在英文媒体中，三个单词都有被使用，但是ox最普遍，这可能和中国的农耕文明中，ox-耕牛最常见有关。
(1) Ox 耕牛；被阉割的公牛
Ox的复数形式是oxen。
The oxen groaned under the weight of the plow.
耕牛在沉重的犁下哼哼。
(2) Cow 母牛
Dairy farmers have to get up early in the morning to milk their cows.
奶农们每天早上要很早起床给牛挤奶。
各种共牛、母牛、小牛同时出现时，用cow指代：
That's a lot of cows.
有好多牛啊。
(3) Bull 公牛
He let the bull into the pen with the cows to mate.
他把公牛赶紧围栏与母牛交配。
(4) Buffalo 水牛
水牛是野生的；复数形式既可以用buffalo，和单数形式一样，也可以用buffaloes。
You can find wild buffalo across the North American plains.
你可以在北美平原上看到野生水牛。
(5) Cattle 牛群；牛的统称
属于集合名词。
Watch out, the farmer is moving his cattle across the road.
注意，农夫正在驱赶牛群过马路。
(6) Calf 小牛
The calf is constantly at his mother's side.
小牛总是呆在妈妈身边。