How to Say "Buffalo" in Japanese

バッファロー

Baffarō[ba̠ɸːa̠ɾo̞ː]

The English word buffalo is translated into Japanese as バッファロー (Baffarō).

バッファロー is used to refer to a bovid of the Bubalina subtribe. It is also used as a name to refer to the city of Buffalo in New York State.

Meaning: bovid of the Bubalina subtribe (noun)

Which one should you use?

The kanji term 水牛 (suigyuu) can also be used to mean water buffalo.

Baffarō

Japanese speakers may use バッファロー specifically when referring to American bison, as 水牛 is reserved for Asian water buffalo.
The kanji for water buffalo, 水牛, literally translates to 'water ox' rather than 'water buffalo'.
In certain historical contexts, the 水牛 was the primary engine of rice paddy agriculture in rural Japan.

あれって牛なの？それともバッファローなの？
Is that a cow or a buffalo?
This example is useful for distinguishing between a cow and a バッファロー.
Tatoeba #9835076 by bunbuku, translation #67077 by CK
ニューヨーク州バッファロー出身の水牛に怯える同じ出身の水牛は、同時に同じ州の別の水牛を怯えさせている。
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
This sentence demonstrates the use of バッファロー in a complex linguistic example regarding the city and the animal.
Tatoeba #700022 by arihato, translation #691476 by shekitten

Misaki and Ren are looking at animals in a zoo.

美咲 Misaki

見て、あのバッファローは大きいね。
Mite, ano baffarō wa ookii ne.
Look, that buffalo is huge.
蓮 Ren

本当だ。角が立派だね。
Hontou da. Tsuno ga rippa da ne.
You're right. Its horns are impressive.
美咲 Misaki

どこから来たバッファローかな？
Doko kara kita baffarō kana?
I wonder where that buffalo is from.
蓮 Ren

案内板を読んでみるよ。
Annaiban o yonde miru yo.
I'll try reading the information board.

Sources

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