das  Vieh

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/fiː/

🐄 What does "das Vieh" mean?

Das Vieh (neuter gender) primarily refers to livestock or cattle, especially farm animals like cows, pigs, sheep, or goats, considered as a group or collective. It's a collective noun.

• Main Meaning: The entirety of farm animals on a farm or in a region; livestock population. *Example:* Der Bauer treibt das Vieh auf die Weide. (*The farmer drives the livestock to the pasture.*)
• Figurative Meaning (often derogatory): It can sometimes be used very disparagingly for a rough, uncivilized crowd or individuals. 🚨 *This usage has strong negative connotations and should generally be avoided.* *Example (derogatory):* Die Hooligans benahmen sich wie das Vieh. (*The hooligans behaved like animals/brutes.*)

Although a technical plural exists ("die Viehe"), it is extremely rarely used in modern German. People usually use "Vieh" in the singular or paraphrase (e.g., "die Herden" - *the herds*, "die Tiere" - *the animals*).

🧐 Grammar of "das Vieh" in Detail

"Vieh" is a neuter noun (Neutrum) and is normally used only in the singular. The article is das.

Declension Singular

💡 *Note:* The genitive and dative forms ending in "-e" (Viehes, Viehe) are rather archaic or elevated.

Plural

The plural "die Viehe" is very uncommon and usually avoided. The singular is used as a collective noun, or paraphrases are employed.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Das Vieh grast friedlich auf der Alm. (The livestock is grazing peacefully on the mountain pasture.)
2. Der Geruch des Viehs lag in der Luft. (The smell of the livestock was in the air.)
3. Der Bauer gibt dem Vieh frisches Futter. (The farmer gives fresh feed to the livestock.)
4. Er verkauft das Vieh auf dem Markt. (He sells the livestock at the market.)

🚜 When and how to use "das Vieh"?

"Das Vieh" is a word primarily used in the context of agriculture and animal husbandry. It's a collective term and emphasizes the animals' quality as livestock or as a group.

• Context: Farms, agriculture, livestock breeding, animal husbandry, sometimes historically or in rural descriptions.
• Difference to "Tier": While "Tier" (das Tier, pl. die Tiere) is a general term for any creature that isn't human or plant, "Vieh" specifically refers to farm animals, often in an agricultural sense. You wouldn't normally call a dog or cat "Vieh" (unless used derogatorily, which is rare for pets).
• Specific Animal Species: When talking about specific animals, their specific names are preferred (die Kuh - the cow, das Schwein - the pig, das Schaf - the sheep). "Vieh" is used when referring to the animals as an unspecified group or economic unit (e.g., Der Viehbestand muss gemeldet werden. - *The livestock population must be reported.*).
• Derogatory Use: As mentioned, using it for humans is highly derogatory, describing rough, uncontrolled behavior (e.g., Sie drängelten sich wie das liebe Vieh. - *They pushed and shoved like (dear) animals.* The word "liebe" - dear - ironically intensifies the insult). ⚠️ *Be careful with this usage!*

💡 Mnemonics for "das Vieh"

Article Mnemonic (das)

Think of "das Vieh" as *the collective*, *the asset* of the farmer. Neutral concepts like 'collective' or 'asset' often correspond to the neuter gender *das* in German. Or: Many animals = One "Vieh" -> Neuter -> das Vieh. It's *it*, the group.

Meaning Mnemonic (Livestock)

Imagine the sound farm animals make: Moooo! Baaaa! Oink! All these sounds belong to *das Vieh*. The sound "Vieh" (pronounced roughly like 'fee') might vaguely remind you of 'feed' – you feed *das Vieh*. Or think of the English word "fee", which is related and historically meant wealth/property, often in the form of livestock.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms of Vieh

⚠️ Potential for Confusion

Sometimes "Vieh" might be confused with the general term "Tier" (*animal*). "Tier" is much broader and includes all animals, whereas "Vieh" is restricted to livestock/farm animals.

😄 A Little Joke about Vieh

Fragt der Städter den Bauern: "Sagen Sie mal, geben Ihre Kühe Milch?"
Antwortet der Bauer: "Nein, von allein nicht. Sie müssen schon selbst melken! Das Vieh ist da eher passiv."

Translation:
The city dweller asks the farmer: "Tell me, do your cows give milk?"
The farmer replies: "No, not on their own. You have to do the milking yourself! The livestock is rather passive about it."

📜 A Poem about das Vieh

Auf grüner Weid', im Sonnenschein,
Da steht das Vieh, so brav und fein.
Die Kuh kaut wied'rig, tief im Sinn,
Das Schaf blökt leise vor sich hin.
Der Bauer schaut, sein Herz ist froh,
Das Vieh, es nährt ihn, sowieso.
Ein Bild des Lands, so alt, so wahr,
Das Leben mit der Tierschar.

Translation:
On pastures green, in sunshine bright,
The livestock stands, a gentle sight.
The cow chews cud, in thought profound,
The sheep bleats softly, all around.
The farmer looks, his heart content,
The livestock feeds him, heaven-sent.
A country scene, so old, so true,
Life with the animal crew.

❓ A Little Riddle

Ich bin kein einzelnes Tier, doch aus Tieren bestehe ich.
Auf dem Bauernhof leb' ich, nützlich bin ich sicherlich.
Mein Artikel ist sächlich, man braucht mich zum Leben.
Was bin ich, als Gruppe von Nutztieren gegeben?

Translation:
I'm not a single animal, but I consist of animals.
I live on the farm, useful I certainly am.
My article is neuter, people need me to live.
What am I, given as a group of farm animals?

Solution: das Vieh

➕ Additional Information

• Word Compounds: "Vieh" is part of many German words related to agriculture and animal husbandry, e.g.:
  • Viehzucht (livestock breeding)
  • Viehhaltung (livestock farming/keeping)
  • Viehtransport (livestock transport)
  • Viehmarkt (cattle market)
  • Stallvieh (stabled livestock - 'Stall' = stable)
  • Federvieh (poultry - 'Feder' = feather; although birds, sometimes counted analogously)
• Etymology: The word "Vieh" (Old High German "fihu") originally meant "possession, property, wealth", especially movable property. Since livestock was historically the most important form of movable wealth, the meaning shifted to the animals themselves. It is related to the English word "fee".