Maulwurf
German
Etymology
From a word with the meaning of hill (compare dialectal Mugel (“hillock”)), not related with Maul (“mouth”). More at mouldwarp.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈmaʊ̯lˌvʊʁf/
(file) - (Austria)
(file) - Hyphenation: Maul‧wurf
Noun
Maulwurf m (strong, genitive Maulwurfes or Maulwurfs, plural Maulwürfe, feminine Maulwürfin)
- mole (small, burrowing insectivore of the family Talpidae)
- (figurative) mole (internal spy)
- Synonyms: U-Boot, Spitzel
Declension
Declension of Maulwurf [masculine, strong]
singular | plural | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
indef. | def. | noun | def. | noun | |
nominative | ein | der | Maulwurf | die | Maulwürfe |
genitive | eines | des | Maulwurfes, Maulwurfs | der | Maulwürfe |
dative | einem | dem | Maulwurf, Maulwurfe1 | den | Maulwürfen |
accusative | einen | den | Maulwurf | die | Maulwürfe |
1Now uncommon, see notes.
Related terms
- Maulwurfhügel, Maulwurfsgrille
- Schattenwurf, Weitwurf
Further reading
- “Maulwurf” in Duden online
- “Maulwurf” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache