What is a female yak called?
In English, a female yak is called a cow. This designation aligns with the common practice of using cow for mature females within the bovine subfamily of bovids, to which yaks belong. Likewise, adult male yaks are called bulls in English. Terminology for this animal is different in Tibetan, where yak refers only to the male of the species and a female is known as a nak or dri.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Teagan Wolter.
Citation Information
Article Title:
What is a female yak called?
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
05 November 2026
Access Date:
November 14, 2026