cow-girl
feminine
The English word cowgirl can be translated into French as vachère or cow-girl.
Meaning: A woman who tends free-range cattle (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cow-girl | feminine | |
| vachère | /va.ʃɛʁ/ | feminine |
The term is used to describe a woman who tends cattle. Depending on the context, you may be referring to a traditional rural worker or the Western archetype often seen in media.
Which one should you use?
vachère refers to a woman who tends cattle in a traditional or rural sense. In contrast, cow-girl is an anglicism used specifically to denote the Western-style archetype found in movies or country music.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
cow-girl is considered an informal anglicism used to describe the Western archetype.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, the English word cowgirl is sometimes used in French.
How does it change in a sentence?
vachère is the feminine form of the noun vacher (cowherd).
Did you know?
- The term vacherie is often used idiomatically in French to mean a 'nasty trick' or 'dirty move', which is a far cry from a woman tending cows.
- The word vache is used in several French idioms to describe a mean or unpleasant person, making the root of vachère carry a different social weight than the English 'cow'.
- While an English speaker might use 'cowgirl' to evoke glamour, calling a woman a vachère in France might actually sound archaic or even slightly insulting. It often suggests a heavy, unglamorous rural laborer rather than a cinematic icon.
Examples in context
- C'est une vraie cavalière de l'Ouest!She's a true cowgirl of the West!
- C'est une cowgirl, tu sais!She's a cowgirl, you know!
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are looking at old family photos.
- EmmaRegarde, ma grand-mère était une cow-girl !Look, my grandmother was a cowgirl!
- LucasC'est incroyable, elle avait l'air très forte.That's incredible, she looked very strong.
- EmmaOui, elle gérait tout le troupeau seule.Yes, she managed the whole herd alone.
- LucasJe n'imaginais pas ma famille comme ça.I didn't imagine your family like that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cowgirl” translations and entries vachère, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
