What is another name for a male sheep?

Another name for a male sheep is a ram. The term identifies an adult male sheep, while a female sheep is called a ewe and a young sheep is usually called a lamb.

Rams are often recognized by their large, curled horns, although horn size varies by breed and some rams are naturally hornless. They are important in sheep breeding because they contribute half of a lamb’s genetic material. In many breeds, rams are also heavier and more muscular than ewes.

The word “ram” can be confused with “buck,” which is commonly used for an adult male goat or certain male deer. “Billy” is another informal term for a male goat, not a sheep. Ram is also used in expressions such as “ram’s wool” and “ram’s horn,” and it appears in the name of Aries, the zodiac constellation traditionally represented by a ram.

Sheep belong to the genus Ovis, while domestic sheep are generally classified as Ovis aries. A group of sheep may be called a flock or a herd.