das Futter
feed
Food intended for animals.
EXAMPLE
Vergiss nicht, dem Hund sein Futter zu geben.
Don't forget to give the dog its feed.
das Futter
feed / lining
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Meanings
das Futter
lining
The inner layer of fabric in clothing, bags, or curtains.
EXAMPLE
Das Futter meiner Jacke ist gerissen und muss genäht werden.
The lining of my jacket is torn and needs to be sewn.
das Futter
grub / food
A colloquial and often humorous expression for food for people.
EXAMPLE
Beeilt euch, Leute, es gibt Futter!
Hurry up, guys, there's grub!
das Futter
chuck
In technology, a device for clamping workpieces or tools, for example on a lathe (clamping chuck).
EXAMPLE
Der Bohrer wird fest im Futter der Bohrmaschine eingespannt.
The drill bit is clamped firmly in the chuck of the drill.
Usage tips
Context clue
The meanings of 'Futter' are very different. But the context always makes clear what is meant: are you talking about animals (animal feed), clothing (inner fabric), food (colloquial), or tools (technical)?
EXAMPLE
Der Bauer bringt das Futter für die Kühe.
The farmer brings the feed for the cows.
Compound formation
In the meaning of 'Tiernahrung' (animal food/feed), 'Futter' is a very productive base word. It is often combined with a type of animal to specify the kind of food, e.g. 'Hundefutter' (dog food), 'Katzenfutter' (cat food), or 'Vogelfutter' (bird food).
EXAMPLE
Im Supermarkt gibt es eine ganze Abteilung nur für Hundefutter.
At the supermarket there is a whole section just for dog food.
Colloquial language
When 'Futter' is used for food for people, it is always colloquial and often meant humorously. You should avoid this expression in formal situations.
EXAMPLE
Kommt schnell, das Futter wird kalt!
Come quickly, the grub is getting cold!
Technical language
The meaning of 'Futter' as a holding device for tools is a technical term. You will mainly encounter it in workshops or in instructions for machines such as drills.
EXAMPLE
Bitte zieh das Futter der Drehbank fest an, bevor du die Maschine startest.
Please tighten the chuck of the lathe firmly before you start the machine.
Compare with
Futter vs Nahrung
food / nourishment
Nahrung and Futter can both refer to what an animal takes in to live and grow. Futter is the usual term for food provided to animals, while Nahrung is more general and often refers more objectively to the basis of nutrition. When giving or buying food for an animal, Futter is usually the appropriate term.
Futter
Ich stellte dem Welpen sein Futter in den Napf.
I put the puppy's food in its bowl.
Nahrung
Für das Wachstum des Welpen ist ausgewogene Nahrung wichtig.
A balanced diet is important for the puppy's growth.
In real life
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