べこ

See also: へこ, へご, and べご

Japanese

Alternative spelling
牛

Etymology

First attested in the late 18th century.

This appears to be cognate with Ainu ペコ (peko). However, it is not clear if the Japanese term was borrowed from Ainu, or if the Ainu term was borrowed from Japanese.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) べ​こ [béꜜkò] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [be̞ko̞]

Noun

べこ or ベコ • (beko) 

1. (dialect, Tōhoku) a cow

   Synonym: (variation more common further north) べご (bego)

   • 1984, Yoshi Ikuzō (lyrics and music), “Ora Tōkyō sa Igu da [I'm Goin' to Tokyo]”, performed by Yoshi Ikuzō:

     東(とう)京(きょう)へ出(で)だなら　銭(ぜに)コア貯(た)めで　東(とう)京(きょう)で牛(ベコ)飼(か)うだ

     Tōkyō e deda nara zenikoa tamede Tōkyō de beko kau da

     If I go out to Tokyo, I'd save up my money and get myself a cow there!

Derived terms

• 赤(あか)べこ (akabeko)