buffalo
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buffalo
A type of large, powerful bovine with curved horns, found mainly in Asia and Africa. A distinction is made, for example, between water buffalo and African buffalo.
In Asien wird der Wasserbüffel oft als Arbeitstier in der Landwirtschaft eingesetzt.
In Asia, the water buffalo is often used as a working animal in agriculture.
brute
Colloquial, often derogatory term for a rough, clumsy, or inconsiderate person.
Sei nicht so ein Büffel und drängle dich nicht immer vor!
Don't be such a brute and stop always pushing your way to the front!
crammer
Colloquial term for a person who studies or works very hard and persistently, often by pure memorization. It derives from the verb 'büffeln' (to cram).
Vor den Prüfungen war er ein richtiger Büffel und hat Tag und Nacht nur gelernt.
Before the exams, he was a real crammer and did nothing but study day and night.
The context tells you whether 'Büffel' (buffalo/brute/crammer) means a rude person or a diligent learner. If it is about social behavior, it is an insult. If it is about school, university, or work, it describes someone who works hard.
Schubsen Sie nicht so, Sie Büffel!
Don't shove like that, you brute!
In its zoological meaning, 'Büffel' (buffalo) is often used with geographical or biological additions to specify the species. Common compounds are 'Wasserbüffel' (water buffalo) or 'afrikanischer Büffel' (African buffalo).
Die Safari-Tour führte uns zu einer Herde afrikanischer Büffel.
The safari tour took us to a herd of African buffalo.
As a term for a person, 'Büffel' (brute) is colloquial and usually meant negatively or derogatorily. It describes someone who behaves roughly, inconsiderately, and without tact.
Er hat sich einfach vorgedrängelt, so ein Büffel!
He just pushed his way to the front, what a brute!
This colloquial meaning derives directly from the verb 'büffeln' (to cram). 'Büffeln' means to study very intensively and often mechanically for an exam. A 'Büffel' (crammer) is therefore a person who is currently cramming.
Mein Bruder ist ein totaler Büffel, er lernt jeden Tag sechs Stunden für sein Examen.
My brother is a total crammer; he studies six hours every day for his final exam.
overachiever / swot
Both words can refer to a person who studies very hard to achieve good results. „Ein Büffel“ emphasizes hard, persistent, or often mechanical learning, while „ein Streber“ additionally expresses excessive ambition and a desire for personal advantages. Use „Büffel“ for the way someone learns and „Streber“ for an attitude viewed negatively.
Er ist ein echter Büffel und lernt den ganzen Abend den Stoff auswendig.
He is a real crammer and spends the whole evening memorizing the material.
Alle halten ihn für einen Streber, weil er ständig um die besten Noten und die Anerkennung des Lehrers kämpft.
Everyone considers him a swot because he is constantly striving for the best grades and the teacher’s recognition.
