der
Biber
📖 What does "der Biber" mean?
The word der Biber has two main meanings:
- Animal 🐹: A large rodent (Castor fiber or Castor canadensis) known for building dams and lodges out of wood, living in or near water. In English: beaver.
- Fabric 👕: A thick, napped cotton fabric that is particularly soft and warm. It's often used for bedding (Biberbettwäsche - beaver bedding/flannel sheets) or winter clothing. Sometimes also called Baumwollflanell (cotton flannel). In English: flannel (specifically thick cotton flannel).
🚨 Although both meanings use the article "der", they refer to completely different things. The context usually makes it clear which meaning is intended.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Large animals → mostly masculine.
-er → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. almost all -euer nouns are neutral. 3. There are many -er words, we don't list them all.
🧐 Grammar: A closer look at "der Biber"
Der Biber is a masculine noun. Here are the declension tables:
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | der | Biber | The beaver |
| Genitive (Whose?) | des | Bibers | The beaver's / of the beaver |
| Dative (To/For whom?) | dem | Biber | To/for the beaver |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | den | Biber | The beaver |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Biber | The beavers |
| Genitive | der | Biber | The beavers' / of the beavers |
| Dative | den | Bibern | To/for the beavers |
| Accusative | die | Biber | The beavers |
Example Sentences
- Animal: Der Biber baut einen Damm im Fluss.
The beaver is building a dam in the river. - Animal: Wir beobachteten die Spuren des Bibers am Ufer.
We observed the tracks of the beaver on the bank. - Fabric: Die Bettwäsche aus Biber ist sehr kuschelig.
The flannel bedding is very cozy. - Fabric: Ich habe mir ein Hemd aus Biber für den Winter gekauft.
I bought myself a flannel shirt for the winter.
💡 Everyday Usage
When do you use "der Biber"?
- Talking about animals and nature: When discussing the rodent, its lifestyle, conservation, or observations in the wild. Example: "Hast du den Biberdamm gesehen?" (Did you see the beaver dam?)
- Shopping or talking about textiles: When referring to the warm cotton fabric, especially for bedding or clothing. Example: "Ich schlafe im Winter am liebsten in Biber-Bettwäsche." (In winter, I prefer sleeping in flannel bedding.)
- As a metaphor for diligence: The idiom "fleißig wie ein Biber sein" (to be as busy as a beaver) describes someone very hardworking and industrious. Example: "Er hat das ganze Haus renoviert, er war fleißig wie ein Biber!" (He renovated the whole house, he was as busy as a beaver!)
⚠️ Confusion is only likely if the context is unclear, which rarely happens. A "Biber" in the forest (im Wald) is the animal; a "Biber" in a bedding store (im Bettwarengeschäft) is the fabric.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Article "der"
Imagine: Der strong builder (der Baumeister) - the beaver - busily builds his burrow. The strong male 'builder' helps remember the masculine 'der'.
Meanings (Animal & Fabric)
Think: Der Biber (the beaver animal) has thick fur, just like der Biber (the flannel fabric) is thick and warm. Both protect against the cold!
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Words)
- For the animal: Nagetier (rodent), Wassernager (water rodent), Dammbauer (dam builder - colloquial)
- For the fabric: Baumwollflanell (cotton flannel), Flanell (flannel - although flannel can also be wool, Biber specifically refers to cotton)
Similar-sounding but different words
- Bieber: A surname (e.g., Justin Bieber). Sounds similar but is spelled differently and has a different meaning.
😂 A Little Beaver Joke
DE: Warum hat der Biber den Computer mit ins Wasser genommen?
Damit er online gehen und im Web surfen kann! 🪵💻
EN: Why did the beaver take the computer into the water?
So he could log on and surf the web! 🪵💻
✍️ Poem about the Beaver
DE:
Am Fluss, ganz still und ungestört,
Der Biber werkelt unerhört.
Mit Zähnen scharf, fällt er die Baum',
Erfüllt sich seinen Lebenstraum.
Ein Damm entsteht, ein Meisterstück,
Bringt ihm und seiner Burg viel Glück.
Aus Ästen, Schlamm und viel Geschick,
Baut er sein Heim, Stück für Stück.
EN:
By the river, quiet and undisturbed,
The beaver works, quite unperturbed.
With teeth so sharp, it fells the tree,
Fulfilling its life's decree.
A dam arises, a masterpiece,
Bringing him and his lodge much peace.
From branches, mud, and skillful hand,
Building its home throughout the land.
🧩 Who am I? A Riddle
DE:
Ich trage einen Pelz, doch bin kein Bär,
Ich fälle Bäume, kreuz und quer.
Im Wasser bau' ich mir ein Haus,
Aus Holz und Schlamm, tagaus, tagein.
Mein Schwanz ist flach, fast wie ein Paddel breit.
Wer bin ich wohl, zu dieser Wasserszeit?
EN:
I wear fur, but am no bear,
I fell trees, everywhere.
In water, I build my house with might,
From wood and mud, day and through night.
My tail is flat, almost like a paddle wide.
Who am I, by this waterside?
Solution / Auflösung: Der Biber / The Beaver
💡 Other Interesting Facts
- Word Origin / Wortherkunft: The word "Biber" comes from the Old High German "bibar" and has Indo-European roots, likely referring to the animal's brownish color (related to "braun" / brown).
- Ecological Importance / Ökologische Bedeutung: Beavers are so-called keystone species (Schlüsselarten). By building dams, they create wetlands (Feuchtgebiete) that provide habitats for many other animal and plant species.
- Castoreum / Bibergeil: A secretion from the beaver's castor sacs, formerly used in perfumery and as medicine.
- Idiom / Redewendung: "Fleißig wie ein Biber" (busy as a beaver) is a common idiom in German.
Summary: is it der, die or das Biber?
The word "Biber" is always masculine. It is der Biber, whether you mean the animal or the fabric.