01
die Kuh
cow
The adult female bovine animal, kept especially for producing milk.
example
Auf der Weide grasten friedlich mehrere Kühe.
Several cows were grazing peacefully in the pasture.
die Kuh
cow
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Context clue
You can tell from context whether 'Kuh' (cow) means the animal or an insult. If people are talking about agriculture, farms, or milk, the animal is meant. In an argument or emotional situation, it is probably an insult.
EXAMPLE
Die Kühe auf der Weide sehen sehr gesund aus.
The cows in the pasture look very healthy.
Register and style
As an insult for a woman, 'Kuh' (cow) is very derogatory, offensive, and colloquial. It is often intensified with negative adjectives, such as 'blöde Kuh' (stupid cow) or 'dumme Kuh' (dumb cow).
EXAMPLE
Hör auf, mich eine blöde Kuh zu nennen!
Stop calling me a stupid cow!
Fixed expression
The idiom 'die Kuh vom Eis holen' (literally: to get the cow off the ice) is a fixed unit. It is used metaphorically and means to successfully deal with a very difficult or dangerous situation.
EXAMPLE
Der Projektmanager muss jetzt irgendwie die Kuh vom Eis holen, nachdem der Hauptsponsor abgesprungen ist.
The project manager now somehow has to save the day after the main sponsor pulled out.
Compare with
Kuh vs Bulle
cop / bull
'Kuh' and 'Bulle' both belong to the area of cattle. The important difference is sex: a 'Kuh' is an adult female bovine, while a 'Bulle' is a sexually mature male bovine. The words can be confused because both refer to large farm animals. When it is about milk, 'Kuh' is usually the natural choice. When the male animal is meant, you say 'Bulle'.
Kuh
Auf dem Bauernhof wird die Kuh jeden Morgen gemolken.
On the farm, the cow is milked every morning.
Bulle
Der Bauer hält den Bullen getrennt von den anderen Rindern.
The farmer keeps the bull separate from the other cattle.
In real life
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