German word

Wels

Pronunciation

IPA/vɛls/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncatfish

Example

Der Fischer hat einen Wels gefangen.

The fisherman caught a catfish.

Illustration for Wels (catfish)

More examples

Im Restaurant bestellte sie gegrilltes Wels.

At the restaurant, she ordered grilled catfish.

Core concept

A large bottom-dwelling freshwater catfish with a broad head, whisker-like feelers, and a dark river or lake habitat.

Common phrases

  • Wels angeln

    fish for catfish

  • das Fleisch des Wels

    catfish meat

  • ein ausgewachsener Wels

    adult catfish

Similar words

Fisch: A broad term for fish found in seas, rivers, lakes, and similar waters.
Süßwasserfisch: Any fish that lives in freshwater, including rivers and lakes.

Definition in German

ein großer Süßwasserfisch mit breitem Kopf und bartähnlichen Tastorganen, der meist am Gewässergrund lebt

Word origin

Wels comes through Middle High German welse from an old Germanic fish name for this large freshwater fish.

Usage tips

  • Wels is masculine, so the standard forms are der Wels, einen Wels, and die Welse.

Related words

  • Welszuchtcatfish farmingnoun
  • Welsfiletcatfish filletnoun

Word lists with this word