mole
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mole
A small mammal that lives underground and is known for its digging activity and the mounds of earth it creates.
Ein Maulwurf hat in unserem Garten mehrere Hügel aufgeworfen.
A mole has thrown up several mounds in our garden.
The word is made up of 'das Maul' (mouth/snout of animals) and 'der Wurf' (from 'werfen', to throw). The name figuratively describes how the animal 'throws' the earth with its snout.
Die typischen Erdhügel im Rasen sind das Werk eines Maulwurfs.
The typical mounds of earth in the lawn are the work of a mole.
The figurative meaning 'Spion' (spy) comes from the animal's behavior: a mole works secretly and invisibly 'under the ground' or within an organization. The context (company, government, secrets) makes this meaning clear.
Die Polizei vermutet einen Maulwurf in den eigenen Reihen.
The police suspect a mole in their own ranks.
In connection with the animal, people often talk about 'Maulwurfshügel' (molehills). Typical verbs are 'graben' (to dig) or 'einen Maulwurf im Garten haben' (to have a mole in the garden).
Der Maulwurf gräbt lange Gänge unter unserem Rasen.
The mole digs long tunnels under our lawn.
In the meaning of 'Spion' (spy), the word is often used with verbs such as 'einschleusen' (to plant someone secretly), 'enttarnen' (to expose someone's identity), or 'entdecken' (to discover).
Nach monatelangen Ermittlungen konnte der Maulwurf endlich enttarnt werden.
After months of investigations, the mole was finally exposed.
traitor
'der Verräter' and 'der Maulwurf' can both refer to a person who harms a group by passing on information. 'Verräter' is the more general and stronger expression: it emphasizes the breach of trust and disloyalty. 'Maulwurf' more specifically means a person who secretly remains inside an organization and passes information from there to the outside. The words can be confused because a mole is often also seen as a traitor. But not every traitor is a mole; a mole works especially covertly from the inside.
In der Firma sucht die Leitung nach einem Maulwurf, der interne Dokumente weitergibt.
The company management is looking for a mole who is passing on internal documents.
Nach dem Geheimnis fühlte sich Tom wie ein Verräter an seinen Freunden.
After revealing the secret, Tom felt like a traitor to his friends.