remuda: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/ProficientSpecialized/Technical
Quick answer
What does “remuda” mean?
A herd of horses from which ranch hands select their mounts for the day.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A herd of horses from which ranch hands select their mounts for the day.
More broadly, it can refer to a group or collection of horses or similar animals kept ready for use, especially in a ranch or cowboy context. In non-literal usage, it can occasionally refer to any group of things or people available for selection or assignment to tasks.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is almost exclusively American. It is virtually unknown in general British English and would be considered a highly specific Americanism.
Connotations
In American English, it connotes the historical and cultural context of the American West, ranching, and cowboy life. In British English, it would likely be unrecognized or recognized only as a loanword from American Westerns.
Frequency
Very low frequency in all registers of British English. Low but specific frequency in American English, primarily in historical, regional (Western/Southwestern), or literary contexts related to ranching.
Grammar
How to Use “remuda” in a Sentence
Noun + 'remuda' (e.g., the ranch remuda)Verb + 'remuda' (e.g., to tend the remuda)Preposition + 'remuda' (e.g., from the remuda, in the remuda)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in standard business contexts.
Academic
Used only in specialized academic fields like North American history, cultural studies, or literature focusing on the American West.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only be used by someone with a direct connection to ranching or as a deliberate historical/cultural reference.
Technical
A technical term within the specific domains of ranching, horse management, and Western heritage.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “remuda”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “remuda”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “remuda”
- Mispronouncing it as /rɛˈmuːdə/ or /ˈrɛmjuːdə/.
- Using it to refer to any group of animals, losing its specific 'working mount' context.
- Using it in contexts completely unrelated to horses or Western culture.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, specialized term primarily used in the context of American ranching and Western history.
It is borrowed from Spanish, where 'remuda' means 'a change' or 'a relay (of horses)', derived from the verb 'remudar' (to change, to replace).
Its core meaning is specific to horses (or sometimes mules) used as working mounts. Extended or metaphorical use for other things is rare and non-standard.
A remuda is the herd or group of horses itself. A corral is the pen or enclosure where the horses might be kept. You put the remuda into the corral.
A herd of horses from which ranch hands select their mounts for the day.
Remuda is usually specialized/technical in register.
Remuda: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈmjuːdə/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈmuːdə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specifically with 'remuda']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: REplace your MUDdy boots? No! Remember the REMUDA: the herd of horses you REplace your MUDdy ride with every morning.
Conceptual Metaphor
A REMUDA IS A POOL OF RESOURCES. It conceptualizes a group of animals as a shared resource from which individuals draw what they need for a specific task or period.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'remuda' be most appropriately used?