der
Rüssel
🐘 What exactly is a Rüssel?
The word der Rüssel has several meanings, but mostly refers to an elongated, often flexible organ on an animal's head:
- Elephant's trunk: The most famous example. The long, prehensile nose and upper lip part of an elephant. 🐘
- Insect's proboscis: The sucking or piercing mouthpart of many insects, e.g., mosquitoes or butterflies. 🦋🦟
- Pig's snout: Sometimes a pig's snout is colloquially called a Rüssel. 🐷
- (Colloquial, often derogatory) Nose: In rare cases, "Rüssel" can also be used colloquially or disparagingly for the human nose. 👃 (⚠️ Be careful: Can be perceived as offensive!)
In all cases, it is a masculine noun: der Rüssel.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-el → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. there are many -el words, we don't list them all.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Rüssel
The noun Rüssel is masculine. Here is the declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Rüssel |
| Genitive | des | Rüssels |
| Dative | dem | Rüssel |
| Accusative | den | Rüssel |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Rüssel |
| Genitive | der | Rüssel |
| Dative | den | Rüsseln |
| Accusative | die | Rüssel |
Example Sentences
- Der Elefant hebt Wasser mit seinem Rüssel auf.
(The elephant picks up water with its trunk.) - Der Schmetterling saugt Nektar durch seinen feinen Rüssel.
(The butterfly sucks nectar through its fine proboscis.) - Pass auf, dass du deinen Rüssel nicht in fremde Angelegenheiten steckst!
(Watch out you don't stick your nose into other people's business! - colloquial for nose) - Die Mücke sticht mit ihrem spitzen Rüssel.
(The mosquito bites with its sharp proboscis.)
💡 How to use "Rüssel"?
The use of der Rüssel strongly depends on the context:
- Animal world: Most commonly and neutrally, "Rüssel" is used for elephants, tapirs, and certain insects (like butterflies, mosquitoes, bees, bugs). Here it describes the specific organ.
- Colloquial (Animal): Sometimes it's used loosely for a pig's snout ("Schweinerüssel").
- Colloquial (Human): Using it for the human nose is informal and often carries a negative or jocular connotation. It can be perceived as rude or impolite. Comparable to the English "beak" or "schnoz".
- Technology: Metaphorically, the term is sometimes used for tube-like, flexible parts, e.g., the "Rüssel" of a vacuum cleaner hose.
Important: Don't confuse "der Rüssel" with "die Schnauze" (more for dogs, wolves) or "der Schnabel" (for birds).
🧠 How to remember "der Rüssel"
Article Mnemonic
Imagine an elephant waving with his long trunk – a powerful, masculine animal. DER Rüssel (the trunk) belongs to DEM Elefanten (the masculine elephant).
Meaning Mnemonic
A Rüssel is like a 'R'od or tube, often for smelling ('R'iechen in German) or sucking, quite special and 'r'are. Think of elephant, 'r'iechen, 'r'ohr (tube) -> Rüssel.
🔄 Related and Opposite Words
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Elefantenrüssel: Specific to elephants.
- Saugrüssel: Specific to insects that suck.
- Stechrüssel: Specific to insects that pierce/sting.
- Proboscis: Technical term (often for insects).
- Schnauze: (Colloquial for pig) Similar, but broader term (snout).
- Nase: (Colloquial, derogatory) Only in this specific context (nose).
Antonyms (Opposites)
There aren't really direct antonyms for "Rüssel" as it describes a specific body part. The absence of a trunk could be considered the opposite.
Similar but Different Words
😄 A Little Joke
Warum nehmen Elefanten ihren Rüssel mit ins Schwimmbad?
Damit sie nicht die Badehose verlieren!
(Why do elephants take their trunk to the swimming pool?
So they don't lose their swimming trunks!)
✍️ Rüssel Rhymes
Der Elefant, so stark und grau,
trägt seinen Rüssel, jeder schau!
Er trinkt damit und trompetet laut,
hilft seiner Herde, ist ihm vertraut.
Auch Falter klein, mit Zartgefühl,
nutzt seinen Rüssel, niemals kühl,
um Nektar süß aus Blüten rein,
so muss das Leben wohl sein.
(The elephant, so strong and grey,
wears his trunk, look everyone, hooray!
He drinks with it and trumpets loud,
helps his herd, familiar to the crowd.
Also the butterfly, small and gentle,
uses its proboscis, never temperamental,
for nectar sweet from flowers pure,
that's how life must be, for sure.)
❓ Who or What Am I?
Ich bin lang und kann greifen, doch hab keine Hand.
Ich helfe beim Trinken im trockenen Land.
Ein Insekt trägt mich klein, ein Gigant trägt mich groß.
Mal zum Saugen, mal Stoßen, was bin ich bloß?
(I am long and can grasp, but have no hand.
I help with drinking in the dry land.
An insect carries me small, a giant carries me large.
Sometimes for sucking, sometimes for a charge.
What am I?)
Solution: Der Rüssel (the trunk/proboscis)
✨ More about Rüssel
Etymology: The word "Rüssel" likely comes from the Middle High German "rüezel", which might be related to "riechen" (to smell) or an old root meaning "to dig" or "to root".
Compound Words: "Rüssel" is also found in other German words, e.g.:
- Rüsseltier: Order Proboscidea (elephants).
- Rüsselkäfer: Weevil (a family of beetles with a characteristic snout/rostrum).
- Rüsselspringer: Elephant shrew (small mammals in Africa with a trunk-like elongated nose).
- Staubsaugerrüssel: Colloquial term for the hose/tube of a vacuum cleaner.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Rüssel?
The word "Rüssel" is always masculine. The correct form is: der Rüssel. It primarily refers to the long nasal/prehensile organ of elephants, but also the mouthparts of insects, or colloquially, a snout or nose.