01
der Falke
falcon
A fast bird of prey with pointed wings, known for its hunting abilities.
example
Ein Falke stieß aus großer Höhe auf seine Beute herab.
A falcon swooped down on its prey from a great height.
der Falke
falcon / hawk
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Metaphorical meaning
The political meaning is a metaphor. A 'Falke' (hawk) is a person who takes a hard, aggressive, and uncompromising stance, similar to the bird of prey when hunting.
EXAMPLE
In der Debatte über die Zinserhöhung setzten sich die Falken durch.
In the debate about the interest rate increase, the hawks prevailed.
Political context
This term is used almost exclusively in discussions about politics and economics. Typical topics are monetary policy (central bank), foreign policy, or security issues.
EXAMPLE
Der Außenminister gilt als Falke in der Sicherheitspolitik.
The foreign minister is considered a hawk in security policy.
Typical verbs
When referring to the bird, 'der Falke' (the falcon) is often combined with verbs and phrases such as 'am Himmel kreisen' (to circle in the sky), 'Beute jagen' (to hunt prey), or 'vom Himmel stoßen' (to dive/swoop down from the sky).
EXAMPLE
Wir beobachteten, wie ein Falke hoch über dem Feld kreiste.
We watched a falcon circling high above the field.
Word family
The words 'der Falkner' (a person who hunts with or trains falcons) and 'die Falknerei' (the art of hunting with falcons) are derived from the word 'Falke' (falcon).
EXAMPLE
Im Mittelalter war die Falknerei ein beliebter Sport des Adels.
In the Middle Ages, falconry was a popular sport among the nobility.
Compare with
Falke vs Adler
eagle
'der Adler' and 'der Falke' are both birds of prey, so they can easily be confused. An eagle is a large, powerful bird with strong talons. A falcon is usually smaller and is especially known for its fast hunting flights. In nature, 'Adler' fits better when the bird looks large and powerful. 'Falke' fits when you mean a fast bird of prey with pointed wings.
Falke
Plötzlich stürzte ein Falke schnell auf seine Beute herab.
Suddenly, a falcon quickly swooped down on its prey.
Adler
Der Adler saß ruhig auf einem hohen Felsen.
The eagle sat calmly on a high rock.
In real life
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