donkey
gb/dˈɔŋki/ us/dˈɔŋki/
A2
English
~ 8800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
small pack animal with long ears
A small animal like a small horse, with long ears, that people use to carry things or pull carts.
Usage pattern:
a/an [adjective] donkey
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"an donkey"* instead of *"a donkey"*. Use *"a"* because 'donkey' starts with a /d/ sound, not a vowel sound. Some learners also confuse 'donkey' with 'monkey', but a donkey is a farm animal like a small horse.
Synonyms
burro (Used especially in American English and in regions influenced by Spanish; refers to the same animal.)
|
ass (More formal or technical for the animal, but in modern English often avoided because it also means 'buttocks' and can sound rude.)
Antonyms
racehorse (A fast, high-status horse used for racing, contrasting with a donkey, which is slow and used mainly as a work animal.)
Collocations
ride a donkey
|pack donkey
|donkey brays
|donkey sanctuary
|donkey cart
|tether a donkey
Themes
animals
|work
|rural_life
|transportation
Examples
- The farmer loaded the sacks onto the donkey and led it up the hill.
- Children were taking turns riding a donkey along the beach.
- We could hear a donkey braying loudly from the next field.
- The rescue center takes in old and injured donkeys.
- They still use donkeys to pull small carts through the narrow streets.
Learner examples
- The boy rides a donkey to school.
- The donkey carries water for the family.
- I saw a donkey at the farm yesterday.
- The donkey has long ears and makes a loud sound.
- They use a donkey to pull the cart.
Noun
informal
B2
entity
2
stupid or annoying person
A rude word for someone who is acting very stupid or annoying.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a donkey
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use this word without understanding it is an insult. Do not use 'donkey' for a person in polite or formal situations. Also, do not confuse the animal meaning with this meaning; when you say 'You are a donkey' to a person, it sounds rude.
Synonyms
idiot (A very common strong insult for a stupid person; often harsher than 'donkey'.)
|
fool (Slightly softer or more old-fashioned than 'idiot'; can sometimes sound humorous.)
Antonyms
genius (Someone extremely intelligent, which contrasts with calling someone a 'donkey' to mean they are very stupid.)
Collocations
act like a donkey
|stop being such a donkey
|feel like a complete donkey
|you silly donkey
|look like a right donkey
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|insults
|communication
Examples
- I felt like such a donkey when I sent the email to the wrong person.
- Stop driving like a donkey and pay attention to the road.
- He made a donkey of himself by forgetting his own boss’s name.
- Don’t be a donkey—read the instructions before you start.
- She called him a donkey for leaving his passport at home again.
Learner examples
- I was a real donkey and missed the last train.
- Don’t be a donkey. Check your work.
- He felt like a donkey after he broke the phone.
- She called him a donkey when he lost the keys.
- I looked like a donkey when I fell in front of everyone.
Noun
B2
entity
3
symbol of the US Democratic Party
The picture of a donkey that is used to stand for the Democratic Party in the United States.
Usage pattern:
the Democratic donkey
Common mistake:
Learners may think people are literally talking about the animal. In news and cartoons about U.S. politics, 'donkey' usually means the symbol of the Democratic Party, not the real animal.
Synonyms
Democratic symbol (A broader term that can refer to any sign or image for the Democratic Party, not only the donkey.)
Antonyms
elephant (The animal symbol used for the Republican Party, which is the main political rival of the Democrats in the United States.)
Collocations
Democratic donkey
|party donkey symbol
|donkey and elephant
|blue donkey logo
|cartoon donkey representing Democrats
Themes
politics
|usa
|symbols
|communication
Examples
- The cartoon showed the donkey kicking the elephant to represent a Democratic win.
- Campaign posters often feature a blue donkey as the party’s symbol.
- In U.S. politics, the donkey stands for the Democrats and the elephant for the Republicans.
Learner examples
- The donkey is the symbol of the Democratic Party.
- On the poster, you can see a big blue donkey.
- In this picture, the donkey fights the elephant, showing the two main U.S. parties.
- Many political cartoons use the donkey to show the Democrats.
- The donkey and the elephant are famous symbols in American politics.
Noun
slang
C1
entity
4
very bad poker player
In poker, a rude word for a very bad player who makes many stupid moves.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a donkey at poker
Common mistake:
Learners may think this is just the animal meaning. In poker talk, 'donkey' is slang for a bad player and can sound rude; it is not used in formal situations or general conversation.
Synonyms
fish (Poker slang for a weak player who loses money; similar meaning, but 'donkey' often implies the person plays especially badly or stubbornly.)
Antonyms
shark (Poker slang for a very skilled player who wins money from weaker players like 'donkeys'.)
Collocations
online poker donkey
|play like a donkey
|table full of donkeys
|call [someone] a donkey
|spot the donkey at the table
Themes
games
|slang
|poker
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Examples
- He’s a total donkey at the tables and calls every hand.
- If you play like a donkey in that tournament, you’ll be out in ten minutes.
- They were happy to sit with a couple of obvious donkeys at the cash game.
Learner examples
- He is a donkey at poker and loses a lot of money.
- Don’t play like a donkey; think before you bet.
- The good players love to play with a donkey.
- In poker chat, they called him a donkey.
- She stopped being a donkey after she studied the game.
Grammar
Dictionary form
donkey
IPA
GB/dˈɔŋki/
US/dˈɔŋki/
Syllables & stress
don - key (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (don)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: donkey
- Plural: donkeys
Word family
Forms
donkeys
noun
Related words
donkeywork
noun
Expressions
donkey work
1/dˈɔŋki wˈɚk/
idiom
the hard, boring parts of work
The hard, boring work that other people do not want to do, especially in a group project or job.
Examples
- I did all the donkey work for the report, but my boss gave the presentation.
- Interns often end up doing the donkey work in the office.
- She was tired of always being given the donkey work while others got the interesting tasks.
for donkey's years
1/fɚ dˈɔŋkiz jˈɪɹz/
idiom
informal
for a very long time
For a very long time, usually many years.
Examples
- We’ve lived in this house for donkey’s years.
- I haven’t seen him for donkey’s years; I think the last time was at school.
- That old pub has been on the corner for donkey’s years.
talk the hind legs off a donkey
1/tˈɔk ðə hˈaɪnd lˈɛɡz ˈɔf ə dˈɔŋki/
idiom
informal
talk for an extremely long time
To talk so much and for so long that other people get tired of listening.
Examples
- She can talk the hind legs off a donkey once you get her started on her travels.
- My uncle will talk the hind legs off a donkey if you ask him about football.
- He’s friendly, but he does talk the hind legs off a donkey sometimes.
work like a donkey
1/wˈɚk lˈaɪk ə dˈɔŋki/
idiom
informal
work very hard for long hours
To work very hard for a long time, often doing heavy or tiring work.
Examples
- He’s been working like a donkey to pay off his debts.
- They worked like donkeys all summer on the building site.
- She felt she worked like a donkey while her colleagues relaxed.