Meaning & use
buffaloes
Last updated
“buffaloes” is a form of “buffalo”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounplural
Large wild animals with horns, like the American bison or the African buffalo.
Grammar: This is the plural form. Use it with plural verbs: 'The buffaloes are grazing.'
Patterns
- a herd of buffaloes
- wild buffaloes
We saw a herd of buffaloes near the river.
Buffaloes once roamed the American plains in huge numbers.
The buffaloes at the zoo are fed twice a day.
Common combinations
- a herd of buffaloes
- A herd of buffaloes crossed the road.
- wild buffaloes
- Wild buffaloes can be dangerous if approached.
- water buffaloes
- Water buffaloes are used in rice fields in some countries.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bison
- Specifically the American or European species; 'buffalo' is broader and also used for African buffalo.
Word family
- buffalo noun
- The singular form; also used as an unchanging plural in American English.
Commonly confused: buffaloes or buffalos?
buffaloes vs buffalos
'Buffalos' is also accepted as a plural, but 'buffaloes' is more common and standard in British English.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
'Buffaloes' is plural, so it takes a plural verb 'are'. Option 1 uses a singular verb; option 2 uses 'a' with a plural noun; option 3 uses a singular verb 'grazes'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “buffaloes”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.