das  Kaninchen

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/kaˈnɪnçən/

🐇 What does 'das Kaninchen' mean?

The German word das Kaninchen translates to rabbit in English. It refers to a small, herbivorous mammal from the family Leporidae, known for its long ears, short tail, and hopping gait. It's often kept as a pet or found in the wild.

There's only one article for *Kaninchen*: das. It's a neuter noun.

• Meaning 1: The animal itself (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Example: Das Kaninchen hoppelt über die Wiese. (The rabbit hops across the meadow.)
• Meaning 2: The meat of this animal as food. Example: Heute gibt es Kaninchen zum Mittagessen. (Today we're having rabbit for lunch.)

⚠️ Be careful: Don't confuse it with *der Hase* (hare)! Hares are usually larger, have longer ears and legs, and are wild animals not domesticated like the European wild rabbit, from which domestic rabbits descend.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Deep Dive: Das Kaninchen

The noun *„Kaninchen“* is neuter. The article is always das. Here are the declension tables:

📝 Example Sentences

• Im Garten sitzt ein Kaninchen und frisst Klee. (A rabbit is sitting in the garden eating clover. - Nominative singular, indefinite)
• Hast du das Kaninchen gefüttert? (Did you feed the rabbit? - Accusative singular, definite)
• Ich gebe dem Kaninchen eine Karotte. (I give a carrot to the rabbit. - Dative singular, definite)
• Das Fell des Kaninchens ist sehr weich. (The rabbit's fur is very soft. - Genitive singular, definite)
• Die Kaninchen leben in einem großen Stall. (The rabbits live in a large hutch/stable. - Nominative plural, definite)
• Wir beobachten Kaninchen im Park. (We are watching rabbits in the park. - Accusative plural, no article)

💬 How to Use 'Kaninchen'

• As a pet: „Unsere Kinder wünschen sich ein Kaninchen.“ (Our children want a rabbit.) Dwarf rabbits (*Zwergkaninchen*) are particularly popular pets.
• In nature: „Im Wald haben wir wilde Kaninchen gesehen.“ (We saw wild rabbits in the forest.) Refers to the wild form.
• As food: „Kaninchenbraten ist ein traditionelles Gericht.“ (Roast rabbit is a traditional dish.)
• In idioms: Less common than with *Hase*, but compare *„Angsthase“* (scaredy-cat, literally 'fear-hare', though conceptually often closer to the timid rabbit). The term *„falscher Hase“* (mock rabbit/meatloaf) has nothing to do with rabbits biologically.
• Distinction from *Hase* (hare): It's important to distinguish *das Kaninchen* (rabbit - smaller, social, lives in burrows) from *der Hase* (hare - larger, solitary, lives in forms/shallow depressions). In everyday language, the terms are sometimes used incorrectly as synonyms.

💡 Mnemonics for 'das Kaninchen'

For the article 'das': Think of German diminutive words ending in '-chen', like das Mädchen (the girl) or das Brötchen (the bread roll). These are usually neuter (das). Even though *Kaninchen*'s origin is slightly different, the '-chen' ending is a great reminder for das.

For the meaning 'Rabbit': Imagine a tiny chimney (**Ka**min**chen**) suddenly sprouting long ears and hopping away. A small, cute thing -> *Kaninchen*.

🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms & Confusions

🚨 Potential Confusion

• Der Hase (Hare): The most common mix-up! Der Hase (Lepus europaeus) is a different animal from das Kaninchen (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Hares are wild, larger, and live differently. The Easter Bunny (*der Osterhase*) is biologically more like an Easter *Rabbit*, as it hides eggs (rabbits make burrows).

😄 A Little Joke

DE: Treffen sich zwei Kaninchen. Sagt das eine: „Ich bin ein Zauberkaninchen!“ Fragt das andere: „Echt? Zeig mal!“ Sagt das erste: „Hokuspokus fidibus, dreimal schwarzer Kater – und weg bist du!“

EN: Two rabbits meet. One says: "I'm a magic rabbit!" The other asks: "Really? Show me!" The first one says: "Hocus pocus fidibus, three times black cat – and you're gone!"

(The joke plays on rabbits often being pulled out of hats by magicians; here, the rabbit turns the tables.)

📜 A Little Poem

Das Kaninchen

Im grünen Gras, welch ein Genuss,
sitzt klein Kaninchen, frisst im Überfluss.
Lange Ohren, weiches Fell,
hoppelt blitzeschnell.
Mit Stupsnase und wachem Blick,
bringt es uns oft Kinderglück.
Doch sieht's Gefahr, 's ist nicht mehr hier,
das flinke, liebe kleine Tier.

---

The Rabbit (Translation)

In the green grass, what a delight,
sits little rabbit, eats with all its might.
Long ears, soft fur so grand,
hops lightning-fast across the land.
With a twitching nose and watchful eye,
it often brings children's joy nearby.
But if it senses danger near,
it's gone, the swift, beloved dear.

❓ Riddle Time

DE: Ich habe lange Ohren, doch höre nicht wie du.
Ich hopple durch die Wiesen und knabbere gern im Nu.
Karotten sind mein Leibgericht,
im Bau versteck ich mein Gesicht.
Man hält mich gern als Haustier klein,
was mag ich wohl für ein Tierlein sein?

EN: I have long ears, but don't hear like you.
I hop through the meadows and love to nibble, it's true.
Carrots are my favorite dish,
In my burrow, I hide as I wish.
People like to keep me as a small pet,
What kind of little animal could I be, you bet?

Answer: Das Kaninchen (The rabbit)

✨ More Interesting Facts

• Word Origin: The word *„Kaninchen“* comes from Middle Low German *„kanin“* or *„kaninken“*, which in turn derives from the Latin *„cuniculus“* (rabbit, underground passage). The ending *„-chen“* is a later diminutive suffix.
• Rabbit vs. Hare: Rabbits (*Kaninchen*) live socially in burrows; hares (*Hasen*) are solitary and rest in shallow depressions called forms (*Sassen*). Baby rabbits (*Kaninchenjunge*) are born naked and blind (altricial); baby hares (*Hasenjunge*) are born furry and sighted (precocial).
• Symbolism: Rabbits (*Kaninchen*) often symbolize fertility (due to their rapid reproduction), but also timidity or gentleness.