das Rind
cattle
A large farm animal from the bovid family, kept for its meat and milk. The term includes cows, bulls, and oxen.
EXAMPLE
Auf der Weide graste eine Herde Rinder.
A herd of cattle was grazing in the pasture.
das Rind
cattle / beef
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Meanings
das Rind
beef
The meat from cattle, used as food.
EXAMPLE
Zum Mittagessen gibt es heute einen Braten aus bestem Rind.
For lunch today there is a roast made from the finest beef.
Usage tips
Context clue
You can tell from the context whether the animal or the meat is meant. If people are talking about agriculture, animals in a pasture, or using the plural 'Rinder' (cattle), the animal is meant. If it is about cooking, eating, or shopping at the butcher's, the meat is meant.
EXAMPLE
Der Bauer hat seine Rinder auf eine neue Weide getrieben.
The farmer drove his cattle to a new pasture.
General term
'Rind' (cattle) is a general term. It can refer to male animals ('Bulle' (bull), 'Ochse' (ox)) and female animals ('Kuh' (cow)). If you do not want to specify the sex, 'Rind' is the right choice.
EXAMPLE
Die Rinderzucht ist ein wichtiger Wirtschaftszweig in dieser Region.
Cattle breeding is an important economic sector in this region.
Use as meat
When 'Rind' (beef) stands for meat, it is used like an uncountable material and always appears in the singular without an article. You can simply say 'Rind essen' (to eat beef) without having to add the word 'Fleisch' (meat).
EXAMPLE
Isst du lieber Rind oder Schwein?
Do you prefer beef or pork?
Compare with
Rind vs Vieh
livestock / brute
Both words can refer to cattle kept for farming. Rind refers neutrally to a single, countable animal, whereas Vieh usually refers to several farm animals as a group and can sound rough when used for a single animal. Use „Rind“ for a particular animal and „Vieh“ for the group of animals.
Rind
Auf der Weide stand ein einzelnes Rind neben dem Zaun.
A single head of cattle stood in the pasture next to the fence.
Vieh
Am Abend trieb der Bauer das Vieh von der Weide in den Stall.
In the evening, the farmer drove the livestock from the pasture into the barn.
In real life
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