The English term "carabao" is borrowed from the Spanish word , which is derived from Eastern Visayan (likely Waray) . The female is called (in Spanish) a . Cognates include Cebuano , Tagalog , Kavalan , Minangkabau kabau, Malay/Indonesian kerbau, Javanese , and Indonesian Dutch . These Austronesian terms appear to be loanwords from the Austroasiatic languages and likely derives from a secondary pre-colonial introduction of water buffaloes into Island Southeast Asia via western Indonesia.
the english term "carabao" is borrowed from the spanish word  which is derived from eastern visayan (likely waray)  the female is called (in spanish) a  cognates include cebuano  tagalog  kavalan  minangkabau kabau malay/indonesian kerbau javanese  and indonesian dutch  these austronesian terms appear to be loanwords from the austroasiatic languages and likely derives from a secondary pre-colonial introduction of water buffaloes into island southeast asia via western indonesia