Does your parrot understand words?

[GreenWing]

I don't mean "parroting" back words, I mean understanding the concept of words spoken.

For example: Whenever I say "cook" Tiki wigs out; she definitely knows it is associated with food, and she has even flown into the kitchen to join me when the word was spoken!

Does your parrot understand the meaning of words? If so, which ones?

I am amazed by the intelligence of these flighted beasts!

[KimberlyAnn]

First off, I LOVE your profile picture! It always make me smile when I see it in old posts and makes me want watermelon. Lol

Emmi understands basic commands like "Come here" and "Up."

But in general conversation, she knows the word "Bath," "Bedtime" and I think she now understands "Time to go to work." Bath is EXCITING! Bedtime and work means it's time to static cling ourself to anything attached to a human and not let go. Just this morning I told her I had to go to work and it was like her feet had become permanently attached to my finger and her body was as stiff as a board. In fact, I think those are the only two times she won't go in her cage willingly. Makes me feel guilty!

[Eric&Rebecca]

Most definitely!

We say lift the cover off Edmund and he says- Hellloooooo! He also says this when a new person comes in the front door so he understands actions as well.

When he's done something naughty- like he's pooped somewhere bad or chewed something or tipped something over that he shouldn't and we say "No Edmund, naughty boy"- he says "Good boyyyyy??"- he only ever says this then. He may also laugh on these ocassions!

If he drops something or trips he says "oooooohhhh deeeeear"

If you ignore him for too long he says "birdy birdy edmund"

He also understands that if Mummy or Daddy takes out the camera we must shut up at all costs and revert to singing loudly!

[liz]

My Amazons understand almost everything that is said.

Rambo can say more than we know until he needs to say it. He got trapped in the bathroom. From a distance I heard him say "Momma - come're - pick me up - RIGHT NOW. Yesterday he said thank you for a piece of toast. Never heard it before.

Myrtle understands most things that are said. She talks when she has something to say but still enjoys baby blabber when she doesn't. (She baby blabbers while we are talking.)

Both are very aware of what is going on around them. I put my purse on my shoulder and Rambo asked "what are you doing". I said I am leaving you. He then said "bye bye". Myrtle does not talk that much yet but knows that my purse means I am leaving. She then pulls the "no Ma don't leave me".

And how do they know to referr to themselves and me and I?

[Eric&Rebecca]

Oh nearly forgot that one if Edmund gets stuck or can't fly out of somewhere (the other evening the bedroom and couldn't get out because it was dark) He shouts "mum, Mum, MUM!" and if he doesn't like you stroking or doesn't like something he goes "pewwww, pewwww, pewwwww" like a laser gun

[KimberlyAnn]

I forgot something too. Emmi has named us. My husband is "Pretty bird" and I am the kissy sound. This is how she greets us.

[Pajarita]

Yes, they do. The mean zons know 'Get in there' (inside the cage - so I can clean without getting attacked), 'Wanna come out?' (when I'm done), 'Back off' (meaning move to the back and leave enough room at the front so I can put down the plate or bowl without getting massacred), 'Look what I have for you!' (a new box to chew which they then wait for me to go Ready, Set, Go! and throw it in the air so they can fly to it and attack it -LOL. And all the others know a lot of commands or warnings like 'Be nice' when they bicker, 'What's the matter?' when one screams (and they ask each other this), 'Thirsty - Water - Water is good' when they get fresh water (the 'good' part comes from when I transition them to a better diet and I tell them the name of the produce I am eating and state it's good as in 'Banana - Banana is good, it's good' -it becomes a conditioned reflex with them which I use to make them eat new things). 'Step Up' - 'Come' and 'Go' for recall and release back to their spot - 'I'm watching you!' when they are doing something they shouldn't - etc etc. and they also know the name of favorite foods like 'Pan' for birdy bread and 'Cookies' for birdry cookies as well as 'Peanuts' for any type of nut. Some of them know the name of other food like apples, bananas, papaya and grapes. And they all know 'Hi', 'ByeBye' and 'I'll be back' for when I have to go out and get something I forgot (a couple of them would fly to my shoulder for a quick trip outside the birdroom and they also know the 'Get back in' when they have to fly back inside.

I am sure there are more but I can't think of anything else now.

[MeanDonnaJean]

Even tho my female cockatiel doesn't speak at all she DOES understand each and every word spoken to her. I can give her any type of "command" (go eat your food; go play in your house; go drink some water; come here; go get it; go play with [insert name here]; etc., etc.) and she'll gladly comply. It still amazes me to think just how intelligent birds really are.

[Pricey_boy]

when i say are you coming bandit climbs out of the cage
do you want a scratch and he lifts one wing for a scratch
can i have a look he lifts both wings so i can check them
and others and associates sounds he hears with actions as well