krowa
/ˈkrɔ.va/feminine
The Polish word for cow is krowa.
krowa refers to an adult female of the species Bos taurus.
Meaning: adult female of species Bos taurus (noun)
Which one should you use?
While krowa is the standard term, you may encounter krówka, which is used affectionately for smaller cows or by children to mean 'little cow'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes depending on its role in a sentence. The plural form is krowy. When the cow is the direct object of a sentence, use the accusative form krowę. To say 'to the cow', use the dative form krowie.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkrɔ.va/. The stress is on the first of two syllables.
Did you know?
- If you are in a Polish countryside shop, you might see the word krówka used not for a small cow, but for a very famous type of traditional Polish chocolate fudge.
- In Polish slang, calling a woman a krowa is a harsh insult used to describe someone who is perceived as unattractive or unpleasant.
- The Polish word krowa shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'cow', as both descend from the Proto-Indo-European root *ḱerh₂-der.
Examples in context
- Ile zębów ma krowa?How many teeth does a cow have?This sentence is useful for asking about the number of teeth a krowa has.Tatoeba #5416826 by zipangu, translation #6155579 by sundown
- Nasza krowa nie daje mleka.Our cow does not give milk.This sentence is useful for stating that a krowa does not give milk.Tatoeba #13781660 by Cezrun64, translation #10763940 by AlanF_US
- Krowa to pożyteczne zwierzę.A cow is a useful animal.This sentence is useful for describing a krowa as a useful animal.Tatoeba #402702 by zipangu, translation #19488 by CM
- Widziałem piękną krowę na polu.I saw a beautiful cow in the field.
- Córka dostała pluszową krówkę w prezencie.My daughter received a plush little cow as a gift.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Paweł and Małgorzata are walking near a farm.
- PawełMałgorzato, spójrz, jaka ładna krowa!Małgorzata, look, what a pretty cow!
- MałgorzataTak, Paweł, jest bardzo spokojna.Yes, Paweł, she is very calm.
- PawełCzy ta krowa należy do sąsiada?Does this cow belong to the neighbor?
- MałgorzataMyślę, że tak.I think so.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cow” translations and entries krowa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries krowa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
