mule
das Maultier, die Maultiere
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mule
A mule is an animal that results from the crossbreeding of a male donkey and a female horse. It is usually infertile and is often used as a work or pack animal.
Das Maultier trug das Gepäck über den steilen Bergweg.
The mule carried the luggage along the steep mountain path.
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Maultiere |
| genitive | des Maultieres |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Maultier | die Maultiere |
| accusative | das Maultier | die Maultiere |
| dative | dem Maultier | den Maultieren |
| genitive | des Maultieres des Maultiers | der Maultiere |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Maultier' (mule) is often used with verbs and compounds related to transportation: 'ein Maultier beladen' (to load a mule), 'ein Maultier satteln' (to saddle a mule), 'ein Maultiergespann' (a team of mules), and 'eine Maultierkarawane' (a mule caravan).
Die Händler beluden die Maultiere mit Säcken und Werkzeug.
The merchants loaded the mules with sacks and tools.
'Maultier' (mule) occurs particularly often in reports about mountains, remote paths, and historical journeys. Signal words such as 'Sattel' (saddle), 'Pass' (mountain pass), 'Gepäck' (luggage), or 'Karawane' (caravan) usually point to this animal being used for transportation.
Auf dem schmalen Gebirgspfad führte der Bergführer zwei Maultiere hinter sich her.
The mountain guide led two mules behind him along the narrow mountain trail.
The word belongs to neutral vocabulary and often appears in texts about agriculture, animal husbandry, history, and travel. It can therefore also be used in factual descriptions.
Im Museum wird erklärt, welche Rolle Maultiere früher im Bergbau spielten.
The museum explains the role mules played in mining in the past.
