das Beutetier
prey animal
An animal that is hunted by another animal and eaten as food.
EXAMPLE
Der Löwe beobachtete das Beutetier aus sicherer Entfernung.
The lion observed the prey animal from a safe distance.
das Beutetier
prey animal
das Beutetier, die Beutetiere
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Beutetier, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Beutetiere |
| genitive | des Beutetiers |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Beutetier | die Beutetiere |
| accusative | das Beutetier | die Beutetiere |
| dative | dem Beutetier | den Beutetieren |
| genitive | des Beutetiers des Beutetieres | der Beutetiere |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Beutetier' is made up of 'Beute' (prey) and 'Tier' (animal). The base word 'Tier' is specified more precisely by 'Beute': it refers to an animal in the role of prey.
EXAMPLE
Das Beutetier nahm den Geruch des Raubtiers wahr.
The prey animal detected the scent of the predator.
Typical collocations
Common collocations with 'Beutetier' are 'ein Beutetier erlegen' (to kill a prey animal), 'ein Beutetier reißen' (to maul and kill a prey animal), and 'ein potenzielles Beutetier' (a potential prey animal). These expressions are usually used in descriptions of hunting behavior.
EXAMPLE
Der Adler kreiste lange über dem Tal, bevor er ein Beutetier erlegte.
The eagle circled over the valley for a long time before killing a prey animal.
Technical context
'Beutetier' is used especially in zoological texts, nature documentaries, and descriptions of ecosystems. The context often includes predators, hunting, food chains, or survival strategies.
EXAMPLE
Im dichten Gras kann sich das Beutetier vor dem Raubvogel verstecken.
The prey animal can hide from the bird of prey in the dense grass.
In real life
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