der Hund
dog
A dog. Germans use it for the animal, and also in idioms to describe people or situations, often with a negative or colloquial tone.
Heard in real German videos
Lines where Hund was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Oh, der Hund hat etwas gewittert.Oh, the dog has caught a scent.
- Wir haben einen Hund mit Wurstbeinchen.We have a dog with sausage legs.
- Habt ihr den Hund nicht gehört?Didn't you hear the dog?
Example sentences
- Der Hund spielt im Garten.The dog is playing in the garden.
- Wir haben einen kleinen Hund.We have a small dog.
- Die Hunde bellen laut.The dogs are barking loudly.
Grammar
| Gender | masculine |
|---|---|
| Plural | die Hunde |
| Genitive | des Hundes |
| Declension | strong noun: add -e for plural, -es for genitive, -n in dative plural |
In dative plural, add -n: mit den Hunden.
Common phrases
- auf den Hund gekommento have gone downhill, to be in a bad state
- da liegt der Hund begrabenthat's the crux of the matter
- Hunde, die bellen, beißen nichtbarking dogs seldom bite
The mistake English speakers make
Using the English word 'hound' for any dog. 'Hound' is a specific type of dog, while 'Hund' is the general word.
Don’t confuse it with
- der Hüne — Hüne means a giant or very tall person, not a dog.
Questions learners ask
What is the plural of Hund?
The plural is Hunde. In dative plural, it becomes Hunden.
Is Hund masculine, feminine, or neuter?
Hund is masculine, so it's der Hund.
What does 'auf den Hund gekommen' mean?
It means to have gone downhill or to be in a bad state, often financially or health-wise.