koe
/ku/feminine
The English word "cow" is translated into Dutch as koe.
The term koe refers to an adult female of the species Bos taurus.
Meaning: adult female of species Bos taurus (noun)
Which one should you use?
While koe specifically refers to a female cow, the term rund is a more formal word that encompasses different types of bovines, including cows.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of koe is koeien.
How do you pronounce it?
/ku/
Did you know?
- The phrase met koeienogen kijken describes looking at someone with large, innocent, or pleading eyes, similar to the expression 'puppy dog eyes'.
- Dutch has a specific term koeienbel, referring to the bells worn by cows, which are central to traditional festivals in some rural provinces.
- Historically, the Dutch developed specialized breeds of koe known as the Friesian, which became a global standard for dairy cattle.
Examples in context
- U molk de koe.You milked the cow.This sentence shows how to use koe when describing milking.Tatoeba #7487938 by MarijnKp, translation #2719518 by Amastan
- Ik heb een koe.I have a cow.This sentence shows how to use koe when stating possession.Tatoeba #6813038 by Micsmithel, translation #2777841 by CM
- Waar is de koe?Where is the cow?This sentence shows how to use koe when asking about its location.Tatoeba #7487948 by MarijnKp, translation #5228476 by solejar
- De boer heeft één koe op zijn boerderij.The farmer has one cow on his farm.
- Het vlees van het rund is van hoge kwaliteit.The meat from the cow is of high quality.
- We zagen vandaag een schattig koetje in de wei.We saw a cute little cow in the meadow today.
- 51 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a farm near a field.
- LisaKijk, daar staat een grote koe.Look, there is a big cow standing there.
- LeviIs dat jouw koe, Lisa?Is that your cow, Lisa?
- LisaNee, die koe is van de boer.No, that cow belongs to the farmer.
- LeviHij heeft een mooie koe.He has a beautiful cow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cow” translations and entries koe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
