German word

Höhle

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈhøːlə/

Meaning

  • feminine nouncave

Example

In der Höhle ist es kühl.

It's cool inside the cave.

Illustration for Höhle (cave)

More examples

Der Forscher wollte die Höhle erkunden.

The researcher wanted to explore the cave.

Core concept

A dark hollow space that forms a sheltered interior beneath the ground or inside rock.

Common phrases

  • in der Höhle

    inside the cave

  • eine Höhle erkunden

    explore a cave

  • die Höhle betreten

    go into the cave

Similar words

Grotte: A cave formed in rock, often visited as a tourist attraction.
Loch: A small opening or hole in an object or in the ground.
Spalte: A long, narrow crack or gap in rock or ice.

Definition in German

Höhle bezeichnet eine natürliche oder von Menschen geschaffene Öffnung im Erdreich oder Fels, die einen inneren Hohlraum bildet.

Word origin

Höhle continues older German forms such as Old High German hola and Middle High German höle, from a Germanic family related to English hole.

Usage tips

  • The location phrase in der Höhle uses dative because in describes a fixed position rather than movement into the cave.

Other meanings

  • cavitynoun
  • dennoun

Related words

  • Höhlenforscherspeleologistnoun
  • Höhlenforschungspeleologynoun
  • höhlenartigcave-likeadjective

Word lists with this word