carabao

[ kahr-uh-bah-oh ]

noun

, plural ca·ra·ba·os.

1. (in the Philippines) the wild or domesticated water buffalo: endangered in the wild.

carabao

/ ˌkærəˈbeɪəʊ /

noun

1. another name for water buffalo

Word History and Origins

Origin of carabao¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; from Philippine Spanish, from Visayan karabáw, apparently from Malay kerbau, perhaps ultimately a borrowing from an Austroasiatic source; compare Khmer krapī, also borrowed into Thai as krabụ̄

Word History and Origins

Origin of carabao¹

from Visayan karabáw; compare Malay karbaw

Example Sentences

“To own a jeep is like owning a carabao. A driver depends on it for livelihood much like a farmer depends on the beast,” said Mr. Tabing.

From New York Times

It also listed caribou instead of carabao as the animal the author rode on her visit.

From Washington Post

A man led a carabao, a type of water buffalo, on one of the few roads that remain accessible.

From New York Times

“But if you burn the houses, destroy the rice, burn the boats and destroy the carabao, they are as good as dead.”

From New York Times

When he imagined himself getting squashed by a carabao or a jeepney, it terrified him, even though he wasn’t completely sure what either of those things were.

From Literature