die Pranke
paw
A large, powerful paw belonging to an animal, especially a bear or a predator.
EXAMPLE
Der Bär schlug mit seiner mächtigen Pranke nach dem Fisch.
The bear swiped at the fish with its powerful paw.
die Pranke
paw
die Pranke, die Pranken
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Meanings
die Pranke
paw
In colloquial language, a large, powerful human hand.
EXAMPLE
Er legte mir seine schwere Pranke auf die Schulter.
He placed his heavy paw on my shoulder.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Pranke, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Pranken |
| genitive | der Pranke |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Pranke | die Pranken |
| accusative | die Pranke | die Pranken |
| dative | der Pranke | den Pranken |
| genitive | der Pranke | der Pranken |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Typical collocations
Typical collocations include „die Pranke heben“ (to raise one's paw) and „mit der Pranke zuschlagen“ (to strike with one's paw). When striking at a specific target, the pattern „mit der Pranke nach jemandem oder etwas schlagen“ (to strike at someone or something with one's paw) is also common; „nach“ is followed by the dative.
EXAMPLE
Die Löwin schlug mit der Pranke nach einem frechen Jungtier.
The lioness swiped at a cheeky cub with her paw.
Tone and effect
When you refer to another person's hands as „Pranken“ (paws), it can sound humorous, but it can also be derogatory. Especially in commands such as „Nimm deine Pranken weg“ (Take your paws off it), the word sounds coarse and angry.
EXAMPLE
Nimm deine Pranken von meinem Kuchen!
Take your paws off my cake!
In real life
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