German Conversation · Level 166
30 words
German word
Fliege
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈfliːgə/
Meaning
- feminine nounfly
Example
Viele Fliegen sind im Sommer lästig.
Many flies are a nuisance in summer.
More examples
Beim Picknick landeten ständig Fliegen auf dem Essen.
At the picnic, flies kept landing on the food.
Core concept
The same compact shape suggests wings opened on either side, whether it moves through the air or sits at a collar.
Common phrases
auf der Fensterscheibe Fliegen
flies on the window glass
eine Fliege im Essen
a fly in the food
Similar words
Mücke: A small insect that is active at night and may cause itchy bites.
Biene: An insect that collects nectar, helps pollinate flowers, and may sting painfully.
Wespe: A yellow-and-black striped insect that can be aggressive and may sting.
Schmetterling: A colorful insect with large wings that flutters around flowers.
Definition in German
ein kleines fliegendes Insekt; auch: eine am Hemdkragen getragene Schleife, deren Form an ein Insekt mit ausgebreiteten Flügeln erinnert
Word origin
The insect noun Fliege developed from Old High German flioga, related to fliegen, and its bow-tie sense comes from the tie's resemblance to an insect with open wings.
Usage tips
- Fliege is feminine, so the forms are die Fliege and eine Fliege; context distinguishes the insect from the bow tie.
Other meanings
- bow tienoun
Related words
- Fliegenklatschefly swatternoun
- Fliegenbekämpfungfly eradicationnoun