cape buffalo: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Technical (Zoology), Specialized (Hunting, Wildlife)
Quick answer
What does “cape buffalo” mean?
A large, powerful, and aggressive African wild bovine (Syncerus caffer) with heavy curved horns.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, powerful, and aggressive African wild bovine (Syncerus caffer) with heavy curved horns.
An iconic and dangerous animal of the African savannah, often referred to as 'Black Death' or 'widowmaker' due to its reputation for being highly aggressive and dangerous to hunters, despite being a herbivore. A member of the 'Big Five' game animals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences. Spelling conventions for related descriptive text may differ (e.g., 'behaviour' vs. 'behavior').
Connotations
Identical connotations of danger, wildness, and iconic African fauna.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, used primarily in specific contexts like wildlife documentaries, zoology, hunting literature, and travel writing about Africa.
Grammar
How to Use “cape buffalo” in a Sentence
The [adjective] cape buffalo [verb]...A herd of cape buffalo was [verb+ing]...He saw/encountered/hunted a cape buffalo.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cape buffalo” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The guide warned us that a wounded buffalo might *cape-buffalo* its pursuers relentlessly. (Non-standard, hypothetical)
American English
- In hunting stories, they say it *cape-buffaloed* the hunter for over a mile. (Non-standard, hypothetical)
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- The documentary highlighted the *cape-buffalo-like* tenacity of the anti-poaching unit. (Non-standard, derived)
American English
- He has a *cape-buffalo* attitude—stubborn and hard to move. (Non-standard, derived)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in context of African tourism, safari businesses, or wildlife conservation funding.
Academic
Used in zoology, biology, ecology, and wildlife conservation papers.
Everyday
Very rare in daily conversation outside of discussions about African wildlife, documentaries, or travel experiences.
Technical
Standard term in wildlife management, veterinary science related to African fauna, and big-game hunting terminology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cape buffalo”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cape buffalo”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cape buffalo”
- Calling it simply 'buffalo' without context, leading to confusion with Asian or American species.
- Misspelling as 'cap buffalo'.
- Incorrectly assuming it is closely related to the water buffalo or bison.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are different species. The cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is native to Africa, while the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is native to Asia and has been domesticated in many parts of the world.
The name originates from the Cape of Good Hope region in South Africa, where the species was first described by European settlers, though its range extends across much of sub-Saharan Africa.
Currently, the cape buffalo is listed as 'Least Concern' by the IUCN due to its large and stable population, though certain subspecies or local populations may face threats from habitat loss and disease.
The 'Big Five' is a historic hunting term for the five most difficult and dangerous African animals to hunt on foot: the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and cape buffalo.
A large, powerful, and aggressive African wild bovine (Syncerus caffer) with heavy curved horns.
Cape buffalo is usually formal, technical (zoology), specialized (hunting, wildlife) in register.
Cape buffalo: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkeɪp ˈbʌfələʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkeɪp ˈbʌfəˌloʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specifically for 'cape buffalo'. It may feature in similes: 'as stubborn/tenacious as a cape buffalo'.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the CAPE of Good Hope in South Africa + the powerful American BISON or BUFFALO. A 'cape buffalo' is the massive, horned bovine from the Cape region.
Conceptual Metaphor
A cape buffalo is often a metaphor for: 1. Unpredictable and latent danger ('a grazing cape buffalo can turn in an instant'). 2. Collective strength ('like a herd of cape buffalo'). 3. Tenacious survival.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason the cape buffalo is considered so dangerous?