabularies. If you want to teach your budgie how to speak, you need to know which words it’ll prefer to learn.
The best words to teach budgies are short and easily repeated, such as greetings, names, and short declarations, such as “food time.”
To help you build the right vocabulary, we’ve compiled a list of easy words just for budgies.
These should be practiced with your budgie every day and with enthusiasm from you. The happier you seem about the word, the keener your budgie will be to mimic the sound.
Words Budgies Can Say
Both male and female budgies learn words through repetition.
The easiest phrases that a budgie can learn have the following characteristics:
- Short
- Easily repeated
- No sounds that a budgie cannot pronounce (like p, b, m, t, and th)
Easiest Words To Teach A Budgie
When it comes to words, your budgie will easily pick up the following or even learn them on its own:
- Greetings, like hi and hello
- Names
- Phrases constantly repeated, like ‘time for food.’ or ‘I love you.’
It helps that the words are short and easily repeated.
For harder words, some tips to keep in mind are:
- Enunciate your words as much as possible
- Say your words with enthusiasm
Helpful Words
There are words you can teach just for fun, some of which can take care of your budgie:
Hungry
Budgies always seem to be hungry.
Want Food
An alternative to ‘hungry’ that may be easier to learn.
Thirsty
A helpful word, especially on hot days. Teach this word to help your budgie avoid dehydration.
Play
Budgies need playtime to keep them happy and healthy. This word will help you know when your budgie needs to play.
Lonely
Budgies need attention for their health and well-being. Teach your budgie to express when it needs companionship, so you can raise your budgie better and even deepen your relationship.
Hot
Budgies can’t regulate temperature well, so teach this word whenever your budgie needs a good misting.
Cold
Budgies are worse at tolerating the cold than they are at hot weather. Teach this word to let you know when to lower the temperature.
Like
Knowing what your budgie likes is handy. Not just for food, toys, or even attention.
Don’t Like
Knowing what your budgie doesn’t like is just as important.
Uh-Oh
A great word for letting you know if there’s something wrong, whether it’s an accident or emergency.
Ouch
Teach this word to let you know if your budgie has been hurt.
Walky
Some budgies need some time outdoors. This will let you know if your budgie wants to go outside.
Pick Me Up
‘Pick me up’ is a great way for your budgie to tell you that it wants cuddles or just to perch on your shoulder.
Greetings
Greetings are a great way to start conversations that make them sound more full and real.
Hello
For some budgies, they may learn this word on their own. It’s an easy phrase to learn and is often repeated around other budgies.
Hi
For budgies who struggle with ‘hello,’ ‘hi’ is a great alternative.
Hey
Another alternative to hello.
Howdy
For a fun version of ‘hello,’ why not teach your budgie to greet like a cowboy?
Ahoy
Another alternative to ‘hello,’ this pirate version has sounds that are easy to mimic.
Rise And Shine
These words contain long vowels that will be easy for budgies to mimic.
Good Morning
Good morning will be likely truncated to ‘g’morning,’ but will be fairly easy for budgies to learn.
Goodbye
Similarly, expect this to be shortened to ‘g’bye.’ It helps your budgie learn that you’re about to leave and can ensure your budgie is less anxious.
Bye-Bye
A simpler version of ‘goodbye’ that may be easier to learn.
Night-Night
It’s an easier version of ‘good evening’ and a great way to tell your budgie that it’s time to sleep.
Context Words
These words can help give more context to your budgie’s conversations:
Treat
What if your budgie needs a treat? This word will help you determine when your budgie needs a snack.
Breakfast
The most important meal of the day can be a part of your budgie’s vocabulary. Start the day right by teaching this word to your budgie.
Lunch
Eventually, your budgie will learn what the word means, even if it’s harder to figure out its context.
Dinner
The ‘d’ sound in dinner is an alveolar sound, which is made with the tongue. This sound can be tricky for budgies, so expect your pet to turn it into ‘eener’ instead.
Gimme Food
Another alternative to ‘hungry’ or ‘want food’ that a food-motivated budgie will be thankful for. Smart budgies may even combine ‘gimme’ to form ‘gimme lunch’ or ‘gimme dinner.’
Munchy
The ‘m’ sound is a labiodental, which requires lips to make. However, the ‘unchy’ that budgies will likely produce will be easy to understand.
Peanut
Teach your budgie its favorite treat. Expect your budgie to apply the term to every nut it comes across, whether or not they’re peanuts. ‘Nut’ would be a more appropriate term but is harder for budgies to pronounce.
Cracker
Expect your budgie to pronounce this as ‘racker.’ However, this word is handy whenever your budgie wants a tasty treat.
Orange
Oranges are a favorite among many budgies. This is an easy word to teach your pet, especially when you pair it with other fruits. Try to teach it the names of other fruits as well.
More
Budgies who love to eat will love this word. This is a great way to help you determine if your budgie likes a certain treat. Just be sure not to overfeed.
Yum
‘Yum‘ is another word that can help you figure out if your budgie likes its food or not. This can be a great way to help your budgie eat more.
Enough
This word is handy in a feeding context but every other context. Teach this word to tell your budgie when you’re not giving it any more food or attention.
Please
Who doesn’t love a polite budgie? Teach this word whenever you’re about to give a treat so that it says ‘please’ whenever it wants to snack.
Thank You
‘Please’ and ‘thank you’ go hand in hand, so teach this phrase to help your budgie be more polite.
Thanks
‘Thanks’ is a great alternative for budgies that have trouble with the monosyllabic ‘thank you.’
Away
‘Away’ is a handy term to teach your budgie. It may help your budgie understand that you’re leaving and can alleviate stress and worry.
Lights
This word is a great way to signal to your budgie that you’re about to turn on the lights so that it won’t be startled.
Lights Off
Paired with ‘lights,’ ‘lights off’ is a great way to tell your budgie that it will be dark again.
Names
Names aren’t necessary but handy. Plus, it’s fun to hear your budgie speak its name and yours.
Its Name
Budgies who know their names can provide more clarity in what they want to say.
Your Name
Teach your budgie what to call you. If your budgie likes you, it may repeat your name repeatedly.
A Pet’s Name
This can be handy, especially for pets that are off-limits. Teach this to your budgie so that it can warn you when your other pet is getting too close for comfort.
Budgie
Budgie is an easy word that will let your budgie refer to itself.
Buddy
Another easy-to-pronounce word that can refer to your budgie or you.
Matey
A pirate version of ‘buddy’ can be fun to teach and learn.
Pretty Budgie
A classic phrase for budgies to learn.
Pet Words
Whether or not you have a pet, pet words are fun to hear from a budgie.
Cat
A monosyllabic word that is very easy to teach and learn. Teach this to warn you if a cat is coming too close for comfort.
Dog
If you have a dog, this easy-to-learn word can also be used as a warning.
Meow
It’s fun to hear a budgie mimic other animals. However, this word can also be used as a warning against cats.
Woof
Much like ‘meow,’ this word can also warn you that a dog is nearby.
Kitty
A more complicated word than ‘cat,’ but one that many budgies can manage.
Doggy
Also, a more complex version of dog, but one that can be fun to hear from your budgie.
Things
Budgies can learn the names of all sorts of objects. Why not pick ones that can help you out?
Wallet
Teach your budgie to say this word whenever heading out for work. This is a great way to remind you not to forget your wallet.
Keys
Like your wallet, teach your budgie to remind you of your keys.
Phone
You can teach this to your budgie to help you remember your phone. It also helps you check any messages or even check if you plugged it in for the night.
Door
This is a great way for your budgie to tell you that someone is at the door.
Intruder
And if that someone isn’t a person your budgie knows, teach it the word ‘intruder.’
TV
Budgies get bored easily, so teach them to tell you when it wants to watch TV.
Radio
Sometimes, budgies want music instead. Teach them this word to let you know when they want tunes.
Commands
Commands are a great way for your budgie to learn tricks. Teach this to hasten its training.
Step-Up
One of the first tricks that budgies are taught, and it’s the foundation for many other tricks.
Down
Teach this to help your budgie know when it should come down or tell you if it wants to come down.
Come
Useful for learning many tricks and in helping you move your budgie.
Out
This can teach your budgie to come out of its cage on command or help your budgie tell you if it wants to come out.
Play Time
Budgies need to play, so why not teach them the words for it?
Sing
Budgies love to sing, and it would be great to learn how to sing on command.
Dance
Dancing is a great exercise for budgies, and it’s a fun word to learn, too.
Marco Polo
Teach your budgie to say marco or how to respond with polo.
Peek-A-Boo
Who doesn’t love a game of peek-a-boo with an adorable budgie?
Giddy-Yup
Teach this word to get your budgie to hop on your finger and then bob it up and down.
Smooch
Budgies shouldn’t kiss with their beaks, but they sure can make a kissing noise.
Kiss
An easier alternative to ‘smooch.’
Emotions
Teach your budgie the words for emotions to let you know its feelings.
Happy
This word can let you know if your budgie is in good spirits.
Sad
Likewise, knowing when your budgie feels sad can be a great help.
Angry
Budgies rarely get angry, but this word can help you determine if something is wrong with your budgie.
Conversational
Budgies that learn conversational phrases may start stringing together their phrases.
Yes
An easy-to-teach word that is useful in many conversations.
No
Teaching no is a great way for your budgie to communicate that it disagrees.
Me
Teach this word to let your parrot know who you are.
You
‘You’ is a great word that can be used in many conversations.
How Are You
This is a great way to let your budgie know that you care.
What’s Up
An easier alternative to ‘how are you?’
Sorry
A great word for your budgie to apologize for its messes.
Love You
An easy way to let your budgie know that it’s loved.
Fun Words
Here are some words that are both fun to teach and learn.
Birthday
Budgies need to celebrate their birthday, too.
Christmas
Christmas can be stressful for budgies, so teach them this word to give your budgie some context.
Yeehaw
Yee-haw is a fun greeting that is easy for budgies to learn.
Pretty Budgie
A classic phrase for budgies that is easy to learn.
Good Boy/Girl
Teach this phrase to let your budgie know that it’s a good budgie.
Atta Boy/Girl
An easy alternative to ‘good boy/girl.’
ABCs
The ABCs are a great way for your budgie to learn various sounds.
Numbers 1-6
Budgies are known to count reliably up to 6, but try to go further.
Disco
Another alternative to the command ‘dance.’
Treasure
Why not go one step further with your budgie’s parrot talk?
I’m A Little Teapot
This children’s song is easy to teach to your budgie.
How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?
A slightly more complicated song but still doable for many budgies.
Your Favorite Song
Why not try to get your budgie to learn your favorite song?
I Can Fly
There’s nothing cuter than a budgie who can tell you it can fly.
I’m So Cute
Let your budgie tell the world that it’s cute.
I’m A Budgie
A fun and silly phrase to teach to your budgie.
I Can Talk.
Budgies can talk, so let the world know.
With these handy words, you can help your budgie broaden its vocabulary and become more engaged with you.
