buffle

buffalo

noun boo-FUL Rare

Origin: Portuguese búfalo, from Latin bubalus

Usage Note

Buffle typically refers to the African Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer), one of the 'Big Five' game animals. In French it is distinct from bison (American bison); the Asian water buffalo is buffle d'eau or buffle d'Asie. Used figuratively and colloquially of a person, un buffle suggests someone brutish or slow-witted.

Examples

"Le buffle charge sans avertissement."

Natural Translation

The buffalo charges without warning.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

Avoir or Être? Picking the Right Past-Tense Helper

Use avoir for the passé composé unless the verb is reflexive or one of ~16 DR MRS VANDERTRAMP motion verbs, which take être and force agreement.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Adjective Placement: Before or After the Noun?

French adjectives usually follow the noun, but a small common set goes before it — and a few change meaning depending on which side they sit. Here's the rule.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

How to Say "I Miss You" in French (Without Errors)

"I miss you" in French is Tu me manques, not Je te manque. Learn the subject-flip behind manquer so you never text the opposite of what you mean.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

En, Au, Aux: French Prepositions for Countries

Use en for feminine countries, au for masculine, aux for plural, and à for cities. Full French preposition rule for countries, with a lookup table and traps.

June 4, 2026 5 min read