die
Beute
📖 What does "die Beute" mean?
The word die Beute (feminine) has two main meanings:
- 1. Hunting/Nature: The animal that is hunted and caught by a predator. (Example: Die Maus ist die Beute der Katze. - The mouse is the cat's prey.)
- 2. Robbery/War: Goods acquired through robbery, theft, or conquest in war; loot, spoils, booty. (Example: Die Piraten teilten ihre reiche Beute. - The pirates shared their rich loot/booty.)
It is a feminine noun, therefore always die Beute.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Beute
"Die Beute" is a feminine noun. It is mostly used in the singular, especially when referring to 'loot' or 'spoils of war'. The plural form 'die Beuten' is rare and typically used in specific contexts (e.g., multiple collections of loot or several prey animals caught).
Declension of "die Beute"
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Beute |
| Genitive | der | Beute |
| Dative | der | Beute |
| Accusative | die | Beute |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Beuten |
| Genitive | der | Beuten |
| Dative | den | Beuten |
| Accusative | die | Beuten |
📝 Example Sentences
- Nominative: Die Beute lag versteckt im Gebüsch. (The prey/loot lay hidden in the bushes.)
- Genitive: Der Wert der Beute war enorm. (The value of the loot was enormous.)
- Dative: Der Löwe näherte sich der Beute langsam. (The lion slowly approached the prey.)
- Accusative: Die Polizei fand die Beute im Keller des Diebes. (The police found the loot in the thief's cellar.)
💡 How to use "die Beute"?
The use of die Beute strongly depends on the context:
- In hunting or nature contexts: When talking about animals, die Beute is the victim of a predator. (Der Adler kreist über seiner potenziellen Beute. - The eagle circles above its potential prey.)
- In criminal or military contexts: Die Beute refers to stolen or captured goods. (Die Diebesbande machte reiche Beute. - The gang of thieves got rich loot. Nach der Schlacht wurde die Beute verteilt. - After the battle, the spoils were distributed.)
- Figurative meaning: Sometimes it's used metaphorically, e.g., for an easy gain or target. (Er war leichte Beute für die Betrüger. - He was easy prey for the scammers.)
⚠️ Don't confuse die Beute (prey/loot) with der Beutel (a small bag or pouch).
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Beute"
- Article Mnemonic: Think of die Katze (the female cat) hunting die Maus (the female mouse) – her Beute. Both nouns are feminine. Or: Loot (Beute) is often put into die Tasche (the bag) – both feminine.
- Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine pirates yelling "Ahoy, secure the booty!" Booty sounds similar to Beute and means loot. For the 'prey' meaning, think of a predator saying "It's beautiful prey!" (misspelled 'beauti' to sound like Beute).
A pirate dreams of treasure chests,
Die Beute is what he loves best.
A lion hunts, a silent chase,
Die Beute finds its final place. Both meanings fit with 'die', you see!
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Words)
- For meaning 1 (hunting): Opfer (victim), Fang (catch), Fraß (food/prey, biological term)
- For meaning 2 (robbery/war): Raubgut (loot, stolen goods), Diebesgut (stolen goods), Kriegsbeute (spoils of war), Hehlerware (fenced goods), Gewinn (profit/gain, in context of robbery), Fund (find, referring to found stolen goods)
Antonyms (Opposites)
- For meaning 1 (hunting): Jäger (hunter), Raubtier (predator), Prädator (predator)
- For meaning 2 (robbery/war): Eigentümer (owner), Besitzer (owner/possessor); (in war context:) Verteidiger (defender); (in robbery context:) Opfer (victim of robbery), Bestohlener (person who was robbed)
Similar-sounding words:
- Der Beutel: Small bag or pouch. Completely different meaning!
😂 A Little Joke
Warum teilen Piraten ihre Beute nie am Computer?
Weil sie Angst vor Raubkopien haben! 😄
(Why do pirates never share their loot on the computer? Because they are afraid of pirated copies! [Raubkopie = pirated copy/illegal copy, lit. 'robbery copy'])
✍️ Poem about die Beute
Im Schatten leis, die Augen scharf,
Der Jäger sucht, wirft seinen Warf.
Ein Rascheln nur, ein schneller Sprung,
Die Beute zappelt, ist bezwung'.
(In shadows soft, with eyes so keen,
The hunter searches, sharp and mean.
A rustle faint, a leap, a bound,
The prey now struggles on the ground.)
Im Keller kühl, nach dunkler Tat,
Liegt Gold und Schmuck, parat, parat.
Gestohlen Gut, welch schlimmer Fund,
Die Beute glänzt zur späten Stund'.
(In cellar cool, after dark deed,
Lies gold and jewels, fulfilling greed.
Stolen goods, a wicked find,
The booty gleams, for eyes unkind.)
🕵️♀️ Little Riddle
Ich bin, was der Fuchs zur Henne trägt,
Und was der Dieb im Sack bewegt.
Mal Federn, mal Juwelen fein,
Was kann ich wohl nur sein?
(I am what the fox carries to the hen,
And what the thief moves in his den.
Sometimes feathers, sometimes jewels bright,
What can I possibly be?)
Solution: die Beute (the prey/loot)
🧩 Other Information
Etymology: The word "Beute" comes from the Middle Low German word büte, which meant 'exchange, distribution, loot'. It is related to the English word "booty".
Compound words: There are many compound nouns formed with "Beute", for example:
- Beutetier (prey animal)
- Beutegreifer (predator, lit. 'prey-grabber')
- Kriegsbeute (spoils of war)
- Beutezug (raid, foray, lit. 'loot-march')
- Beutekunst (looted art, typically during wartime)
Summary: is it der, die or das Beute?
The word "Beute" is always feminine. The correct article is die Beute. It means either an animal hunted by a predator (prey) or goods acquired through robbery or war (loot, booty, spoils).
