German word

züchten

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈt͡sʏçtn̩/

Meaning

  • verbbreed

Example

Der Bauer züchtet Rinder auf dem Hof.

The farmer breeds cattle on the farm.

Illustration for züchten (breed)

More examples

Im Gewächshaus züchten Forscher resistente Tomaten.

In the greenhouse, researchers are breeding resistant tomatoes.

Core concept

A planned breeding program turns selected cattle, other animals, or plants into a new generation or strain.

Common phrases

  • Rinder züchten

    breed cattle

  • Pflanzen züchten

    breed plants

Similar words

aufziehen: The raising of a young animal through feeding, care, and guidance after birth.
halten: The regular care and keeping of animals in a home or on a farm.
pflegen: The care given to a sick, injured, or weakened living thing.
vermehren: The reproduction of animals or plants to increase their numbers.

Definition in German

Gezielt Nachkommen oder Sorten erzeugen, indem man bestimmte Tiere oder Pflanzen auswählt und vermehrt.

Word origin

The verb züchten comes from Middle High German zühten and is connected with Zucht, a noun related to the older verb ziehen.

Usage tips

  • Züchten emphasizes deliberate breeding, while aufziehen usually means raising an individual animal after its birth rather than producing a line.

Other meanings

  • raiseverb
  • cultivateverb

Opposites

  • ausrotteneradicateverb

Related words

  • Zuchtbreedingnoun
  • Züchterbreedernoun
  • Züchtungbreedingnoun

Word lists with this word