hydra
die Hydra, die Hydren
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hydra
A monster from Greek mythology with several snake heads. According to the myth, when one head was cut off, new ones grew back.
Herakles musste die Hydra besiegen, deren abgeschlagene Köpfe immer wieder nachwuchsen.
Heracles had to defeat the Hydra, whose severed heads kept growing back.
hydra
A small freshwater animal from the group of cnidarians that catches prey with its tentacles.
Unter dem Mikroskop erkannte die Biologin eine Hydra mit mehreren langen Tentakeln.
Under the microscope, the biologist recognized a hydra with several long tentacles.
Hydra
A constellation in the southern sky that stretches across a large part of the sky as an elongated figure.
Im Frühling ist die Hydra am Nachthimmel besonders gut zu erkennen.
In spring, Hydra is particularly easy to see in the night sky.
hydra
A problem or organization with many interconnected parts that is difficult to eliminate completely. This figurative meaning refers to the many heads of the mythological Hydra.
Die Korruption erwies sich als Hydra, deren neue Auswüchse jede Woche sichtbar wurden.
The corruption proved to be a hydra whose new offshoots became visible every week.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Hydren |
| genitive | der Hydra |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Hydra | die Hydren |
| accusative | die Hydra | die Hydren |
| dative | der Hydra | den Hydren |
| genitive | der Hydra | der Hydren |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
The accompanying words usually show which meaning is intended: 'Herakles' (Heracles) or 'Köpfe' (heads) point to mythology, 'Tentakel' (tentacles) or 'Mikroskop' (microscope) to biology, and 'Sternbild' (constellation) or 'Nachthimmel' (night sky) to astronomy.
In der Sage kämpfte Herakles gegen die Hydra.
In the myth, Heracles fought the Hydra.
Die Hydra wurde im Labor unter dem Mikroskop untersucht.
The hydra was examined under the microscope in the laboratory.
Auf der Sternkarte ist die Hydra deutlich markiert.
The Hydra is clearly marked on the star chart.
In texts about Greek mythology, the fixed expression 'die Hydra von Lerna' (the Lernaean Hydra) is common. Typical accompanying words also include 'Herakles' (Heracles), 'Hydraköpfe' (Hydra heads), and 'der Kampf gegen die Hydra' (the fight against the Hydra).
Herakles suchte nach einer Möglichkeit, die Hydra von Lerna zu besiegen.
Heracles looked for a way to defeat the Lernaean Hydra.
In biological texts, 'Hydra' is often connected with its way of life: it is studied in freshwater, its tentacles are observed, or the way it catches prey is described.
Die Forschenden beobachteten, wie die Hydra mit ihren Tentakeln einen kleinen Wasserfloh fing.
The researchers observed how the hydra caught a small water flea with its tentacles.
In astronomy, 'die Hydra' (Hydra) usually appears together with words such as 'Sternbild' (constellation), 'Sternkarte' (star chart), 'Nachthimmel' (night sky), or 'beobachten' (to observe). These accompanying words show that the animal or mythical creature is not meant.
Mit einer Sternkarte konnte die Klasse die Hydra am Frühlingshimmel beobachten.
Using a star chart, the class was able to observe Hydra in the spring sky.
In its figurative meaning, 'Hydra' is often used metaphorically with 'Köpfen' (heads), 'Auswüchsen' (offshoots), or 'neuen Problemen' (new problems). The word then describes a difficult-to-control problem whose individual parts keep creating new difficulties.
Die Bürokratie wurde zu einer Hydra mit immer neuen Auswüchsen.
Bureaucracy became a hydra with ever more offshoots.
