der
Dachs
🐾 What exactly is a 'Dachs'?
Der Dachs refers to a mammal from the marten family (Familie der Marder). It's known for its stocky build (gedrungener Körperbau), short legs (kurze Beine), and the distinctive black-and-white facial markings (markante schwarz-weiße Gesichtszeichnung). Badgers usually live in burrows (Bauten) they dig themselves in the forest (Wald).
There's only this one meaning for der Dachs. No risk of confusion with other articles!
Article rules for der, die, and das
Large animals → mostly masculine.
📊 Grammar of 'der Dachs' in Detail
The noun 'Dachs' is masculine. The article is der.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Dachs |
| Genitive | des | Dachses |
| Dative | dem | Dachs(e) |
| Accusative | den | Dachs |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Dachse |
| Genitive | der | Dachse |
| Dativ | den | Dachsen |
| Accusative | die | Dachse |
💡 Example Sentences
- Im Wald haben wir Spuren von einem Dachs entdeckt.
(In the forest, we discovered tracks of a badger.) - Die Zeichnung des Dachses im Gesicht ist sehr charakteristisch.
(The marking of the badger on its face is very characteristic.) - Der Jäger folgte den Dachsen zu ihrem Bau.
(The hunter followed the badgers to their burrow.)
🌲 When to use 'Dachs'?
The term der Dachs is mainly used to refer to the animal. It appears in biological contexts as well as in everyday language, in fairy tales (Märchen) (often as 'Meister Grimbart'), and in hunting language (Jagdsprache).
Colloquially, there's the expression frech wie ein Dachs, which means cheeky as a badger (to be very impudent or sassy).
⚠️ There's sometimes a risk of confusion with the word Dach (das Dach, plural: die Dächer), which means roof, but has a completely different meaning.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Article Mnemonic: Imagine Der strong bear (masculine 'der Bär') is friends with der strong Dachs. Both tough guys are 'der'.
Meaning Mnemonic: The Dachs digs deep, almost like it needs no Dach (roof, 'das Dach') because it lives underground. Remember, it's der Dachs, the digger, not 'das Dach', the cover.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms
- Grimbart: An archaic term, often used in fables for the badger.
- Erdmarder: (Earth marten) Describes its marten family relation and habitat (less common).
Similar but Different Words
😂 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der junge Dachs seinen Vater: "Papa, stimmt es, dass wir unter der Erde leben?" Sagt der Vater: "Ja, mein Sohn, das ist unser Bau." Fragt der Kleine: "Und stimmt es, dass wir nachtaktiv sind?" Antwortet der Vater: "Ja, das stimmt auch." Fragt der Kleine wieder: "Und stimmt es, dass wir uns hauptsächlich von Regenwürmern ernähren?" Sagt der Vater: "Ja, mein Sohn." Darauf der Kleine: "Papa, was machen wir dann hier auf Mallorca am Strand?"
English Translation: The young badger asks his father: "Dad, is it true that we live underground?" The father says: "Yes, my son, that's our burrow." The little one asks: "And is it true that we are nocturnal?" The father replies: "Yes, that's also true." The little one asks again: "And is it true that we mainly eat earthworms?" The father says: "Yes, my son." Then the little one: "Dad, what are we doing here on the beach in Mallorca then?"
📜 Poem about the Dachs
German:
Tief im Walde, leis' und sacht,
wohnt der Dachs bei dunkler Nacht.
Streifen trägt er im Gesicht,
scheut zumeist das Tageslicht.
Gräbt den Bau mit starker Kraft,
zeigt uns seine Meisterschaft.
Ein Bewohner stolz und klug,
meistert jeden Erdenzug.
English Translation:
Deep in the woods, quiet and soft,
lives the badger in the dark night aloft.
Stripes he wears upon his face,
mostly shies from daylight's space.
Digs his burrow with strong might,
shows us his masterful sleight.
A resident proud and smart,
masters every earthy part.
❓ Little Riddle
German:
Ich trage Streifen schwarz auf weiß,
leb' im Wald, ganz still und leis'.
Mein Bau ist tief in kühler Erd',
bin ein Marder, wohlgenährt.
Wer bin ich?
English Translation:
I wear stripes of black on white,
live in the forest, quiet and slight.
My home is deep in the cool earth,
I'm a marten, of good girth.
Who am I?(Answer: der Dachs / the badger)
✨ Other Interesting Facts
- Meister Grimbart: In fables and fairy tales, the badger is often personified and given the name 'Meister Grimbart' ('Master Greybeard'), alluding to its grey fur or facial markings.
- Dachsbau (Badger's sett): Badgers create complex underground burrows, often used for generations, called 'Dachsburgen' ('badger castles'), which can have many chambers and tunnels.
- Dachshaar (Badger hair): Badger hair was formerly used for high-quality shaving brushes.
- Word Composition: The word 'Dachs' comes from the Old High German 'dahs'. Its exact origin is unclear but might be related to the Proto-Indo-European root *tek's- meaning 'to fashion' or 'to build', referring to its digging activity.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Dachs?
The word Dachs is always masculine. The correct form is der Dachs. It refers to the well-known forest animal with the distinctive black-and-white facial markings (the badger).