The French word for cow is 'Vache', and would be used to refer to the female.
"vache" is translated "cow" in English.
Cow
A cow is called 'une vache' in French.
you spell it vache
une vache
vache sacrée
la vaca
'la vache' means 'the cow' in French. As an exclamative phrase, it expresses surprise, something along the line of 'holy cow!'
French kids use the expression 'grosse vache' for the English 'big fat cow'.
Qu'est-ce que mange une vache? in French means "What does a cow eat?" in English.
La vache qui rit