der Hunne
Hun
A member of the historical Eurasian horse-riding people known as the Huns, who advanced into Europe in Late Antiquity.
EXAMPLE
Attila war der bekannteste Anführer der Hunnen.
Attila was the best-known leader of the Huns.
der Hunne
Hun
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Meanings
der Hunne
barbarian
A person who is perceived as barbaric, ruthless, or destructive. This figurative use is strongly derogatory and often insulting.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Party sah die Wohnung aus, als wären die Hunnen dagewesen.
After the party, the apartment looked as if the Huns had been there.
Usage tips
N-declension
'Der Hunne' (the Hun) is a weak masculine noun (N-declension). This means it takes the ending '-n' in all cases except the nominative singular.
EXAMPLE
Der Film handelt von einem Anführer der Hunnen.
The film is about a leader of the Huns.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning from the context. If it is about history, the Migration Period, or Attila, the historical people is meant. If it is about destruction or chaos in everyday life, the derogatory, figurative meaning is meant.
EXAMPLE
Die Hunnen waren ein Reitervolk aus Zentralasien.
The Huns were a horse-riding people from Central Asia.
Strongly derogatory
In the figurative meaning, 'Hunne' (Hun) is a strongly derogatory, colloquial term for a person who behaves ruthlessly, destructively, or uncivilized.
EXAMPLE
Schau dir die Unordnung an! Hier waren wohl die Hunnen zu Besuch.
Look at the mess! The Huns must have been visiting here.
Fixed expression
A very common expression is 'hausen wie die Hunnen' (to live like the Huns). It means to live in a very messy and chaotic way or to leave a big mess behind.
EXAMPLE
Nach der WG-Party sah die Küche aus, als hätten dort die Hunnen gehaust.
After the shared-flat party, the kitchen looked as if the Huns had been living there.
Compare with
Hunne vs Barbar
barbarian
Barbar and Hunne can be used to disparage a person for crude or cruel behavior. Barbar is the more general term. Hunne portrays the person as especially ruthless or destructive and therefore often sounds even more insulting.
Hunne
Nach seinem rücksichtslosen Zerstören beschimpften ihn die anderen als Hunnen.
Because of his ruthless destruction, the others called him a barbarian.
Barbar
Nach seinem rohen Verhalten bezeichneten ihn die anderen als Barbaren.
Because of his crude behavior, the others called him a barbarian.
In real life
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