das  Huhn

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/huːn/

🐔 What does "das Huhn" mean?

Das Huhn (noun, neuter) generally refers to a bird from the pheasant family, specifically the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus). It's used for both the living animal and its meat.

• Animal: A female chicken is called die Henne, a male is der Hahn, and a young one is das Küken. "Huhn" can often refer specifically to the hen when the context isn't clear, but it's also used as a general term for the species.
• Meat: As food, the generic term "Huhn" is often used, or more specifically "Hähnchen" (for younger birds).

There's only one article for "Huhn": das.

🧐 Grammar of "das Huhn" in Detail

"Huhn" is a noun with the neuter article das. Here is its declension:

Note: The genitive and dative singular forms ending in "-e" (Huhnes, Huhne) are less common and considered more formal or archaic.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Das Huhn gackert im Hof. (The chicken is clucking in the yard.)
2. Das Gefieder des Huhns ist braun. (The chicken's plumage is brown.)
3. Ich gebe dem Huhn Futter. (I give food to the chicken.)
4. Siehst du das Huhn dort drüben? (Do you see the chicken over there?)
5. Die Hühner legen jeden Tag Eier. (The chickens lay eggs every day.)
6. Der Stall der Hühner muss sauber gemacht werden. (The chickens' coop needs to be cleaned.)
7. Er bringt den Hühnern frisches Wasser. (He brings fresh water to the chickens.)
8. Wir füttern die Hühner am Abend. (We feed the chickens in the evening.)

🗣️ How to use "Huhn"?

• General Term: "Huhn" is often used as a general term for the species. Example: Auf dem Bauernhof gibt es viele Hühner. (There are many chickens on the farm.)
• Female Animal: Sometimes "Huhn" is used synonymously with "Henne" (hen), especially in contrast to "Hahn" (rooster). Example: Das Huhn hat Eier gelegt. (The chicken/hen laid eggs.)
• As Food: Here, "Huhn" is a common term for the meat. However, more specific terms like "Hähnchen" (broiler/young chicken meat) or "Suppenhuhn" (stewing hen, an older bird good for soup) are often used. Example: Zum Mittagessen gibt es gebratenes Huhn. (We're having roast chicken for lunch.)
• Colloquial Use: The expression "dummes Huhn" (silly/stupid chicken) is sometimes used (pejoratively) for a simple-minded or flustered person. Example: Sei doch kein dummes Huhn und reg dich ab! (Don't be a silly chicken and calm down!)
• Idiom: "Ein blindes Huhn findet auch mal ein Korn." (Even a blind chicken sometimes finds a grain of corn.) means that even someone incompetent or inattentive can get lucky sometimes.

Distinctions:

• Henne: Specifically the female bird.
• Hahn: Specifically the male bird (rooster).
• Küken: The young bird (chick).
• Hähnchen: Young chicken, often used for the meat dish.
• Federvieh / Geflügel: General terms for poultry (including ducks, geese, etc.).

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic (das): Think of many farm animals that are neuter in German: das Pferd (horse - exception, usually der Gaul), das Schwein (pig), das Schaf (sheep), and das Huhn. Or picture the neutral, unassuming chicken: it's just 'das Huhn'.

Meaning Mnemonic: The sound "Huhn" might remind you of the cooing or clucking sound a chicken makes. Hear the Huhn in the word!

🔄 Synonyms & Related Terms for Huhn

⚠️ Note: While "Geflügel" is often used synonymously, it's a broader category. "Hähnchen" mostly refers to the meat of young birds.

😂 A Little Joke

German: Warum überquerte das Huhn die Straße?

Antwort: Um auf die andere Seite zu kommen!

English: Why did the chicken cross the road?

Answer: To get to the other side!

(A classic, but always good! 😄)

📜 Poem about the Chicken

German:
Im Hof, da pickt das brave Huhn,
hat immer was zu scharr'n, zu tun.
Es legt ein Ei, fast jeden Tag,
was jeder sicher gerne mag.
Mal weiß, mal braun, im Stroh versteckt,
hat wieder es ein Ei gelegt.
Gackert zufrieden, läuft umher,
ein Leben ohne Gram und Beschwer?

English Translation:
In the yard, the good chicken pecks,
always has something to scratch, to do.
It lays an egg, almost every day,
which everyone surely likes.
Sometimes white, sometimes brown, hidden in the straw,
it has laid an egg again.
Clucks contentedly, runs around,
a life without sorrow and hardship?

❓ Little Riddle

German:
Ich trage Federn, doch flieg' nicht weit,
leg' Eier dir zu jeder Zeit.
Mein Mann, der kräht, wenn der Tag beginnt,
ich gack're fröhlich vor mich hin.
Ich bin ein Nutztier, sächlich genannt,
wer bin ich, ist dir das bekannt?

Lösung: Das Huhn

English Translation:
I wear feathers, but don't fly far,
I lay eggs for you all the time.
My husband crows when the day begins,
I cluck happily to myself.
I am a farm animal, called neuter,
who am I, is that known to you?

Solution: The chicken (das Huhn)

💡 Other Interesting Facts

• Word Compounds: Huhn is part of many German words, e.g., Hühnerstall (chicken coop), Hühnerbrust (chicken breast), Hühnersuppe (chicken soup), Hühnerauge (corn - a callus on the foot!), Rebhuhn (partridge - a different type of bird).
• Idioms: Besides "Ein blindes Huhn findet auch mal ein Korn" (Even a blind chicken finds a corn sometimes), there's also "mit den Hühnern schlafen gehen" (to go to bed with the chickens = go to bed very early) and "da lachen ja die Hühner" (the chickens are laughing = that's absurd or unbelievable).
• Cultural Significance: Chickens play a role in many cultures, both as a food source and in myths and proverbs.