Hamsterrad
German
![](Images/wiktionary/Phodopus_sungorus_-_Hamsterkraftwerk.jpg.webp)
Hamsterrad (1)
Etymology
From Hamster (“hamster”) + Rad (“wheel”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ˈhamstɐˌʁaːt]
Audio (file) - Rhymes: -aːt, -at
Noun
Hamsterrad n (strong, genitive Hamsterrades or Hamsterrads, plural Hamsterräder, diminutive Hamsterrädchen n)
- (literally) hamster wheel (circular cage for a small rodent, which rotates vertically as the animal runs at the bottom)
- Synonym: Laufrad
- (figurative) hamster wheel, rat race (situation of hectic, repetitive activity conducted under pressure and with little sense of fulfilment or progress)
- 2022 June 30 (last accessed) permovi-coaching.de:
- Von innen sieht ein Hamsterrad auch aus wie eine Karriereleiter!
- From the inside, a hamster wheel also looks like a career ladder!
-
Declension
Declension of Hamsterrad [neuter, strong]
singular | plural | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
indef. | def. | noun | def. | noun | |
nominative | ein | das | Hamsterrad | die | Hamsterräder |
genitive | eines | des | Hamsterrades, Hamsterrads | der | Hamsterräder |
dative | einem | dem | Hamsterrad, Hamsterrade1 | den | Hamsterrädern |
accusative | ein | das | Hamsterrad | die | Hamsterräder |
1Now uncommon, see notes.
Further reading
- “Hamsterrad” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
- “Hamsterrad” in Duden online