burro

/ˈbɝoʊ/
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A small donkey, most often imagined as a pack animal or as one of the feral herds associated with the American West.

Examples

  • The children learned that a burro is a donkey, not a mule.
  • The prospector loaded flour and tools onto a burro.
  • A patient burro carried the water cans up the canyon trail.
  • Rangers warned drivers to slow down where burros crossed the road.
  • Wild burros still roam dry ranges in parts of Nevada and Arizona.

Similar words

small donkey
ass
pack donkey
feral donkey
donkey

Meanings

Usage

Use burro where the Southwestern, pack-animal, or feral-herd setting matters, and use donkey when no regional or practical shade is intended.

Common mistakes

A mule is not a burro, since a mule is a donkey-horse hybrid while a burro is a donkey.

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish burro, earlier connected with borrico and Late Latin burricus, a word for a small horse or donkey.

FAQ

What does burro mean?

Burro means a small donkey, especially one used as a pack animal or one living feral in the western United States and northern Mexico.

Is a burro the same as a donkey?

Yes. A burro is a donkey, but the word often suggests a small, pack-carrying, or feral donkey.

Is a burro the same as a mule?

No. A burro is a donkey, while a mule is a hybrid of a donkey and a horse.

Where is burro most common in English?

It is especially common in North American contexts involving the American Southwest, pack trails, mines, deserts, and wild herds.

What is the plural of burro?

The regular plural is burros.

Can burro refer to any donkey?

It can, but it usually carries a more specific flavor than donkey, pointing to a small pack animal or a feral western herd animal.

Where does burro come from?

English borrowed burro from Spanish, where it means donkey.

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