die Pfote
paw
The foot of certain mammals, such as dogs, cats, or bears, equipped with pads and claws.
EXAMPLE
Die Katze leckte sich sorgfältig ihre Pfote.
The cat carefully licked its paw.
die Pfote
paw
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Meanings
die Pfote
paw
A colloquial, often derogatory or joking term for the human hand.
EXAMPLE
Nimm deine dreckigen Pfoten von meinem Essen!
Get your dirty paws off my food!
Usage tips
Typical expressions
In connection with animals, there are fixed expressions like 'Pfötchen geben' (to give a paw, a command for a dog) or the description 'auf leisen Pfoten schleichen' (to creep on quiet paws).
EXAMPLE
Unser Hund hat gelernt, auf Kommando Pfötchen zu geben.
Our dog has learned to give a paw on command.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning from the subject: If people are talking about animals (dog, cat, bear), it means the animal's foot. If they are talking about a person, it colloquially means the hand.
EXAMPLE
Der Hund hat sich einen Dorn in die Pfote getreten.
The dog got a thorn stuck in its paw.
Register: Colloquial
The use of 'Pfote' (paw) for a human hand is always colloquial. Depending on the tone, it can sound joking or also rude and derogatory.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir mal deine Pfote geben? Ich will dir den Ring zeigen.
Can you give me your paw for a second? I want to show you the ring.
Fixed expression
The command 'Pfoten weg!' (paws off!) or 'Nimm deine Pfoten von ...!' (Get your paws off ...!) is a fixed and very common expression. It means that someone should not touch something.
EXAMPLE
Pfoten weg von meiner Schokolade!
Paws off my chocolate!
Compare with
Pfote vs Fuß
foot
For certain mammals, Fuß and Pfote refer to the same part of the body. Pfote is the usual term for dogs or cats and points to pads and claws. Fuß is more general and is more suitable in an anatomical discussion.
Pfote
Nach dem Spaziergang reinigt sie vorsichtig die verletzte Pfote des Hundes.
After the walk, she carefully cleans the dog's injured paw.
Fuß
Im Anatomieunterricht vergleichen wir den Fuß des Hundes mit dem Fuß des Menschen.
In anatomy class, we compare a dog's foot with a human foot.
In real life
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