cowboy
der Cowboy, die Cowboys
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cowboy
A cattle herder on horseback who tends herds of cattle, especially in the historical American West. The figure is strongly associated with images of freedom, nature, and adventure.
Als Kind wollte er immer ein Cowboy sein und durch die Prärie reiten.
As a child, he always wanted to be a cowboy and ride across the prairie.
cowboy
A person who acts recklessly, on their own authority, and without regard for rules or conventions, often in business or traffic.
Pass auf den Manager auf, er ist ein echter Cowboy und hält sich an keine Absprachen.
Watch out for that manager; he is a real cowboy and doesn't stick to any agreements.
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Cowboys |
| genitive | des Cowboys |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Cowboy | die Cowboys |
| accusative | den Cowboy | die Cowboys |
| dative | dem Cowboy | den Cowboys |
| genitive | des Cowboys | der Cowboys |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
The word 'Cowboy' was taken directly from English and is made up of 'cow' and 'boy'. So it literally means 'Kuhjunge' (cow boy).
Die Aufgabe der Cowboys war es, die großen Rinderherden zu treiben.
The cowboys' job was to drive the large herds of cattle.
The meaning depends heavily on the context. If people are talking about the Wild West or films, the original meaning is intended. In modern contexts such as traffic or work, the negative figurative meaning is usually meant.
Im Westernfilm besiegt der mutige Cowboy die Banditen.
In the Western film, the brave cowboy defeats the bandits.
Using 'Cowboy' for a reckless person is colloquial and has a clearly negative evaluation. It describes someone who does not follow rules.
Dieser Handwerker war ein echter Cowboy, die ganze Arbeit war schlecht gemacht.
This tradesman was a real cowboy; all the work was badly done.
