buffalo

Everyday

1. A buffalo is a large wild or farmed animal of the cattle family with big curved horns, such as the African buffalo (Cape buffalo) or the water buffalo of Asia. tree →
2. (North America) People often call the American bison a buffalo, though scientists say bison is the correct name. tree →
3. Buffalo is a city in New York State, USA (a name). tree →

In the lessons

In geography and history lessons, the American bison («buffalo») was central to the life of Plains Native Americans, who used every part of it; huge herds were nearly wiped out by hunters, then protected. In Asia, water buffalo pull ploughs in rice fields and give milk (mozzarella was first made from buffalo milk). The African buffalo is one of the «Big Five» on safari. Phrases: «a herd of buffalo», «water buffalo», «buffalo wings» (spicy chicken from Buffalo city).

Examples

• A herd of buffalo crossed the river. tree →
• Water buffalo pull ploughs in the rice fields. tree →
• The Plains peoples used every part of the buffalo. tree →
• The African buffalo is one of the Big Five animals. tree →
• Real mozzarella is made with buffalo milk. tree →
• The bison is often called a buffalo in America. tree →
• We ate buffalo wings at a party — it's chicken, not buffalo! tree →
• It darted into the skull of the foremost buffalo. tree →

Note

Plural «buffalo», «buffaloes» or «buffalos»; a group is often just «buffalo». Trap: «buffalo wings» are chicken. Fun fact: «Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo» is a real (very confusing) grammatical English sentence.