die Schwanzflosse
tail fin
The fin at the rear end of a fish or another aquatic animal, which is used for movement and steering.
EXAMPLE
Der Fisch bewegte seine Schwanzflosse und schwamm davon.
The fish moved its tail fin and swam away.
die Schwanzflosse
tail fin
die Schwanzflosse, die Schwanzflossen
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Schwanzflosse, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Schwanzflossen |
| genitive | der Schwanzflosse |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Schwanzflosse | die Schwanzflossen |
| accusative | die Schwanzflosse | die Schwanzflossen |
| dative | der Schwanzflosse | den Schwanzflossen |
| genitive | der Schwanzflosse | der Schwanzflossen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Compound word
„Schwanzflosse“ (tail fin) is made up of „Schwanz“ (tail) and „Flosse“ (fin). It therefore refers to the fin at the rear end of an aquatic animal.
EXAMPLE
Die Schwanzflosse des Fisches war besonders groß.
The fish's tail fin was particularly large.
Typical collocations
Verbs such as „bewegen“ (to move) and „schlagen“ (to beat or flap) are often used with „Schwanzflosse“ (tail fin). Typical combinations also include „mit der Schwanzflosse schlagen“ (to beat or flap with one's tail fin) and „die Schwanzflosse auf und ab bewegen“ (to move the tail fin up and down).
EXAMPLE
Der Delfin bewegte seine Schwanzflosse langsam auf und ab.
The dolphin slowly moved its tail fin up and down.
Movement and steering
In descriptions of fish and other aquatic animals, „Schwanzflosse“ (tail fin) is often mentioned together with a direction or a type of movement. The preposition „mit“ (with) indicates which body part the animal uses for movement.
EXAMPLE
Der Hai steuerte mit seiner Schwanzflosse auf das Riff zu.
The shark steered toward the reef with its tail fin.
In real life
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