der  Maulwurf

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈmaʊlˌvʊʁf/

🌍 What exactly is a Maulwurf?

Der Maulwurf (Talpa europaea) is a small, burrowing mammal that lives mainly underground. In English, it's called a 'mole'. It's known for its velvety dark fur, powerful digging claws (front legs), and small, often hidden eyes.

In German, the word is always masculine: der Maulwurf.

Also characteristic are the Maulwurfshügel (mole hills), small mounds of earth it pushes to the surface while digging its tunnels.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Check: Der Maulwurf

The noun "Maulwurf" is masculine. Here is its declension:

📝 Example Sentences

• Ein Maulwurf hat unseren Rasen umgegraben. (A mole has dug up our lawn.)
• Die Gänge des Maulwurfs verlaufen direkt unter der Oberfläche. (The mole's tunnels run just beneath the surface.)
• Man sieht einen Maulwurf nur selten. (You rarely see a mole.)
• Überall im Garten sind jetzt Maulwürfe aktiv. (Moles are active everywhere in the garden now.)

💬 How "Maulwurf" is Used

The term "Maulwurf" primarily refers to the animal.

• Animal description: In biological contexts or nature documentaries.
• Gardening/Agriculture: Often in connection with the mole hills (Maulwurfshügel) it creates and as a potential 'pest' (although it can be beneficial as it eats insects).
• Figurative meaning (rare, more colloquial): Sometimes, someone who secretly gathers information or spies (an informant or spy) is called a Maulwurf (similar to the English 'mole'). Example: "Es gab einen Maulwurf in der Organisation." (There was a mole in the organization.)
• Idiom: "Blind wie ein Maulwurf" (blind as a mole/bat) is used to describe severe short-sightedness or lack of observation (even though moles aren't completely blind).

⚠️ Don't confuse it with the Wühlmaus (vole), which also digs tunnels but is a rodent and eats plant roots.

💡 Mnemonics to Remember

How can you remember the article and the meaning?

Article (der): Think of the typical grumpy Gärtner (gardener - masculine, 'der') who is annoyed by den Maulwurf. Or imagine a strong, male mole, der digs powerfully.

Meaning (mole): The word is composed of Maul (here meaning snout/mouth area) and Wurf (from 'werfen' - to throw). The mole 'throws' the earth out of its tunnel with its snout/digging tools. Imagine it werfen-ing (throwing) dirt.

↔️ Opposites and Similarities: Der Maulwurf

Similar Terms (Beware of Confusion!)

• Wühlmaus (vole): Also digs tunnels, but is a rodent and eats plant roots. The Maulwurf is an insectivore.
• Spitzmaus (shrew): Vaguely resembles a mole, but is smaller and mostly lives above ground.

😄 A Little Mole Joke

German: Fragt ein kleiner Maulwurf den anderen: "Glaubst du an ein Leben nach dem Tod?" Sagt der andere: "Ich weiß nicht, aber über uns soll ja die Sonne scheinen!"

English: One little mole asks the other: "Do you believe in life after death?" The other says: "I don't know, but they say the sun shines above us!"

📜 Poem about the Mole

German:
Tief im Dunkel, still und sacht,
hat der Maulwurf sich zur Arbeit gemacht.
Mit Schaufeln stark, gräbt er sein Haus,
wirft Erde hoch, kommt selten raus.
Ein Hügel zeigt, wo er gewesen,
im Samtpelz, dem dunklen Wesen.

English:
Deep in darkness, quiet and soft,
the mole has set himself to work aloft.
With strong shovels, he digs his home,
throws earth high, does rarely roam.
A hillock shows where he has been,
in velvet fur, this creature dim.

❓ Who am I? A Mole Riddle

German:
Ich trage einen Samtpelz, doch bin kein König fein.
Ich grabe mir Paläste, doch sehe kaum Sonnenschein.
Mein Werk hinterlässt Hügel auf manchem grünen Plan.
Ich fange Würmer flink, wer bin ich, sag's mir an!

English:
I wear a velvet coat, but am no noble king.
I dig myself palaces, but hardly see the sun bring.
My work leaves mounds upon many a grassy scene.
I catch worms swiftly; who am I, tell me keen?

Lösung / Answer: Der Maulwurf / The Mole

🧩 Further Details on the Word Maulwurf

Word Formation

The word "Maulwurf" is a compound of:

• Maul: Here, it refers less to the 'mouth' and more to the 'snout' or front head area used for digging or pushing earth away. Historically, perhaps also linked to 'Mull' (loose soil).
• Wurf: Derived from the verb "werfen" (to throw). The mole 'throws' the earth upwards out of its tunnels.

Cultural & Trivia

• In Germany, the mole (der Maulwurf) is a protected species.
• The well-known children's book character "The Little Mole" (Czech: Krtek) by Zdeněk Miler has positively shaped the mole's image.
• The idiom "blind wie ein Maulwurf" (blind as a mole/bat) is common.