opossum
das Opossum, die Opossums
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opossum
A marsupial native to the Americas, with a pointed snout and a long, mostly hairless prehensile tail. After giving birth, the females carry their young in a pouch on their abdomen.
Bei Gefahr stellt sich das Opossum manchmal tot.
When threatened, the opossum sometimes plays dead.
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Opossums |
| genitive | des Opossums |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Opossum | die Opossums |
| accusative | das Opossum | die Opossums |
| dative | dem Opossum | den Opossums |
| genitive | des Opossums | der Opossums |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Opossums |
| genitive | des Opossums |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Opossum | die Opossums |
| accusative | den Opossum | die Opossums |
| dative | dem Opossum | den Opossums |
| genitive | des Opossums | der Opossums |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
The expression 'sich totstellen' (to play dead) is often used with 'Opossum' because this animal sometimes lies motionless when threatened. The verb 'sich totstellen' (to play dead) describes the animal's reaction.
Der Fuchs schnupperte am Opossum, das sich totgestellt hatte.
The fox sniffed at the opossum, which was playing dead.
Common combinations include 'ein Opossum beobachten' (to observe an opossum), 'ein wildes Opossum' (a wild opossum), and 'ein Opossum im Zoo' (an opossum at the zoo). These combinations are especially common in texts about animals and nature.
Die Rangerin konnte ein wildes Opossum aus sicherer Entfernung beobachten.
The ranger was able to observe a wild opossum from a safe distance.
'Opossum' is mainly used in zoological, natural history, and popular science texts. Such texts often focus on information about the animal's behavior, habitat, or body.
Der naturkundliche Artikel beschreibt das Opossum als nachtaktives Beuteltier.
The natural history article describes the opossum as a nocturnal marsupial.
