der Biss
bite
The action of gripping with the teeth or biting into something.
EXAMPLE
Der Biss des Hundes in den Stock war sehr kräftig.
The dog's bite into the stick was very strong.
der Biss
bite
der Biss, die Bisse
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Meanings
der Biss
bite
A wound or skin irritation caused by a bite or sting (from an animal or insect).
EXAMPLE
Der Mückenstich juckt schlimmer als der Biss der Ameise.
The mosquito bite itches worse than the ant bite.
der Biss
bite
A bitten-off piece or a mouthful of food.
EXAMPLE
Darf ich einen Biss von deinem Sandwich haben?
Can I have a bite of your sandwich?
der Biss
edge / drive
In a figurative sense: a certain sharpness, intensity, or assertiveness, e.g. in the taste of food or in the character of a person or team.
EXAMPLE
Der Mannschaft fehlte im entscheidenden Spiel der nötige Biss, um zu gewinnen.
In the decisive game, the team lacked the necessary drive to win.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Biss, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Bisse |
| genitive | des Bisses |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Biss | die Bisse |
| accusative | den Biss | die Bisse |
| dative | dem Biss | den Bissen |
| genitive | des Bisses | der Bisse |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word family
'Der Biss' (bite) is the noun that belongs to the strong verb 'beißen' (to bite). This connection between verb and noun with a vowel change is common in German.
EXAMPLE
Pass auf den Hund auf, er beißt manchmal.
Watch out for the dog; he sometimes bites.
Context clue
A 'Biss' (bite) refers to a wound caused by teeth or jaws (e.g. 'Hundebiss' (dog bite)). A wound caused by a stinger or proboscis (e.g. from a bee or mosquito), on the other hand, is called 'Stich' (sting/bite).
EXAMPLE
Der Schlangenbiss war zum Glück nicht giftig.
Fortunately, the snakebite was not poisonous.
Typical phrase
In colloquial language, the phrase 'einen Biss nehmen' (to take a bite) or 'einen Biss probieren' (to try a bite) is used when asking someone if you may taste a small piece of their food.
EXAMPLE
Dein Kuchen sieht lecker aus, darf ich mal einen Biss probieren?
Your cake looks delicious; can I try a bite?
Figurative meaning
In a figurative sense, 'Biss' (bite) means something like assertiveness or energy. Typical phrases are 'Biss haben' (to have drive), 'Biss zeigen' (to show drive), or 'der Biss fehlt' (the drive is missing), often in the context of sports or work.
EXAMPLE
Der Mannschaft fehlte heute der Biss, um das Spiel zu gewinnen.
The team lacked the drive today to win the game.
Compare with
Biss vs Stich
sting / stitch
Both Stich and Biss can refer to a skin injury caused by an animal or insect. Stich is the conventional term for certain insects, such as a mosquito, while Biss emphasizes contact with teeth or the corresponding wound. That is why one speaks of a Mückenstich but a Hundebiss.
Biss
Nach dem Hundebiss war die Haut an meinem Arm rot und schmerzte.
After the dog bite, the skin on my arm was red and painful.
Stich
Nach dem Mückenstich war die Haut an meinem Arm rot und juckte.
After the mosquito bite, the skin on my arm was red and itchy.
In real life
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