buey
“buey” means “ox” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
ox
Also: steer
📝 In Action
El buey es un animal muy fuerte y trabajador.
A1The ox is a very strong and hardworking animal.
Antiguamente, los campesinos usaban bueyes para arar la tierra.
A2In the past, farmers used oxen to plow the land.
El carro de bueyes avanzaba lentamente por el camino de tierra.
B1The ox-cart moved slowly along the dirt road.
dude
Also: guy, dummy
📝 In Action
¡Qué onda, buey! ¿Cómo estás?
B1What's up, dude! How are you?
Ese buey no sabe de lo que está hablando.
B2That guy doesn't know what he's talking about.
No seas buey, ¡apúrate o vamos a llegar tarde!
B2Don't be a dummy, hurry up or we're going to be late!
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "buey" in Spanish:
steer→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: buey
Question 1 of 3
If you are in a formal meeting in Mexico, should you use the word 'buey' to address your colleague?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from the Latin word 'bos, bovis', which referred to bulls and cows. Over time, it specifically came to mean the working animal.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'buey' and 'güey' the same thing?
Yes. 'Buey' is the formal spelling of the animal, while 'güey' is the phonetic spelling of the Mexican slang version. They are used interchangeably in speech, but 'güey' is more common in writing.
Is 'buey' an insult?
It can be. While usually used like 'dude' among friends, if said with an angry tone, it means 'idiot' or 'fool'.
Do people in Spain use 'buey' as slang?
No. In Spain, 'buey' is almost exclusively used for the animal. To say 'dude,' people in Spain usually say 'tío'.