die Lerche
lark
A small songbird that usually lives on the ground and is especially known for its sustained, melodious song while flying.
EXAMPLE
Über den Feldern sang eine Lerche in großer Höhe.
A lark sang high above the fields.
die Lerche
lark
die Lerche, die Lerchen
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Meanings
die Lerche
early bird
A person who likes getting up early and is especially alert and productive in the morning.
EXAMPLE
Meine Schwester ist eine echte Lerche und geht schon um sechs Uhr joggen.
My sister is a real early bird and goes jogging as early as six o’clock.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Lerche, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Lerchen |
| genitive | der Lerche |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Lerche | die Lerchen |
| accusative | die Lerche | die Lerchen |
| dative | der Lerche | den Lerchen |
| genitive | der Lerche | der Lerchen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Typical collocations
“Lerche” (lark) is often used with verbs and compounds from descriptions of nature: a lark sings or rises into the air, and its song is called “Lerchengesang” (lark song).
EXAMPLE
Plötzlich stieg die Lerche über dem Feld auf und begann zu singen.
Suddenly, the lark rose above the field and began to sing.
Context clues
Clues such as fields, meadows, early morning, and the high sky often show that “Lerche” (lark) refers to the bird. In descriptions, the bird is usually identified by its song and flight.
EXAMPLE
Am frühen Morgen hörte man über den Wiesen eine Lerche.
Early in the morning, you could hear a lark above the meadows.
Style and context
“Lerche” (lark) is a generally understandable word, but it occurs especially often in descriptions of nature and in literary and poetic texts.
EXAMPLE
Im Gedicht wird die Lerche als Zeichen des beginnenden Tages beschrieben.
In the poem, the lark is described as a sign of the beginning of the day.
In real life
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