fowl

[katerina.pata]

Please, native speakers

do you use the word fowl the same way like hen, cock...poultry..???

I have read a text about it, but I am still not sure if native speakers go to the yard, see there a brown domestic bird and call it a fowl:lol:??? Possible???
Common or used only in some situations???

Thanks a lot. KP

 

[SoothingDave]

It's possible, but it's more commonly used as a collective noun (He had some fowl) and not a singular noun (There is a fowl).

 

[katerina.pata]

Thank you very much!KP

 

[Ouisch]

In the US, "fowl' would be understood, but it isn't commonly used in that context. Traditionally it is used only in very general terms, such as "I'm a vegetarian, but I occasionally eat fish and fowl." If a native AmE speaker spied a game bird of some sort, they would most likely describe it by its specific name: "I saw a pheasant in my yard yesterday" or "My neighbor's rooster* wakes me up every morning".




*A word of caution: even though "cock" is technically correct, in AmE we almost always refer to a male chicken as a "rooster," since "cock" is a common (rude) slang term for male genitalia.

 

[5jj]

*A word of caution: even though "cock" is technically correct, in AmE we almost always refer to a male chicken as a "rooster," since "cock" is a common (rude) slang term for male genitalia.

We British are quite happy to call a male chicken a cock. This could be because, having pure minds, we never think of genitalia.

 

[SoothingDave]

We British are quite happy to call a male chicken a cock. This could be because, having pure minds, we never think of genitalia.

You'll also say "keep your pecker up" which leads to juvenile giggles over here. ;-)

 

[5jj]

You'll also say "keep your pecker up" which leads to juvenile giggles over here. ;-)

The way American minds seem to work (based on what I've learnt from this thread, not from any prejudice), I am amazed that it was the 'Western" part that got dropped when C & W music shortened its name.

 

[NikkiBarber]

We British are quite happy to call a male chicken a cock. This could be because, having pure minds, we never think of genitalia.

I would definitely be surprised if someone told me that they were woken up every morning by their neighbor's cock. I might be worried too.
It is my impression that here in America there are very few words that cannot, in some way, mean genitalia. I've learned to be careful what I say.
Does this mean that Americans have filthy minds or that they are just really imaginative when it comes to nicknaming body parts?

 

[milan2003_07]

In the US, "fowl' would be understood, but it isn't commonly used in that context. Traditionally it is used only in very general terms, such as "I'm a vegetarian, but I occasionally eat fish and fowl." If a native AmE speaker spied a game bird of some sort, they would most likely describe it by its specific name: "I saw a pheasant in my yard yesterday" or "My neighbor's rooster* wakes me up every morning".

*A word of caution: even though "cock" is technically correct, in AmE we almost always refer to a male chicken as a "rooster," since "cock" is a common (rude) slang term for male genitalia.

An interesting message. So turns out that "fowl" is mostly used collectively like "fish" and "meat", for example.

By the way when I was trained as a guide I was also told not to say "cock" to tourists no matter where they are from. Not necessarily from the US.

 

[Rover_KE]

This could be because, having pure minds, we never think of genitalia.

Speak for yourself, old cock.

Rover

 

[milan2003_07]

In Russian, believe you me, there are also plenty of words that can make one think about sex-related things...

 

[MrPedantic]

I have read a text about it, but I am still not sure if native speakers go to the yard, see there a brown domestic bird and call it a fowl

If a native speaker saw a brown domestic bird and then referred to it as a "fowl", it would almost certainly be humorous.

(The humour in such cases lies in the use of an unusual or or formal or technical word in an inappropriate context.)

Best wishes,

MrP

 

[SoothingDave]

I would definitely be surprised if someone told me that they were woken up every morning by their neighbor's cock. I might be worried too.
It is my impression that here in America there are very few words that cannot, in some way, mean genitalia. I've learned to be careful what I say.
Does this mean that Americans have filthy minds or that they are just really imaginative when it comes to nicknaming body parts?

There are few expressions in American English which can not be made to sound lewd if said with the right inflection. ;-)

Example:

Man 1: I had to take my car to the shop to get my tires rotated.

(Attractive girls walks by)

Man 2: I'd like to rotate her tires!