die  Hündin

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈhʏndɪn/

🐶 What does "Hündin" mean?

The word Hündin is the female form of the German word Hund (dog). Therefore, it refers to a female domestic dog.

Since it denotes a female creature, the article is always die. There are no other articles for this word.

• Meaning: female dog
• Article: die

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Die Hündin

The noun "Hündin" is feminine. Here are the declension tables:

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Hündin bellt freudig, als ihr Besitzer nach Hause kommt.
   (The female dog barks happily when her owner comes home.)
2. Der Tierarzt untersuchte die Pfote der Hündin.
   (The vet examined the female dog's paw.)
3. Wir gaben der Hündin frisches Wasser.
   (We gave the female dog fresh water.)
4. Er streichelt die schlafende Hündin.
   (He pets the sleeping female dog.)
5. Die Hündinnen auf der Wiese spielen miteinander.
   (The female dogs in the meadow are playing together.)

🐾 Everyday Usage

"Hündin" is used specifically to name the sex of a dog. It's the standard term used in all contexts, from everyday conversations to specialist texts (e.g., in veterinary medicine or breeding).

• Everyday language: "Unsere Nachbarn haben eine neue Hündin." (Our neighbors have a new female dog.)
• Veterinary context: "Die Hündin muss nach der Operation geschont werden." (The female dog needs to rest after the surgery.)
• Breeding context: "Diese Hündin hat bereits mehrere Preise gewonnen." (This female dog has already won several awards.)

Compared to the more general term "Weibchen" (female animal), which can be used for female animals of any species, "Hündin" is specific to dogs.

💡 Memory Aids for Hündin

Article Mnemonic: Think of the biological sex: Hündin is female, just like Königin (queen) or Lehrerin (female teacher). Feminine nouns in German often (though not always!) take the article die.

Meaning Mnemonic: A Hündin is a hound (Hund) that is feminine. The "-in" suffix frequently signals the female gender in German.

🔄 Opposites and Alternatives

⚠️ Similar but Different Words

• Hund (der): The general term for dog (male or female), or when the sex is unknown or irrelevant.
• Welpe (der): A puppy, regardless of sex.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt eine Hündin die andere: "Wie findest du meinen neuen Halsband-Anhänger?"

Sagt die andere: "Sehr anhänglich!"

Translation:

One female dog asks the other: "How do you like my new collar tag/pendant?"

The other replies: "Very attached/clingy!" (The German word "anhänglich" means both attached [like a pendant] and affectionate/clingy [like a person or pet].)

🎵 A Short Poem

Die Hündin, treu und sanft zugleich,
Mit Fell so weich, im Sonnenstreich.
Ihr Blick voll Wärme, klug und klar,
Ein Freund fürs Leben, wunderbar.

Translation:

The female dog, loyal and gentle too,
With fur so soft, in sunny hue.
Her gaze so warm, clever and clear,
A friend for life, wonderfully dear.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich belle gern und wedle froh,
Bin weiblich, das ist einfach so.
Der Mann heißt Rüde, doch wie ich?
Sag's schnell, dann freue ich mich!

Translation:

I like to bark and wag with glee,
I'm female, that's just me.
The male is called a Rüde, but what am I?
Say it fast, and I'll happily sigh!

Solution: die Hündin

✨ Other Information

Word Formation:

The word "Hündin" is an explicit feminine derivation (Movierung in German) from the word "Hund". In German, this is often achieved by adding the suffix -in to the masculine form.

• Hund + -in → Hündin (with an Umlaut changing 'u' to 'ü')

This is a very common pattern for forming feminine nouns for living beings or professions (e.g., Lehrer (male teacher) → Lehrerin (female teacher), Löwe (lion) → Löwin (lioness)).