vacca
[ˈwak.ka]feminine
The English word cow is translated into Latin as vacca. Wiktionary also lists bōs.
Meaning: adult female of species Bos taurus (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| vacca | [ˈwak.ka] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈvak.ka] (narrow) |
feminine |
| bōs | feminine |
Use vacca when you are specifically referring to an adult female cow.
Which one should you use?
vacca is the specific term for a female cow, whereas bōs is a more general term used for the species or to refer to an ox.
How does it change in a sentence?
The genitive singular form of vacca, used to say "of the cow", is vaccae.
Did you know?
- The exact origin of the word vacca remains a mystery to linguists, as it cannot be definitively linked to a single Proto-Indo-European root.
Examples in context
- Quot dentes habet vacca?How many teeth does a cow have?This sentence is useful for asking about the number of teeth a vacca has.Tatoeba #10663163 by alexmarcelo, translation #6155579 by sundown
- Thomas nunquam vaccam mulsit.Tom has never milked a cow.This sentence demonstrates the use of the accusative form of vacca in the context of milking.Tatoeba #8937541 by alexmarcelo, translation #7544522 by CK
- VacculaLittle cow
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucia and Marcus are walking through a farm.
- LuciaEcce, magna vacca in agro est!Look, there is a big cow in the field!
- MarcusIta, vacca lac dat.Yes, the cow gives milk.
- LuciaEstne haec vacca tua, Marce?Is this cow yours, Marcus?
- MarcusNon, vacca amici mei est.No, the cow belongs to my friend.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cow” translations and entries vacca, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vacca, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
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