Inklingo

How to Say "cattle" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “cattle” is “ganado” — use 'ganado' when referring to livestock in a general sense, encompassing various farm animals like cows, bulls, and sheep, especially in agricultural or commercial contexts..

English → Spanish

ganado

/gah-NAH-doh//ɡaˈnaðo/

nounB1general
Use 'ganado' when referring to livestock in a general sense, encompassing various farm animals like cows, bulls, and sheep, especially in agricultural or commercial contexts.
A simple colorful illustration showing a cow, a sheep, and a pig standing together in a sunny green pasture, representing farm animals collectively.

Examples

El granjero vendió todo su ganado en la feria de primavera.

The farmer sold all his livestock at the spring fair.

Cuidar el ganado es un trabajo duro que requiere madrugar.

Taking care of the cattle is hard work that requires getting up early.

Always Singular

Even though 'ganado' refers to many animals, it is almost always treated as a singular masculine noun, similar to how English uses the word 'stock'.

Using the Feminine

Mistake: “La ganada...”

Correction: Always use the masculine article: 'El ganado.' It does not change gender.

vacas

/BAH-kas//ˈbakas/

nounA1general
Use 'vacas' when specifically referring to female cattle (cows), particularly when discussing a herd or group of them grazing.
A colorful storybook illustration showing three friendly Holstein cows standing together in a bright green pasture under a clear blue sky.

Examples

Las vacas pastan tranquilamente en el campo.

The cows graze peacefully in the field.

Necesitamos comprar leche fresca de las vacas.

We need to buy fresh milk from the cows.

Feminine Plural

Since 'vaca' ends in '-a' and is feminine, its plural form 'vacas' is also feminine and must be used with feminine articles (like 'las').

Gender Mismatch

Mistake: “Los vacas son grandes.”

Correction: Las vacas son grandes. (Remember, 'vaca' is a feminine word.)

General Livestock vs. Specific Cows

The most common mistake is using 'vacas' (cows) when you mean 'ganado' (livestock in general). Remember, 'ganado' is the broader term for farm animals, while 'vacas' specifically refers to female cattle.

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