How to say "cow" in Japanese

• 牛うしJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe general word for cattle as a species; it covers cows, bulls and oxen alike, so it does not by itself specify a female. This is the word you want in most everyday contexts.
  父ちちは牧場ぼくじょうを持もっていて牛うしや馬うまを飼育しいくしている。↗

  My father has a ranch and breeds cattle and horses.
• カウ
  nounA loanword from English 'cow'. It is less common than 牛, and in most contexts 牛 is the word you actually want; treat カウ as a marginal, borrowed alternative.
• 雌牛めうし
  nounSpecifies a female, in contrast to a bull or ox; use it when the animal's sex matters. It also covers heifer, a young female that has not yet borne a calf.
  ジャックは雌牛めうしを種たねと交換こうかんした。↗

  Jack exchanged the cow for the seeds.
• べこ
  nounA homely, rustic word for the animal. It is seldom the word you want in neutral prose, where 牛 is the natural choice; treat べこ as a folksy alternative.
• 母牛ははうし
  nounLiterally 'mother cow', it frames the animal as a mother; it is less common and seldom the right choice — 牛, or 雌牛 for a female, is what you want.

牛 is the default word for the animal; choose 雌牛 when you need to specify a female; 「カウ」, 「べこ」 and 母牛 are less common alternatives to reach for only when their particular flavor fits.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 牛うしcattle (Bos taurus)
• カウcow
• 雌牛めうしcow
• べこcow
• 母牛ははうしcow