Why are donkeys called asses?

Answer 1

Donkey's are also called Asses (Scientific name is Equus africanus asinus).

A male donkey is called a Jack.

so Jack Ass is a male donkey

A Jenny Ass would be a Female donkey.

lol
An ass is a smaller relative of the horse, with longer ears and a shorter mane. A donkey is a domesticated ass.

Answer 2

"Until recently the synonym ass was the more common term for Equus asinus (as in jackass, meaning "male donkey"). The first written use of donkey is as recent as 1785. While the word ass has cognates in most other Indo-European-Languages, donkey is an etymologically obscure word for which no credible cognate has been identified. Hypotheses on its derivation include the following:

• Perhaps a diminutive of dun (dull grayish-brown), a typical donkey color.
• Perhaps from the name Duncan
• Perhaps of imitative origin.

The homonymity in the United States with a vulgar term ass for "buttocks" might have influenced its gradual replacement by donkey there, though this does not account for the parallel change in Britain and Australia."

Answer 3

A donkey is called an ass, because it is a shortening of the scientific name Equus africanus asinus.

Not sure about the above...I suspect the term "ass" was around long before there was a scientific name affixed to the animal.

Answer 4

Actually, a donkey is a "jack ass" because the male of the ass species is called a jack (females are jennets or jennies). The term then got used to refer to stupid or stubborn people because people that couldn't force donkeys to do something thought it was because they were stupid, stubborn, and/or mean (they can fight back quite effectively if you get too ridiculously forceful).

In fact, asses are incredibly intelligent, self-preserving, and they think for themselves, so the more you try to force them to do something, the less likely they are to do it (because now they KNOW it must be a bad idea if you have to try to force it!). Thus, in reality, the asses make jack asses of the humans that try to bully them.

Next time someone calls you an ass or a jack ass, thank them. It's really quite a compliment. BTW, their self-preservation instinct is what makes donkeys and mules such good choices for mountainous terrain riding/packing. It's highly unlikely a donkey or mule will go off a cliff, as horses can and do sometimes in panic.

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Prior answer:

Because they never listen to what you say it is kinda some guys it goes in one ear and out the other

Answer 5

A donkey gets called an ass because they can be very stubborn and can really make you mad! :) I know this from experience and my dad calls my donkey an ass all of the time because she is stubborn. >33

Answer 6

because people think they are stupid animals and all they are good for is carrying things but they ain't stupid and technically its jackass not just ass but some people like to call it that too.

CORRECTION: Donkeys are of the family Equus, species Assinus. The Latin name for the donkey is properly: Ass. It is not incorrect to call a donkey an Ass.