Yak vs. Buffalo — What's the Difference?

A large, domesticated wild ox with shaggy hair, humped shoulders, and large horns.

A large herbivorous mammal with a massive head, broad shoulders, and strong, curved horns.

The hair of the yak, often used in weaving.

A city in western New York state.

A loud, harsh laugh.

To confuse or deceive (someone).

A prolonged talk or chat.

Leather made from buffalo hide.

A wild, shaggy-haired ox (Bos grunniens) of the mountains of central Asia.

The flesh of the American bison, used as food.

Noisy talk

Ellipsis of buffalo robe

Trivial or unduly prolonged conversation.

The buffalo fish (Ictiobus spp.).

(slang) A talk, particular an informal talk; chattering; gossip.

Any of several large African and Asian ruminant mammals of the family Bovidae, such as the water buffalo and the African buffalo.

(slang) A laugh.

The American bison (Bison bison).

To talk at length about trivial or boring subjects.

Any of several North American suckers of the genus Ictiobus, having a dark body and an arched back. Also called buffalo fish.

The domestic yak (Bos grunniens) is a long-haired domesticated cattle found throughout the Himalayan region of the Indian subcontinent, the Tibetan Plateau, Northern Myanmar, Yunnan, Sichuan and as far north as Mongolia and Siberia. It is descended from the wild yak (Bos mutus).

To intimidate or frighten, as by a display of authority

A large domesticated wild ox with shaggy hair, humped shoulders, and large horns, used in Tibet as a pack animal and for its milk, meat, and hide.

To confuse or deceive

Talk at length about trivial or boring subjects

Any of the Old World mammals of the family Bovidae, such as the Cape buffalo, Syncerus caffer, or the water buffalo Bubalus bubalis.

A domesticated yak, used as a work animal or raised for meat and milk.

A related North American animal, the American bison, Bison bison.

Prolonged, sometimes senseless talk; chatter.

A nickel.

To talk persistently and meaninglessly; chatter.

(transitive) To hunt buffalo.

An ox-like mammal native to the Himalayas, Mongolia, Burma, and Tibet with dark, long, and silky hair, a horse-like tail, and a full, bushy mane.

To outwit, confuse, deceive, or intimidate.

(slang) Vomit.

To pistol-whip.

(slang) A kayak.

A species of the genus Bos or Bubalus (Bubalus bubalus), originally from India, but now found in most of the warmer countries of the eastern continent. It is larger and less docile than the common ox, and is fond of marshy places and rivers.

To talk, particularly informally but persistently; to chatter or prattle.

A very large and savage species of the same genus (Syncerus Caffer syn. Bubalus Caffer) found in South Africa; - called also Cape buffalo.

To vomit, usually as a result of excessive alcohol consumption.

Any species of wild ox.

Large long-haired wild ox of Tibet often domesticated

The bison of North America.

A bovine mammal (Poëphagus grunnies) native of the high plains of Central Asia. Its neck, the outer side of its legs, and its flanks, are covered with long, flowing, fine hair. Its tail is long and bushy, often white, and is valued as an ornament and for other purposes in India and China. There are several domesticated varieties, some of which lack the mane and the long hair on the flanks. Called also chauri gua, grunting cow, grunting ox, sarlac, sarlik, and sarluc.

A buffalo robe. See Buffalo robe, below.

The buffalo fish. See Buffalofish, below.

Large shaggy-haired brown bison of North American plains

A city on Lake Erie in western New York (near Niagara Falls)

Meat from an American bison

Any of several Old World animals resembling oxen including, e.g., water buffalo; Cape buffalo

Intimidate or overawe

A mozzarella cheese made from the milk of the Italian water buffalo.

Buffaloes can be found in various parts of the world, including North America, Africa, and Asia.

Yes, in North America, the term 'buffalo' is colloquially used to refer to the American bison.

A yak is known for its long, shaggy hair and its ability to thrive in high-altitude regions like the Himalayas.

Yes, both yaks and buffaloes have been domesticated, serving various purposes in their respective regions.

Yes, Buffalo is a city in western New York state.

Yes, yak hair is often used in weaving and is known for its warmth.

Yaks are adapted to cold, mountainous regions, while buffaloes thrive in plains, savannahs, forests, and swamps.

Yes, 'yak' can colloquially mean a prolonged talk or chat.

Yes, 'buffalo' can mean to confuse or deceive someone.

In Asia, especially in countries like India and the Philippines, buffaloes have been historically important for farming.