01
der Ochs
ox
A castrated male bovine that was formerly used mainly as a draft animal in agriculture.
example
Früher zogen zwei Ochsen den schweren Pflug über das Feld.
In the past, two oxen pulled the heavy plow across the field.
der Ochs
ox
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Special declension
The noun 'Ochs' (ox) belongs to the n-declension. This means it takes the ending '-en' in all cases except the nominative singular.
EXAMPLE
Der Bauer spannt den Ochsen vor den Pflug.
The farmer hitches the ox to the plow.
Fixed expression
The expression 'dastehen wie der Ochs vorm Berg' (to stand there like an ox in front of a mountain) is very common. It means that someone is at a loss and does not understand or cannot solve a problem.
EXAMPLE
Als ich die Anleitung auf Schwedisch sah, stand ich da wie der Ochs vorm Berg.
When I saw the instructions in Swedish, I just stood there completely at a loss.
Colloquial usage
As an insult for a person, 'Ochs' (blockhead) is very colloquial and direct. It expresses that you consider someone stupid or clumsy.
EXAMPLE
Du Ochs, du hast mir den ganzen Kaffee über die Hose geschüttet!
You blockhead, you spilled all my coffee over my pants!
Compare with
Ochs vs Idiot
idiot
'der Idiot' and 'der Ochs' can both be used derogatorily for a stupid or slow-witted person. 'der Idiot' is a very direct insult. 'der Ochs' is a shorter form of 'Ochse' and sounds rather colloquial, sometimes also regional or old-fashioned. In addition to stupidity, it can also express clumsiness. Important: 'Ochs' can also mean an animal, but in this relation the focus is on the insulting use.
Ochs
Jan hat die einfache Anleitung nicht gelesen und fühlte sich danach wie ein Ochs.
Jan did not read the simple instructions and felt like a blockhead afterward.
Idiot
Meine Kollegin war wütend und sagte, der Kunde habe sich wie ein Idiot benommen.
My colleague was angry and said the customer had behaved like an idiot.
In real life
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