бу́йвол
bújvolmasculine
The Russian word for buffalo is бу́йвол (bújvol).
бу́йвол is a masculine noun used to refer to a bovid of the Bubalina subtribe.
Meaning: bovid of the Bubalina subtribe (noun)
Which one should you use?
When referring to the city of Buffalo in New York State, Russians typically use the transliteration Ба́ффало or Бу́ффало rather than the word for the animal.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular noun бу́йвол changes to бу́йвола in the genitive case, which is used for indicating possession or after certain prepositions. The plural form is бу́йволы.
How do you pronounce it?
bújvol
Did you know?
- If a Russian speaker uses бу́йвол to describe a person, they are calling them a clumsy or stubborn brute.
- The root of бу́йвол is linked to the concept of 'fury' or 'wildness' in Old Slavic, connecting the animal directly to its temperament.
- Russian literature typically associates бу́йволы with the Caucasus or Asia, whereas English speakers associate 'buffalo' with North America.
Examples in context
- Этот бу́йвол очень большой.Etot búйvol ochen' bol'shoy.This buffalo is very big.
- Бу́йвол пасся на лугу.Búйvol passya na lugu.The buffalo was grazing in the meadow.
Example conversation
Sergey and Anastasia are looking at animals in a zoo.
- Сергей SergeyСмотри, какой мощный бу́йвол!Smotri, kakoy moshchnyy buyvol!Look, what a powerful buffalo!
- Анастасия AnastasiaДа, он выглядит очень сильным.Da, on vyglyadit ochen silnym.Yes, he looks very strong.
- Сергей SergeyИнтересно, откуда этот бу́йвол?Interesno, otkuda etot buyvol?I wonder where this buffalo is from?
- Анастасия AnastasiaНаверное, из Азии или Африки.Navernoye, iz Azii ili Afriki.Probably from Asia or Africa.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “buffalo” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
