die Leseratte
bookworm
A person who reads a great deal and enjoys it, especially books.
EXAMPLE
Meine Tochter ist eine echte Leseratte und liest jeden Abend mehrere Stunden.
My daughter is a real bookworm and reads for several hours every evening.
die Leseratte
bookworm
die Leseratte, die Leseratten
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Leseratte, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Leseratten |
| genitive | der Leseratte |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Leseratte | die Leseratten |
| accusative | die Leseratte | die Leseratten |
| dative | der Leseratte | den Leseratten |
| genitive | der Leseratte | der Leseratten |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Leseratte' (bookworm) is made up of 'Lese-' (from 'lesen' (to read)) and 'Ratte' (rat). 'Ratte' is used figuratively here, making the word a playful term for someone who is constantly occupied with books.
EXAMPLE
Schon als Kind war Jonas eine begeisterte Leseratte.
Even as a child, Jonas was an enthusiastic bookworm.
Colloquial language
'Leseratte' (bookworm) belongs to colloquial and often affectionately ironic language. The word is especially suitable for personal descriptions and descriptions of oneself.
EXAMPLE
Als Leseratte freue ich mich über jeden freien Nachmittag mit einem guten Buch.
As a bookworm, I look forward to every free afternoon with a good book.
Typical patterns
'Leseratte' (bookworm) is often used with intensifiers such as 'eine echte' (a real), 'eine große' (a big), or 'eine begeisterte' (an enthusiastic). Typical sentence patterns are 'eine Leseratte sein' (to be a bookworm) and 'als Leseratte gelten' (to be regarded as a bookworm).
EXAMPLE
Meine Cousine gilt in der ganzen Familie als echte Leseratte.
My cousin is regarded as a real bookworm by the whole family.
In real life
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