01
der Hund
dog
A domesticated mammal that is often kept as a pet and is known for its loyalty.
example
Unser Hund wartet jeden Tag an der Tür, bis wir nach Hause kommen.
Our dog waits at the door every day until we come home.
der Hund
dog
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Common in compounds
The word 'Hund' (dog) is a very productive base word and forms many compound nouns. The first word often describes what has to do with the dog, for example 'Hundefutter' (dog food; food for the dog) or 'Hundeleine' (dog leash; leash for the dog).
EXAMPLE
Bitte kaufe noch eine Packung Hundefutter.
Please buy another pack of dog food.
Typical verbs
In everyday life, 'Hund' (dog) is often combined with certain verbs. Typical phrases are 'mit dem Hund Gassi gehen' (to take the dog for a walk), 'einen Hund halten' (to keep/own a dog), or the statement 'der Hund bellt' (the dog barks).
EXAMPLE
Jeden Abend muss ich mit dem Hund Gassi gehen.
Every evening I have to take the dog for a walk.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'da liegt der Hund begraben' (that's where the dog is buried) is a fixed expression. It is used as a complete sentence or subordinate clause to name the actual cause of a problem.
EXAMPLE
Das Auto startet nicht, weil die Batterie leer ist. Aha, da liegt also der Hund begraben!
The car won't start because the battery is dead. Aha, so that's where the real problem lies!
Using the expression
The idiom 'auf den Hund gekommen sein' (to have gone downhill) describes a bad state and is conjugated with the verb 'sein' (to be). It usually refers to a person's financial or health situation.
EXAMPLE
Nachdem er seine Arbeit verloren hat, ist er finanziell wirklich auf den Hund gekommen.
After he lost his job, he really went downhill financially.
Using the expression
The idiom 'vor die Hunde gehen' (to go to the dogs) describes a process of failure or decline and is conjugated with the verb 'gehen' (to go). It can refer to people, but also to things like companies or plans.
EXAMPLE
Ohne eine grundlegende Sanierung wird das alte Haus bald vor die Hunde gehen.
Without major renovation, the old house will soon go to the dogs.
Compare with
Hund vs Wolf
wolf
'der Hund' and 'der Wolf' both refer to animals from the same animal family. Even so, they usually mean very different situations. A 'Hund' often lives with people and is a pet. A 'Wolf' is a wild predator and usually does not live together with humans. Learners may confuse the words because dogs and wolves can look similar and are biologically related. In everyday life, however, when talking about a pet, you almost always say 'Hund', not 'Wolf'.
Hund
Der Hund meiner Nachbarin wartet jeden Morgen vor der Haustür.
My neighbor's dog waits outside the front door every morning.
Wolf
Im Naturpark haben die Besucher einen Wolf aus der Ferne gesehen.
In the nature park, the visitors saw a wolf from a distance.
In real life
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