der  Thunfisch

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈtuːnfɪʃ/

🐟 What exactly is a Thunfisch?

Der Thunfisch (plural: die Thunfische) refers to a genus of large, fast predatory fish living in warm seas. They belong to the mackerel and tuna family (Scombridae). In German, the word is used for both the living animal and its meat as food.

There is only the masculine article der for Thunfisch. There are no differences in meaning based on articles, as only one exists.

🚨 Attention: The spelling Tunfisch (without 'h') is also correct and common, but Thunfisch with 'h' is the recommended spelling according to the Duden dictionary.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar: Declension of "der Thunfisch"

The noun Thunfisch is masculine. Here are the declension tables:

📝 Example Sentences

• Nominative: Der Thunfisch schwimmt schnell durch das Meer. (The tuna swims quickly through the sea.)
• Genitive: Die Farbe des Thunfisches ist silbrig-blau. (The color of the tuna is silvery-blue.)
• Dative: Wir nähern uns dem Thunfisch mit dem Boot. (We are approaching the tuna with the boat.)
• Accusative: Ich esse gerne den Thunfisch aus der Dose. (I like eating canned tuna.)
• Plural: Riesige Schwärme von Thunfischen ziehen durch den Ozean. (Huge schools of tuna migrate through the ocean.)

💡 How is "Thunfisch" used?

The term Thunfisch is mainly used in two contexts:

• Biology/Zoology: When talking about the animal itself, its way of life, species (e.g., Roter Thun - Bluefin Tuna, Gelbflossen-Thun - Yellowfin Tuna), or its conservation status.
• Cuisine/Food: Very often, Thunfisch refers to the fish's meat as an ingredient or dish. It's popular in cans (Dosenthunfisch), as steaks (Thunfischsteak), in salads (Thunfischsalat), on pizza (Pizza Tonno), or in sushi.

Typical word combinations:

• Thunfisch in Öl / in Wasser (Tuna in oil / in water)
• frischer Thunfisch / gefrorener Thunfisch (fresh tuna / frozen tuna)
• Thunfisch fangen / angeln (to catch / fish for tuna)

It's a very specific word, usually not confused with other fish, except perhaps broadly with mackerels, the family it belongs to.

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Thunfisch"

Here’s how to remember the article and meaning:

Article Mnemonic: Imagine a strong fisherman, DER strong man, pulling a huge, powerful THUNFISCH ashore. Many fish in German are masculine (der Hering, der Lachs, der Hai), and the tuna is a particularly large and strong example, fitting the masculine 'der'.

Meaning Mnemonic: Thunfisch sounds a bit like 'tune a fish'. What do you *tune* a fish for? Maybe you *tune* it up before eating it, like on a pizza? 🍕 Or maybe it needs *tuning* because it swims so fast, like a finely *tuned* engine!

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

😂 A little Tuna Joke

Was sagt ein Thunfisch, wenn er gegen eine Wand schwimmt?
(What does a tuna say when it swims into a wall?)

"Mist, Thunfischdosen sind aber auch stabil!"
("Damn, tuna cans really are sturdy!" 😉)

📜 Poem about the Tuna

Der Thunfisch, schnell und groß,
(The tuna, fast and large,)
\Im weiten Meer, ganz haltlos.
(In the wide sea, unrestrained.)
\Silberner Pfeil, im Blau so rein,
(Silver arrow, so pure in the blue,)
\Mal Tier, mal leckerer Mahlzeitenschein.
(Sometimes animal, sometimes delicious meal's appearance.)
\Ob frisch vom Grill, ob aus der Büchs',
(Whether fresh from the grill, or from the can,)
\Der Thunfisch ist ein wahrer Schmaus – fix!
(The tuna is a true feast – quickly!)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich schwimme schnell in warmen Meeren,
(I swim fast in warm oceans,)
man kann mein Fleisch auf Pizza ehren.
(my meat can be honored on pizza.)
Mal bin ich rot, mal gelb die Flosse,
(Sometimes my fin is red, sometimes yellow,)
mein Artikel ist 'der', mein Genosse.
(my article is 'der', my comrade.)

Wer bin ich? / Who am I?

✨ Other Interesting Facts

• Word Composition: The word is composed of Thun (from Latin thunnus or Greek thýnnos) and Fisch (fish).
• Size and Speed: Some tuna species, like the Bluefin (Roter Thun), can grow over 3 meters long, weigh over 600 kg, and reach speeds of up to 75 km/h (47 mph)! 🚀
• Warm-blooded? Tuna are one of the few fish species that can maintain a body temperature above that of the surrounding water, giving them advantages when hunting in colder depths.
• Endangerment: Many tuna species are endangered or heavily threatened due to overfishing. Sustainable fishing practices are particularly important here (Nachhaltiger Fischfang).