German word

Wolf

Pronunciation

IPA/vɔlf/

Meaning

  • masculine nounwolf

Example

Im Wald sieht man oft Wölfe.

You often see wolves in the forest.

Illustration for Wolf (wolf)

More examples

In der Nacht hört man oft das Heulen der Wölfe.

At night, one often hears the howling of wolves.

Core concept

A large wild canine traveling through the forest with a hunting pack.

Common phrases

  • das Heulen der Wölfe

    the howling of wolves

  • Jagd auf Wölfe

    hunting wolves

Similar words

Hund: A tame canine kept by people for companionship or protection.
Fuchs: A small, red-furred wild canine that often lives in dens or thickets.
Rudel: A pack of canines living or hunting together.
Wildtier: An animal living freely in nature without human care.

Definition in German

Ein großes wildes hundeartiges Tier, das meist im Rudel lebt und jagt.

Word origin

German Wolf comes from Old High German wolf and ultimately Proto-Germanic *wulfaz, related to English wolf.

Usage tips

  • Wolf is masculine: der Wolf, with the plural die Wölfe, which adds an umlaut and changes the vowel sound.

Related words

  • Wolfsheulenwolf howlingnoun
  • Wolfsjagdwolf huntingnoun

Word lists with this word