Quick answer: A lasso is a long rope with a sliding loop, used to catch horses and cattle. A lariat is the same kind of rope, and the word can also mean a rope used to tether grazing animals. In everyday use they are near-synonyms, but lasso is also a verb (to lasso a calf), while lariat is mainly a noun.
Lasso vs Lariat Quiz: Test Yourself
Lasso vs Lariat Flip Cards
Tap or click a card to see its meaning and an example.
Example: He swung the lasso over his head.
Example: She lassoed the runaway calf.
Example: The rancher coiled his lariat on the saddle.
Example: The horse was tied to a post with a lariat.
Lasso vs lariat is a question that comes up in Western movies, rodeo coverage and even crossword puzzles, because both words point to the same looped rope. They are close enough that most people use them interchangeably, but there are small differences in grammar, origin and extra meanings that are worth knowing.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| lasso | A long rope with a sliding loop that tightens when pulled, used to catch livestock | Noun | The cowboy tossed his lasso at the steer. |
| to lasso | To catch an animal with a looped rope | Verb | She lassoed the calf in seconds. |
| lariat | A lasso; also a rope used to tether grazing animals | Noun | He tied the horse to a post with a lariat. |
| la reata | The Spanish phrase (“the rope”) that lariat comes from | Spanish source phrase (origin) | “Lariat” began as the Spanish “la reata.” |
What does “lasso” mean?
A lasso is a long rope with a sliding loop at one end that tightens when it is pulled, traditionally used to catch horses and cattle. It works as a noun (“a lasso”) and as a verb (“to lasso a calf”). The verb has a figurative use too, as in “She lassoed three new clients at the conference.”
Etymonline traces the noun to 1808 in American English and the verb to 1807. The word came from the Spanish lazo, meaning a snare or slipknot.
What does “lariat” mean?
A lariat is a long, light rope with a sliding loop that is used to catch livestock, which makes it a synonym of lasso. Merriam-Webster also lists a second sense: a rope, with or without a loop, used to tie grazing animals in place. That tethering sense is the main thing a lariat can be that a lasso is not.
Lariat comes from the Spanish la reata, “the rope,” and Etymonline records it in American English by 1832. Notice that the English word swallowed the Spanish article “la,” which is why it begins with “la.”
Are a lasso and a lariat the same thing?
Mostly, yes. Both words describe a looped rope for catching animals, and dictionaries list them as synonyms. The difference is that “lariat” also covers a rope used to tether animals, so not every lariat is thrown as a lasso.
In everyday speech, people say “lasso” more often for the action and the looped rope seen in movies, and “lariat” more often in ranching or Western settings. Either word is fine for the rope itself. If you need a verb, use “lasso,” because lariat is mainly a noun.
Where do “lasso” and “lariat” come from?
Both words come from Spanish, which makes sense, because Spanish-speaking vaqueros shaped much of the American cowboy tradition. “Lasso” comes from lazo (snare or slipknot), which traces back to a Latin word for a noose and shares a root with English “lace.” “Lariat” comes from la reata, from a word for a rope used to tie animals together.
Does “lariat” have other meanings?
Yes. In professional wrestling, a lariat is a move in which a wrestler swings a stiff arm at an opponent, and you will often hear it called a “lariat clothesline.” In fashion, a lariat necklace is a long necklace without a clasp, usually tied or looped. Both uses borrow the image of the rope.
How can you remember lasso vs lariat?
Remember that lasso is the action word and lariat is the rope word. You lasso a calf with a lariat. If you need a verb, choose lasso. The memory tricks below give a few more ways to check yourself.
Common mistakes with lasso and lariat
- She lariated the runaway calf. → She lassoed the runaway calf.
- A lariat is only ever thrown to catch animals. → A lariat can also be a rope used to tether grazing animals.
- Lasso comes from the Spanish “la reata.” → Lariat comes from “la reata”; lasso comes from “lazo.”
- He swung the lassoo over his head. → He swung the lasso over his head.
- She packed her lariet in the trailer. → She packed her lariat in the trailer.
Memory tricks
- Verb test: If the sentence needs an action (“to catch with a rope”), use lasso. Lariat is mainly a noun.
- La in lariat: The “la” at the start comes from the Spanish “la reata,” meaning “the rope,” so lariat is the rope itself.
- Tether test: If the rope is tying a grazing animal in place, lariat is the safer word.
FAQ
What is the difference between a lasso and a lariat?
A lasso is a rope with a sliding loop used to catch animals. A lariat is the same kind of rope, and the word can also mean a rope used to tether grazing animals.
Are lasso and lariat synonyms?
Mostly, yes. Dictionaries list them as synonyms for the looped catching rope, though lariat also has the tethering sense.
Is “lasso” a verb?
Yes. To lasso means to catch an animal with a looped rope, as in “She lassoed the calf.” Lariat is mainly used as a noun.
Where does “lariat” come from?
It comes from the Spanish “la reata,” meaning “the rope,” and was recorded in American English by 1832.
Where does “lasso” come from?
It comes from the Spanish “lazo,” meaning a snare or slipknot, which goes back to a Latin word for a noose.
Conclusion
Lasso vs lariat is mostly a matter of grammar and a small extra meaning: both are looped ropes, lasso doubles as a verb, and lariat can also be a tether. Pick lasso for the action and either word for the rope. Share this with someone who mixes these up.