01
der Biber
beaver
A large aquatic rodent known for building dams and lodges out of wood.
example
An dem Fluss kann man die Spuren des Bibers deutlich erkennen.
You can clearly see the traces of the beaver by the river.
der Biber
beaver
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 02
Usage tips
Word family
The word 'Biber' (beaver) is the core of compounds that refer to its way of life. The best-known ones are 'der Biberdamm' (the barrier in the water built by a beaver) and 'die Biberburg' (its lodge).
EXAMPLE
Wanderer entdeckten einen frisch gebauten Biberdamm am Bach.
Hikers discovered a freshly built beaver dam by the stream.
Typical collocations
When referring to the animal, 'Biber' is often used with the verbs 'bauen' (to build) and 'fällen' (to fell). These describe its characteristic activities.
EXAMPLE
Der Biber fällt Bäume, um an Nahrung zu gelangen.
The beaver fells trees in order to get food.
Context clue
You can usually recognize the meaning 'Fell' (fur) from the context of clothing or material. 'Biber' then often appears with the preposition 'aus' (made of), for example 'ein Kragen aus Biber' (a collar made of beaver fur).
EXAMPLE
Früher waren Mäntel aus Biber sehr beliebt.
In the past, coats made of beaver fur were very popular.
Compare with
Biber vs Fell
fur / drumhead
'das Fell' and 'der Biber' can both refer to animal hair as a material. 'das Fell' is the general word for the dense hair of mammals. In this relation, 'der Biber' does not mean the animal itself, but the fur of the beaver, especially as a fur material. In everyday language, 'Fell' is much more general and natural. 'Biber' in this sense is more specific and fits better in texts about fur, clothing, or old goods.
Biber
Im Museum wurde ein alter Mantel aus Biber gezeigt.
An old coat made of beaver fur was displayed in the museum.
Fell
Das Fell des Hundes ist im Winter besonders dicht.
The dog's fur is especially thick in winter.
In real life
Loading video examples...