donkey

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A domestic animal similar to a small horse, with long ears, used to carry loads or pull carts.

   Grammar: Countable: a donkey, a pair of donkeys.

   Patterns

   • ride a donkey
   • a donkey cart

   Tourists rode a donkey up the steep path to the village.

   The farmer loaded two bags of grain onto his donkey.

   A donkey brayed loudly from the next field.

2. 2nouncountableinformaldisapproving

   A stubborn or foolish person, used in a rude or teasing way.

   Grammar: Countable and informal; a mild insult in British English.

   Patterns

   • act like a donkey

   Don't be such a donkey and listen to the advice.

   He felt like a donkey for forgetting the tickets.

   My little brother called me a donkey after I tripped.

Word forms

Common combinations

donkey ride

The children took a donkey ride along the beach.

stubborn as a donkey

He is as stubborn as a donkey about changing his routine.

donkey cart

A donkey cart rattled down the lane.

donkey work

His partner did the creative part while he did the donkey work.

wild donkey

A herd of wild donkeys roams the desert.

donkey sanctuary

They volunteer at a donkey sanctuary on weekends.

Synonyms and how they differ

ass

Ass is the older, more formal name for the animal and is now less common because it doubles as a rude word.

burro

Burro is a Spanish-derived word used in the American Southwest for a small donkey, especially a pack animal.

mule

A mule is the offspring of a donkey and a horse, so it is a different animal, not a synonym.

jackass

Jackass is a male donkey and also a rude word for a fool, so donkey is the safer choice.

Word family

donkeys noun

plural of donkey

donkeywork noun

dull, hard routine work

donkey's years phrase

a very long time, in British informal speech

Commonly confused: donkey or mule?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “donkey”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words