A genus of deciduous trees or shrubs known for their characteristically shaped leaves and often for their bright autumn colors. The maple leaf is the national symbol of Canada.
example
Im Herbst leuchten die Blätter des Ahorns in unserem Garten rot und gelb.
In autumn, the leaves of the maple in our garden glow red and yellow.
Usage tips
Common in compounds
'Ahorn' (maple) is the base word for many compound nouns. The best-known are 'das Ahornblatt' (maple leaf, the symbol of Canada), 'der Ahornsirup' (maple syrup, a sweet product made from the tree's sap), and 'das Ahornholz' (maple wood, the material).
EXAMPLE
Zum Frühstück essen wir Pfannkuchen mit Ahornsirup.
For breakfast, we eat pancakes with maple syrup.
Symbolic meaning
'Das Ahornblatt' (the maple leaf, the leaf of the maple) is the national symbol of Canada and is shown on the Canadian flag. For this reason, the tree is often associated with that country.
EXAMPLE
Die kanadische Flagge zeigt ein rotes Ahornblatt.
The Canadian flag shows a red maple leaf.
Typical collocations
'Ahorn' (maple) is often mentioned in connection with its characteristic features. Typical formulations are 'die Blätter des Ahorns' (the leaves of the maple), 'die leuchtende Herbstfärbung des Ahorns' (the bright autumn colors of the maple), or furniture 'aus Ahorn' (made of maple).