das  Reh

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ʁeː/

🦌 What exactly is a 'Reh'?

The German word Reh refers to a medium-sized mammal from the deer family (Cervidae), native to Europe and parts of Asia. It's known in English as the roe deer. In German, the word is grammatically neuter, so it's always das Reh.

There's only this one meaning for the word Reh. It specifically refers to the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus).

• Animal: The most common wild deer species in German forests.
• Gender: The word 'Reh' itself is neuter (sächlich), regardless of the animal's biological sex (male: Rehbock, female: Ricke or Geiß).

🧐 Grammar Spotlight: das Reh

The noun Reh is neuter (sächlich). Here are the declension tables:

Example Sentences

1. Im Wald sahen wir gestern ein scheues Reh.
   (Yesterday, we saw a shy roe deer in the forest.)
2. Das Fell des Rehs ist im Sommer rötlichbraun.
   (The fur of the roe deer is reddish-brown in summer.)
3. Der Jäger folgt dem Reh durch den Wald.
   (The hunter follows the roe deer through the forest.)
4. Plötzlich sprang das Reh über den Weg.
   (Suddenly, the roe deer jumped across the path.)
5. Im Morgengrauen kann man oft Rehe am Waldrand beobachten.
   (At dawn, you can often observe roe deer at the edge of the forest.)

🌲 Everyday Usage: When to use 'Reh'?

The word Reh is primarily used in contexts related to nature, forests, wildlife, and hunting.

• General: Describing the animal in its natural habitat.
• Symbolism: Often used as a symbol of grace, beauty, and shyness (e.g., the German phrase "scheu wie ein Reh" - as shy as a roe deer).
• Hunting: As game (Rehwild). The meat is called Rehbraten (roast venison) or Rehrücken (saddle of venison).
• Distinction: It's important to distinguish das Reh from der Hirsch (stag/deer, usually referring to larger species like red deer). Hirsche are significantly larger, and the males (Stags) have impressive antlers. The male roe deer (Rehbock) only has small antlers (Geweih or more accurately Gehörn).
• Young: The young of a roe deer is called Rehkitz or simply Kitz (fawn).

⚠️ Note: Even though there are male (Rehbock) and female (Ricke) roe deer, the general word for the species remains neuter: das Reh.

💡 Memory Aids for 'das Reh'

For the article 'das': Think of das as the neutral article. A roe deer is a relatively small, gentle creature, often seen as neutral or delicate in the forest. It's not the big, strong 'der Hirsch' (stag). So, it gets the neutral article: das Reh.

For the meaning: The word Reh sounds a bit like the English word "ray" (as in a ray of light). Imagine seeing a graceful roe deer briefly caught in a ray of sunlight in the forest before vanishing.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

🚨 Beware of Confusion: Many people, especially influenced by Disney's Bambi, confuse Rehe (roe deer) with Hirsche (larger deer/stags). Bambi, in the original story and Disney film, is a white-tailed deer fawn, not a Rehkitz. Das Reh is significantly smaller than a Rothirsch (red deer).

😄 A Little Joke

German: Fragt ein Spaziergänger den Jäger: "Ist das nicht gefährlich, hier im Wald zu schießen?"
Sagt der Jäger: "Wieso? Ich schieße doch nur auf Rehe!"
Spaziergänger: "Ja, aber vielleicht treffen Sie ja mal daneben!"
Jäger: "Keine Sorge, die Rehe treffen nie zurück!"

English Translation: A hiker asks the hunter: "Isn't it dangerous to shoot here in the forest?"
The hunter replies: "Why? I only shoot at roe deer!"
Hiker: "Yes, but maybe you'll miss sometime!"
Hunter: "Don't worry, the roe deer never shoot back!"

📜 Poetry in the Woods

German:
Am frühen Morgen, im feuchten Gras,
steht still und lauschend das scheue Reh.
Ein Rascheln nur, ein leiser Schritt im Moos,
und fort ist es, so schnell, man sah es kaum bloß.

English Translation:
In early morning, in the damp grass,
stands still and listening, the shy roe deer.
A rustle only, a soft step in the moss,
and gone it is, so fast, barely seen, alas.

❓ Who Am I? A Riddle

German:
Ich leb' im Wald, bin braun und klein,
hab große Augen, schau so fein.
Bin scheu und flink auf meinen vier,
der Jäger stellt mir manchmal nach, glaub mir.
Mein Kind heißt Kitz, mein Mann trägt Horn,
im Deutschen bin ich sächlich geboren.
Wer bin ich?

English Translation:
I live in the woods, am brown and small,
Have big eyes, look so gentle to all.
I'm shy and nimble on my four feet,
The hunter sometimes tracks me, oh what a feat.
My child's a fawn, my husband wears horn,
In German, I'm neuter since I was born.
Who am I?

... Das Reh (The roe deer)

💡 Other Interesting Facts

• Etymology: The word "Reh" comes from the Old High German "rēh" and has Germanic origins.
• Distribution (Verbreitung): The roe deer (das Reh) is the most common and smallest deer species in Europe.
• Lifestyle (Lebensweise): Roe deer are ruminants (Wiederkäuer) and feed on herbs, buds, leaves, and grasses.
• Cultural Significance (Kulturelle Bedeutung): The roe deer often appears in fairy tales, legends, and songs (Märchen, Sagen, Lieder), usually symbolizing innocence and grace.