die Hyäne
hyena
A dog-like predator that lives mainly in Africa and Asia and feeds on meat.
EXAMPLE
Die Hyäne schlich nachts durch die Savanne.
The hyena crept through the savanna at night.
die Hyäne
hyena
die Hyäne, die Hyänen
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Meanings
die Hyäne
hyena
A derogatory term for a cruel or ruthless person who takes advantage of other people's suffering.
EXAMPLE
Die Presse bezeichnete den skrupellosen Geschäftsmann als Hyäne.
The press called the unscrupulous businessman a hyena.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Hyäne, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Hyänen |
| genitive | der Hyäne |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Hyäne | die Hyänen |
| accusative | die Hyäne | die Hyänen |
| dative | der Hyäne | den Hyänen |
| genitive | der Hyäne | der Hyänen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Context clue
You can usually tell whether „Hyäne“ (hyena) refers to an animal or a person from the surrounding words: „Savanne“ (savanna), „Rudel“ (pack), and „Tier“ (animal) point to the zoological meaning; when referring to people and criticism, the term is usually derogatory.
EXAMPLE
In der Dokumentation beobachteten wir eine Hyäne in der Savanne.
In the documentary, we watched a hyena in the savanna.
Der Reporter nannte den skrupellosen Makler eine Hyäne.
The reporter called the unscrupulous broker a hyena.
Typical collocations
In its zoological meaning, „Hyäne“ (hyena) often appears with words related to observing animals and their habitat, such as „eine Hyäne beobachten“ (to observe a hyena), „eine Hyäne fotografieren“ (to photograph a hyena), and „ein Hyänenrudel“ (a hyena pack).
EXAMPLE
Die Forschenden konnten eine Hyäne aus sicherer Entfernung fotografieren.
The researchers were able to photograph a hyena from a safe distance.
Derogatory style
The figurative meaning is strongly derogatory and occurs especially in polemical, journalistic, or literary texts. A person is often characterized using the construction „jemanden als Hyäne bezeichnen“ (to call someone a hyena).
EXAMPLE
In seiner Rede bezeichnete der Abgeordnete die Spekulanten als Hyänen.
In his speech, the member of parliament called the speculators hyenas.
In real life
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