Why cow meat is called beef: the origin of the word

The word "beef" is familiar to all lovers of delicious food. If you recall other types of meat, for example, lamb, pork, then by name you can find out about their origin. But it is not clear why the meat of a cow, a bull is called beef. This question was even asked on a “direct line” with the President of Russia on June 7, 2022-2023. The answer was not voiced then, but later linguists explained the origin of the term.

Why is cow meat called beef and not cow meat?

The mystery lies in the Old Church Slavonic language. In ancient times, cows and bulls were called with one word "beef" or "govedo". So beef is meat taken from beef. Over time, the word disappeared from speech, but its derivative remained to refer to meat products.

According to Dahl, mostly bulls were called beefs. In the Middle Ages, the meat of bulls was eaten, the cow was protected for milk. But in the designation of meat products, the division into male and female is not used. Also, the meat of an ox is of better quality than that of a cow.

Many linguists point to more ancient roots of the word "govedo". Philologists attribute its root to the vast Indo-European family of languages. "govedo" is derived from the common word "gou".

If you trace the name of a cow in many languages of the world, you will find a striking resemblance to "gou". The table shows how the word "cow" sounds in some Indo-European groups.

NorwegiankuGerman kuhTajikgov Armenian

Language	The word "cow"
English	cow
Կով (kov)

Further on, "govedo" was supplanted by "bulls" in all Slavic languages. Now from this term "beef" remained.

Is the old name for bulls still in use today?

In Russian today, "beef" is practically not used. You can find it in religious literature, in ancient chronicles. It is also present in the work of writers, for example, in the poem by A. K. Tolstoy "Sometimes a merry May …", written in 1871, there are lines:

"Where would be fatty beef

Fed on the roast.”

The word was forced out of the Russian language by the abbreviation KRS at the beginning of the 20th century, sometimes it can be heard in Siberian dialects. In some Slavic languages, "beef" or "govedo" is used to refer to cattle. So, in Bulgarian speech, cattle are called "goveda", and in Slovenian - "govedo".

What is calf meat called?

Beef is called cattle meat. In addition to linguistic reasons, there is another reason for such a "disguise". Cow meat is inferior in taste to ox products.

So the cow was rarely taken to the slaughter. By combining cattle products under one word, you can sell second-rate meat under the guise of quality.

Calves are the best "source" of the first-class meat products, which are called "veal". In Western countries, veal or ox products are used for cooking. The concept of "beef" they do not have. Cows and oxen are considered second-rate raw materials. Restaurants and cafes usually prepare dishes from veal, less often from bulls.

In Russia, in cooking, beef is divided into 3 types:

1. Veal - the meat of calves, not younger than 2 weeks and not older than 3 months. The highest quality and tastiest product.
2. Young beef - carcasses of calves, not younger than 3 months and not older than 3 years.
3. Beef - meat products from cattle older than 3 years.

The most valued variety is marbled veal. To do this, young cattle are fattened according to a special diet. As a result, the meat is red, with streaks of fat, which resembles a pattern on marble. The word "beef" is so ingrained in everyday life that most people don't realize there is an interesting etymology for the term. The term that has passed through the centuries reveals the general pages of world history.

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