گائے
gaaynoun, feminine
The Urdu word for cow in Pakistan is گائے (gaay). It is a feminine noun, and the male of the species is بیل (bail), a bull or ox.
The plural is گائیں (gaayen). Milk from cows is گائے کا دودھ (gaay ka doodh), and a buffalo, which gives much of Pakistan's milk, is بھینس (bhains).
Meaning: farm animal that gives milk (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
Beef in Pakistan is usually called بڑا گوشت (bara gosht), literally "big meat", while mutton is چھوٹا گوشت (chhota gosht).
When do people say it?
Cows are among the animals many families sacrifice on Eid ul Adha, which is called بقر عید (baqra eid) in everyday speech.
Did you know?
- بقر (baqar) is the Arabic word for cattle, and بقر عید (baqra eid) gets its everyday name from it.
Examples in context
- گائے کھیت میں چر رہی ہے۔gaay khet mein char rahi hai.The cow is grazing in the field.
- ہمارے گھر میں ایک گائے ہے۔hamare ghar mein aik gaay hai.We have a cow at home.
- گائے کا دودھ تازہ ہے۔gaay ka doodh taza hai.The cow's milk is fresh.
Example conversation
Ayesha shows her daughter Zara a cow on a farm outside Faisalabad.
- Zaraامی، یہ کیا ہے؟ammi, yeh kya hai?Mum, what is this?
- Ayeshaیہ گائے ہے، یہ دودھ دیتی ہے۔yeh gaay hai, yeh doodh deti hai.This is a cow, it gives milk.
- Zaraگائے بڑی پیاری ہے۔gaay bari pyari hai.The cow is very cute.
