English is full of fascinating words, and “buffalo” is no exception. As a noun, it refers to a large, powerful animal found in North America and Africa, while as a verb, to buffalo means to confuse, intimidate, or bully. Its plural form often confuses learners because it has both a regular plural (“buffaloes”) and an irregular form (“buffalo”). Understanding which plural to use—and when—is crucial for clear communication, especially when writing academic papers, discussing wildlife, or even decoding the famous linguistics puzzle sentence involving multiple uses of “buffalo.”
Whether you’re a native speaker or learning English as a second language, animal plurals like “buffalo,” “deer,” or “fish” can be tricky due to their irregularities. This comprehensive guide will provide an in-depth look at the pluralization of “buffalo.” We will explore definitions, pluralization rules, common errors, advanced linguistic insights, and offer plenty of examples and practice exercises to help you master the topic.
Table of Contents
- 3. Definition Section
- 4. Structural Breakdown
- 5. Types or Categories
- 6. Examples Section
- 7. Usage Rules
- 8. Common Mistakes
- 9. Practice Exercises
- 10. Advanced Topics
- 11. FAQ Section
- 12. Conclusion
3. Definition Section
3.1. What is “Buffalo”?
As a noun, “buffalo” refers primarily to large, horned mammals:
- North American buffalo, commonly known as the American bison (Bison bison).
- African buffalo, such as the Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer).
It is a countable noun, meaning you can count individual animals: one buffalo, two buffalo.
As a verb, to buffalo means to confuse, intimidate, or bully someone. For example: “The salesman tried to buffalo me into buying the car.”
This article mainly focuses on the pluralization of the animal noun, with brief notes about the verb where helpful.
3.2. Grammatical Classification
As a noun, “buffalo” is:
- Countable: You can say “one buffalo,” “three buffalo,” etc.
- Sometimes used as a collective noun: “A herd of buffalo.”
3.3. Plural Formation in English
Most English nouns form plurals by adding -s or -es (cats, dogs, horses). However, some nouns have irregular plurals (mouse → mice; child → children), and a few use a zero plural, meaning the plural is the same as the singular (deer, sheep, fish in some contexts).
“Buffalo” is unique because it has both a zero plural (“buffalo”) and an accepted regular plural (“buffaloes”).
3.4. Usage Contexts
- Wildlife and zoology: Discussing animal populations.
- Farming and agriculture: Talking about livestock.
- Idiomatic use: The famous sentence “Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.”
- Proper noun: The city of Buffalo, New York (never pluralized as an animal).
4. Structural Breakdown
4.1. Regular vs. Irregular Plural Forms
Regular plurals are formed by adding -s or -es:
- dog → dogs
- fox → foxes
- cat → cats
- buffalo → buffaloes (regular plural option)
Irregular plurals follow different patterns:
- child → children
- man → men
- goose → geese
- mouse → mice
Zero plurals have no change in plural:
- deer → deer
- sheep → sheep
- moose → moose
- buffalo → buffalo (zero plural, common)
“Buffalo” fits both categories: it can be a zero plural or a regular plural (“buffaloes”).
4.2. The Accepted Plural Forms of “Buffalo”
Both forms are considered standard:
- Zero plural: “buffalo” (preferred and most common)
- Regular plural: “buffaloes” (also correct, especially in certain dialects or contexts)
4.3. Pluralization Rule Patterns
English sometimes allows both zero plural and regular plural forms for animals:
| Singular | Plural (Zero) | Plural (-s/-es) |
|---|---|---|
| buffalo | buffalo | buffaloes |
| deer | deer | deers (rare) |
| sheep | sheep | sheeps (incorrect) |
| fish | fish | fishes (context-dependent) |
4.4. Morphological Considerations
Zero plurals often originate historically in animal or group nouns, especially with Old English roots or loanwords. They tend to persist in collective or mass noun usage. Regional preferences also play a role:
- American and British English generally favor the zero plural “buffalo.”
- Indian English and older British texts more frequently use “buffaloes.”
4.5. Pronunciation of Plurals
The plural forms differ in sound:
| Form | IPA | Stress Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| buffalo | /ˈbʌfəloʊ/ | BUFF-a-lo |
| buffaloes | /ˈbʌfəloʊz/ | BUFF-a-loes |
Note the added /z/ sound at the end of “buffaloes.”
5. Types or Categories
5.1. Zero Plural Nouns
Some animal nouns have no change in plural:
- deer
- sheep
- fish (in general use)
- moose
- bison
- buffalo
These are often used when referring to groups as species or collective animals.
5.2. Regular Plural Animals
Most animals form plurals by adding -s or -es:
- cats
- dogs
- horses
- foxes
- buffaloes (acceptable, especially in formal or dialect-specific contexts)
5.3. Proper Noun: Buffalo (City)
When referring to the city of Buffalo, New York, the pluralization rules differ:
- We do not pluralize it as “Buffaloes.”
- Sometimes, informally, “Buffalos” may be used, but it’s rare.
Examples:
- “I visited Buffalo, New York last summer.”
- “The two Buffalos I visited had very different vibes.” (rare, informal)
- Better: “The two cities named Buffalo were quite different.”
5.4. As a Verb
As a verb, “buffalo” conjugates regularly:
- Present simple: buffalo, buffaloes (third person singular)
- Past simple: buffaloed
- Continuous: buffaloing
This article focuses mainly on the noun pluralization, but knowing the verb forms helps avoid confusion.
6. Examples Section
6.1. Singular Use
- “The buffalo is grazing in the field.”
- “A buffalo escaped from the enclosure.”
- “That buffalo looks very strong.”
- “A buffalo can weigh over a ton.”
6.2. Zero Plural “Buffalo”
- “Many buffalo roam the plains.”
- “We saw five buffalo during our trip.”
- “Buffalo migrate seasonally.”
- “A herd of buffalo crossed the river.”
- “Some buffalo were lying in the mud.”
- “Several buffalo gathered by the water.”
- “Few buffalo remain in this region.”
- “Hundreds of buffalo once lived here.”
- “All the buffalo disappeared over the hill.”
- “Most buffalo prefer open grasslands.”
6.3. Regular Plural “Buffaloes”
- “Several buffaloes were rescued.”
- “The zoo has African buffaloes.”
- “Buffaloes can be dangerous when threatened.”
- “Farmers keep buffaloes for milk production.”
- “Wild buffaloes live in groups.”
- “Two buffaloes escaped from the farm.”
- “Some buffaloes are domesticated.”
- “Many buffaloes were spotted near the river.”
- “African buffaloes have large horns.”
- “The forest is home to various buffaloes.”
6.4. Comparison Table: Zero Plural vs. Regular Plural
| Sentence using “buffalo” (zero plural) | Sentence using “buffaloes” (regular plural) |
|---|---|
| “Ten buffalo live in the reserve.” | “Ten buffaloes live in the reserve.” |
| “We photographed wild buffalo.” | “We photographed wild buffaloes.” |
| “Buffalo are essential to the ecosystem.” | “Buffaloes are essential to the ecosystem.” |
| “Some buffalo migrated north.” | “Some buffaloes migrated north.” |
| “Few buffalo remain after the drought.” | “Few buffaloes remain after the drought.” |
6.5. Pluralization in Context
Wildlife documentary: “Hundreds of buffalo thunder across the savannah during migration.”
Farming report: “Local farmers rear domestic buffaloes for dairy production.”
Educational material: “The American buffalo, also known as the bison, once roamed in vast numbers.”
6.6. Idiomatic Use
The sentence “Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.” is famous in linguistics. It uses “buffalo” as:
- a proper noun (Buffalo, the city),
- a noun (buffalo, the animal),
- and a verb (to buffalo, meaning to bully or confuse).
It illustrates how homonyms and syntax can create a grammatically correct but confusing sentence.
| Word | Function | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | Proper noun | City of Buffalo, NY |
| buffalo | Noun | The animals from Buffalo |
| buffalo | Verb | Confuse or bully |
Meaning: Bison from Buffalo, NY, whom other Buffalo bison confuse, themselves confuse further Buffalo bison.
6.7. Additional Example Tables
Table 1: Singular vs. Plural in Simple Sentences
| Singular | Plural (zero) | Plural (regular) |
|---|---|---|
| “A buffalo is grazing.” | “Many buffalo are grazing.” | “Many buffaloes are grazing.” |
| “The buffalo drinks water.” | “Buffalo drink water daily.” | “Buffaloes drink water daily.” |
| “One buffalo escaped.” | “Several buffalo escaped.” | “Several buffaloes escaped.” |
Table 2: Zero Plural vs. Regular Plural in Questions
| Zero Plural | Regular Plural |
|---|---|
| “How many buffalo did you see?” | “How many buffaloes did you see?” |
| “Are there buffalo in this park?” | “Are there buffaloes in this park?” |
| “Did the buffalo cross the river?” | “Did the buffaloes cross the river?” |
Table 3: Plural Forms in Descriptive Phrases
| Zero Plural | Regular Plural |
|---|---|
| “Herds of buffalo move together.” | “Herds of buffaloes move together.” |
| “Groups of buffalo graze.” | “Groups of buffaloes graze.” |
| “Tracks of buffalo were found.” | “Tracks of buffaloes were found.” |
Table 4: Contrasting Animal, City, and Verb Uses
| Buffalo (Animal) | Buffalo (City) | buffalo (Verb) |
|---|---|---|
| “Buffalo live in Africa.” | “Buffalo is in New York.” | “They tried to buffalo me.” |
| “A herd of buffalo crossed.” | “I visited Buffalo last year.” | “He buffaloed the witness.” |
| “Many buffalo migrate.” | “Both Buffalos are cold.” | “Stop buffaloing him!” |
Table 5: Plural Forms with Quantifiers
| Quantifier | Zero Plural Example | Regular Plural Example |
|---|---|---|
| many | “many buffalo” | “many buffaloes” |
| few | “few buffalo” | “few buffaloes” |
| several | “several buffalo” | “several buffaloes” |
| all | “all buffalo” | “all buffaloes” |
| some | “some buffalo” | “some buffaloes” |
7. Usage Rules
7.1. When to Use “Buffalo” as the Plural
“Buffalo” as a zero plural is:
- Preferred in scientific, zoological, and wildlife descriptions
- Common in everyday speech and journalism
- Considered the most natural plural form
7.2. When “Buffaloes” is Acceptable
“Buffaloes” is also correct, especially:
- In more formal or literary writing
- In Indian English and some Commonwealth dialects
- When emphasizing countable individual animals
7.3. Consistency in Usage
Do not mix plural forms in the same text or sentence. Choose one form and use it throughout for clarity and professionalism.
Example:
- Correct: “Many buffalo live here.”
- Correct: “Many buffaloes live here.”
- Incorrect: “Many buffalo and buffaloes live here.”
7.4. Exceptions and Regional Variations
- UK English: Favors zero plural.
- US English: Uses both, but zero plural is more common.
- Indian English: Often prefers “buffaloes.”
7.5. Plural with Quantifiers and Articles
- Correct: “Many buffalo,” “several buffalo,” “few buffalo”
- Also correct (less common): “Many buffaloes,” “several buffaloes”
- Incorrect: “Much buffalo are here.” (use “many” with countable nouns)
7.6. Special Cases: Proper Noun and Verb
- The city: Do not pluralize as “Buffaloes.” Instead, say “cities named Buffalo.”
- Verb forms: “buffalo,” “buffaloes,” “buffaloed,” “buffaloing” follow regular verb conjugation and are not related to pluralization rules.
8. Common Mistakes
8.1. Incorrect Plural Forms
- “buffalos”: Sometimes seen in informal American English, but considered nonstandard.
- Correct options: “buffalo” or “buffaloes.”
8.2. Confusing the Animal with the City
- Incorrect: “I visited several Buffaloes last summer.”
- Correct: “I visited several cities named Buffalo last summer.”
8.3. Mixing Plural Forms
- Incorrect: “Many buffaloes and buffalo graze here.”
- Correct: “Many buffalo graze here.”
- Correct: “Many buffaloes graze here.”
8.4. Confusing Verb and Noun Forms
- Incorrect: “The buffaloes buffaloed the buffalo.”
- Correct: “The buffalo buffaloed the buffalo.”
8.5. Incorrect Quantifier Use
- Incorrect: “Much buffalo are in the field.”
- Correct: “Many buffalo are in the field.”
8.6. Correct vs. Incorrect Examples Table
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| “Three buffalos were spotted.” | “Three buffalo were spotted.” |
| “Several buffaloes lives here.” | “Several buffalo live here.” |
| “He saw a herd of buffalos.” | “He saw a herd of buffalo.” |
| “Much buffalo migrate.” | “Many buffalo migrate.” |
| “Buffaloes buffalo the buffaloes.” | “Buffalo buffalo the buffalo.” |
9. Practice Exercises
9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank
- We saw a herd of ________ grazing. (buffalo)
- The zoo recently acquired five ________. (buffalo/buffaloes)
- Several ________ escaped from the reserve. (buffalo)
- How many ________ did you count? (buffalo)
- Farmers raise ________ for milk. (buffalo/buffaloes)
9.2. Identify Correct or Incorrect Usage
- “Ten buffaloes live near the river.” (____)
- “I saw many buffalos.” (____)
- “The buffalo migrates annually.” (____)
- “Some buffaloes is dangerous.” (____)
- “Few buffalo roam here.” (____)
9.3. Correction Exercises
- “A group of buffalos was running.” → ______________________
- “We spotted two buffaloes swimming.” → ______________________
- “Many buffalos lives here.” → ______________________
- “Several buffaloes is near the lake.” → ______________________
- “Much buffalo graze here.” → ______________________
9.4. Choose the Correct Plural
- There are many (buffalo / buffaloes) in the park.
- She studied African (buffalo / buffaloes).
- The hunters tracked several (buffalo / buffaloes).
- We photographed wild (buffalo / buffaloes).
- Scientists observed some (buffalo / buffaloes) migrating.
9.5. Sentence Construction
Write 5 sentences using “buffalo” as plural:
- ____________________________________________
- ____________________________________________
- ____________________________________________
- ____________________________________________
- ____________________________________________
Write 5 sentences using “buffaloes” as plural:
- ____________________________________________
- ____________________________________________
- ____________________________________________
- ____________________________________________
- ____________________________________________
Write 2 sentences contrasting singular and plural:
- ____________________________________________
- ____________________________________________
9.6. Answer Key
9.1 Fill-in-the-Blank Answers:
- buffalo
- buffalo or buffaloes
- buffalo
- buffalo
- buffalo or buffaloes
9.2 Identify Correct/Incorrect:
- Correct
- Incorrect (should be “buffalo” or “buffaloes”)
- Correct
- Incorrect (should be “Some buffalo are dangerous” or “Some buffaloes are dangerous”)
- Correct
9.3 Corrections:
- “A group of buffalo was running.”
- Correct as is (both plural forms accepted)
- “Many buffalo live here.”
- “Several buffaloes are near the lake.”
- “Many buffalo graze here.”
9.4 Choose the Correct Plural:
- buffalo or buffaloes
- buffaloes (preferred in this context)
- buffalo or buffaloes
- buffalo or buffaloes
- buffalo or buffaloes
10. Advanced Topics
10.1. Historical Linguistics of “Buffalo” Pluralization
The word “buffalo” comes from the Portuguese bufalo or Italian bufalo, borrowed from Latin bufalus meaning “wild ox.” Early English adopted both forms: a borrowed plural “buffaloes” and the zero plural, consistent with other animal nouns.
10.2. Zero Plural Phenomenon
Zero plural is common with:
- Game animals (deer, fish, moose, bison, buffalo)
- Mass or collective nouns (sheep, cattle)
Historically, it often indicates the species collectively or a group, rather than individual countable units.
10.3. “Buffalo” in Idioms and Syntax
The famous sentence “Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo” demonstrates homonymy and syntactic layering. Here’s a breakdown:
- Buffalo (city)
- buffalo (noun, animals)
- buffalo (verb, bully/confuse)
Meaning: Bison from Buffalo that other Buffalo bison confuse, themselves confuse further Buffalo bison.
| Word | Role |
|---|---|
| Buffalo | Proper noun (city) |
| buffalo | Noun (animals) |
| buffalo | Verb (confuse/bully) |
10.4. Pluralization in Scientific and Technical Writing
In zoology, ecology, and scientific contexts, zero plural “buffalo” is preferred when referring to species or groups. This aligns with conventions for animals like “deer” and “fish.”
10.5. Dialectal and International Variations
- American/British English: Favor zero plural “buffalo.”
- Indian English: “Buffaloes” is very common, including in academic writing.
- Corpus studies show both forms; “buffalo” is more frequent globally.
11. FAQ Section
1. What is the plural of “buffalo” in English?
Both “buffalo” (zero plural) and “buffaloes” are accepted plural forms.
2. Is “buffaloes” correct, or should I only use “buffalo”?
Both are correct, but “buffalo” is more common and preferred in scientific contexts.
3. Why does “buffalo” have two plural forms?
Because of historical usage: one following the zero plural pattern for animals, and one regular plural with -es.
4. Is “buffalos” ever acceptable?
It’s used informally in American English but not considered standard. Prefer “buffalo” or “buffaloes.”
5. What’s the plural when referring to the city Buffalo?
We typically say “cities named Buffalo” rather than “Buffaloes.”
6. How do I know when to use zero plural or regular plural forms?
Zero plural is preferred in everyday and scientific contexts. Use “buffaloes” in formal writing or dialects where it’s standard, but be consistent.
7. Why does the famous sentence use “buffalo” so many times?
It’s a linguistics example showing how homonyms and syntax can create a complex but grammatically correct sentence, using “Buffalo” as a city, an animal, and a verb.
8. Is there a difference between the plural forms in UK and US English?
Both accept both forms, but zero plural “buffalo” is more common in both varieties.
9. Why do some animal names have zero plural?
Historically, zero plural is used for certain animals treated as collective species nouns, often game or herd animals.
10. Can “buffaloes” be used in scientific writing?
It can be, but zero plural “buffalo” is generally preferred in scientific contexts.
11. Is “buffaloes” more formal than “buffalo”?
Sometimes, yes. “Buffaloes” can sound slightly more formal or literary.
12. What are common mistakes with the plural of “buffalo”?
Using “buffalos” (nonstandard), mixing plural forms, or confusing the animal noun with the city name.
12. Conclusion
In English, both “buffalo” (zero plural) and “buffaloes” (regular plural) are accepted. The zero plural form is more common and preferred in most contexts, especially scientific and wildlife discussions. “Buffaloes” is also correct, often used in formal writing or certain dialects like Indian English.
For clarity and professionalism, choose one plural form and use it consistently. When in doubt or writing formally, zero plural “buffalo” is safe. Remember the unique position of “buffalo” among irregular plurals, and practice plural forms often using examples and exercises like those in this article.
Understanding pluralization patterns for animal names enriches your English grammar skills and helps you communicate more precisely. Keep exploring, and you’ll become more confident with these fascinating nuances!