die Mähre
nag
An old, emaciated, or weak horse.
EXAMPLE
Der Bauer spannte die alte Mähre vor den Pflug.
The farmer hitched the old nag to the plow.
die Mähre
nag / hag
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Meanings
die Mähre
hag
An outdated, derogatory term for a quarrelsome, unpleasant woman.
EXAMPLE
Er beschimpfte seine Nachbarin als streitsüchtige Mähre.
He insulted his neighbor by calling her a quarrelsome hag.
Usage tips
Outdated word
'Mähre' (nag/hag) is an outdated word in both meanings. It is hardly used in modern everyday language and sounds archaic or literary.
EXAMPLE
In dem alten Roman ritt der Held auf einer müden Mähre.
In the old novel, the hero rode on a tired nag.
Strong insult
When the word refers to a woman, it is a very derogatory and strong insult. It should under no circumstances be used as a joke.
EXAMPLE
Er war so wütend, dass er sie eine böse Mähre nannte.
He was so angry that he called her an evil hag.
Context clue
The meaning becomes clear from the context. If it is about animals, farms, or historical stories, it refers to the old horse. If the word appears as an insult in an argument, it has the insulting meaning for a woman.
EXAMPLE
Der alte Gaul war nur noch eine knochige Mähre.
The old horse was nothing but a bony nag.
Compare with
Mähre vs Gaul
nag / knight
Both words can refer derogatorily to a bad or old horse. “Der Gaul” is a general colloquial term for a horse and can also be meant jokingly; “die Mähre” specifically refers to an old, emaciated, or weak animal. When there is clear physical weakness, “Mähre” is more precise.
Mähre
Die alte, abgemagerte Mähre konnte den schweren Wagen kaum noch ziehen.
The old, emaciated nag could barely pull the heavy cart anymore.
Gaul
Der alte Gaul zog den Wagen langsam über den Hof.
The old nag slowly pulled the cart across the yard.
In real life
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