English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun C1 Advanced

ewe

yoo

Ewe (noun) means a female sheep. Example: “The farmer counted forty ewes in the lower field.”

noun
1
A female sheep.
"The farmer counted forty ewes in the lower field."
name
1
An ethnic group from southeastern Ghana, Togo, and Benin, or the language they speak.
"She grew up speaking Ewe at home in Ghana."

How to Use Ewe

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA female sheep — as opposed to a ram (male) or lamb (young).

Common mistake

Pronounced the same as "you," not like the interjection "ew"; also unrelated to the Ewe people/language, which is a different word with the same spelling.

Easily confused with

Word Forms

ewes plural, Ewes plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “ewe” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The farmer counted forty _____ in the lower field.

Etymology

From Old English eowu, from a Proto-Germanic root related to Latin ovis, "sheep."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for ewe

See all rhymes for ewe →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “ewe” mean?

The word “ewe” means a female sheep. In plain terms, a female sheep — as opposed to a ram (male) or lamb (young).

How do you pronounce “ewe”?

“Ewe” is pronounced yoo (/juː/ in IPA).

How do you use “ewe” in a sentence?

Here is “ewe” used in a sentence: “The farmer counted forty ewes in the lower field.”

What part of speech is “ewe”?

Depending on how it is used, “ewe” can be a noun and a name.

Where does the word “ewe” come from?

The word “ewe” comes from Latin. From Old English eowu, from a Proto-Germanic root related to Latin ovis, "sheep.".

How many meanings does “ewe” have?

“Ewe” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a female sheep.

Featured In

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial