die Natter
snake
A usually nonvenomous snake from the colubrid family.
EXAMPLE
Eine Natter glitt lautlos durch das hohe Gras.
A snake glided silently through the tall grass.
die Natter
snake
die Natter, die Nattern
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
die Natter
viper
Colloquially, a spiteful or unpleasant woman.
EXAMPLE
Diese Natter hat hinter meinem Rücken schlecht über mich geredet.
That viper has been badmouthing me behind my back.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Natter, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Nattern |
| genitive | der Natter |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Natter | die Nattern |
| accusative | die Natter | die Nattern |
| dative | der Natter | den Nattern |
| genitive | der Natter | der Nattern |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Context clue
When it refers to the animal, the sentence often contains words from nature and verbs of movement. As an insult, however, „die Natter“ (the snake) refers to a person and often appears together with a negative evaluation of her behavior.
EXAMPLE
Im Laub entdeckte der Förster eine Natter, die sich langsam zwischen den Steinen bewegte.
The forester spotted a snake in the leaves; it was moving slowly between the stones.
Diese Natter hat absichtlich ein Gerücht über ihre Kollegin verbreitet.
That snake deliberately spread a rumor about her colleague.
Animal names
„Natter“ (snake) also appears as part of the names of certain snake species. Such compounds specify which kind of snake is meant.
EXAMPLE
Eine Ringelnatter sonnte sich am Rand des Teichs.
A grass snake was basking at the edge of the pond.
Der Biologe fotografierte eine Schlingnatter im Naturschutzgebiet.
The biologist photographed a smooth snake in the nature reserve.
Derogatory expression
The figurative meaning is colloquial and strongly derogatory. It is usually used for a woman who is considered spiteful, devious, or unpleasant.
EXAMPLE
Alle im Büro mieden diese Natter, weil sie ständig Streit provozierte.
Everyone in the office avoided that snake because she was always provoking arguments.
In real life
Loading video examples...