Kuh
/kuː/feminine
The English word "cow" is translated into German as Kuh. Wiktionary also lists Chue.
Meaning: adult female of species Bos taurus (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kuh | /kuː/ | feminine |
| Chue | Alemannic German, feminine |
The word refers to the adult female of the species Bos taurus. You may encounter specific terms like Die Milchkuh for a dairy cow or Die Jungkuh for a young cow.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Alemannic dialects, which are spoken in parts of Switzerland and Southern Germany, the form Chue is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
Kuh is a feminine noun. The plural form is Kühe. When using the word in the dative case, the feminine article changes from die to der Kuh.
How do you pronounce it?
/kuː/
Did you know?
- In German, the expression Kuhhandel describes a shady or dishonest deal, turning a simple farm animal into a metaphor for untrustworthy business.
- In traditional German rural culture, the Kuhglocke or cowbell is not just for tracking animals but is often crafted as a regional prestige item with specific shapes for different valleys.
- While 'cow' in English is often used as a derogatory slang term for a woman, the German Kuh is much more strictly limited to the animal in everyday conversation.
Examples in context
- Wo ist die Kuh?Where is the cow?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of the Kuh.Tatoeba #8222855 by Luiaard, translation #5228476 by solejar
- Tom hat eine Kuh.Tom has a cow.This sentence is useful for stating that someone possesses a Kuh.Tatoeba #10093682 by wolfgangth, translation #2915483 by sabretou
- Ich habe eine Kuh.I have a cow.This sentence is useful for stating that you possess a Kuh.Tatoeba #3805363 by pne, translation #2777841 by CM
- Die Kuh gibt leckere MilchThe cow gives delicious milk
- Das Rind grast friedlich auf der Weide.The cow peacefully grazes in the pasture.
- Die Kuh hat gerade ein Kalb zur Welt gebracht.The cow has just given birth to a calf.
- Die Milchkuh wird zweimal am Tag gemolken.The dairy cow is milked twice a day.
- 86 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Lukas are standing near a farm field.
- JuliaSiehst du die schwarze Kuh dort?Do you see the black cow there?
- LukasJa, die Kuh sieht sehr hungrig aus.Yes, the cow looks very hungry.
- JuliaLukas, die Kuh kommt auf uns zu!Lukas, the cow is coming towards us!
- LukasKeine Sorge, die Kuh ist friedlich.Don't worry, the cow is peaceful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cow” translations and entries Kuh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
