vacher
/va.ʃe/
In French, the English phrase cowherd is translated as vacher. Wiktionary also lists bouvier and bouvière.
Meaning: a person who herds cattle (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| vacher | /va.ʃe/ | |
| bouvier | /bu.vje/ | masculine |
| bouvière | /bu.vjɛʁ/ | feminine |
A cowherd is a person who herds cattle.
Which one should you use?
While vacher is a general term, bouvier is a more formal or professional term often specifically referring to someone who drives oxen or cattle.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of vacher is vachère. The term bouvier is masculine, while its feminine form is bouvière.
How do you pronounce it?
/va.ʃe/
Did you know?
- While bouvier means cowherd, the term bouvier also refers to a specific type of large, sturdy dog bred for driving cattle.
- The term vacherie can be used as a noun to describe a 'mean trick' or a 'nasty act' toward someone else.
- The English word 'beef' shares the same Latin ancestor as the French term bouvier, both stemming from the word 'bos' for cattle.
Examples in context
- Sans vacher, les vaches vagabondaient dans un champ où poussait du blé.Without a cowherd, the cows wandered in a field where wheat was growing.This sentence shows the consequence of having no vacher to manage the cattle.Tatoeba #8463549 by Aiji, translation #7729046 by AlanF_US
- Les bergers de vaches doivent être attentifs et patients.Cowherds must be attentive and patient.
- Le vieux vacher surveille son troupeau.The old cowherd watches over his herd.
- Ce vacher travaille dans la vallée.This cowherd works in the valley.
Example conversation
Nathan and Emma are visiting a farm.
- NathanQui est l'homme avec les vaches ?Who is the man with the cows?
- EmmaC'est le vacher de la ferme.That is the farm's cowherd.
- NathanEst-ce que c'est un travail difficile ?Is it a difficult job?
- EmmaOui, le vacher travaille très dur.Yes, the cowherd works very hard.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cowherd” translations and entries vacher, bouvier, bouvière, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bouvier, vacher, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
