01
der Tiger
tiger
A large predatory cat native to Asia, with yellow-orange fur and black stripes.
example
Der Sibirische Tiger ist die größte Katzenart der Welt.
The Siberian tiger is the largest cat species in the world.
der Tiger
tiger
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Cultural context
In Germany, the old advertising slogan 'Pack den Tiger in den Tank!' (Put a tiger in your tank!) is very well known. It was used to advertise the power and performance of gasoline and has become part of everyday culture.
EXAMPLE
Mein neues Auto fährt, als hätte es einen Tiger im Tank.
My new car drives as if it had a tiger in the tank.
Typical collocations
The metaphorical meaning is often used in the context of sports or work. For example, people speak of a 'Tiger auf dem Spielfeld' (tiger on the field) or a 'Tiger im Konferenzraum' (tiger in the conference room) to describe a very ambitious person.
EXAMPLE
Unser Stürmer ist ein echter Tiger vor dem Tor.
Our striker is a real tiger in front of the goal.
Context clue
You can recognize the figurative meaning by the fact that 'Tiger' (tiger) refers to a person. The context makes it clear that it does not mean the animal, but a quality such as fighting spirit or energy.
EXAMPLE
Für dieses Projekt brauchen wir einen Tiger, der sich durchsetzen kann.
For this project, we need a tiger who can assert himself.
Compare with
Tiger vs Löwe
lion
'der Löwe' and 'der Tiger' are both large big cats, so they can easily be confused. A lion lives mainly in Africa; the male often has a mane. A tiger lives in Asia and has yellow-orange fur with black stripes. Figuratively, both words can also stand for strong or combative people. Still, the difference remains important: with the animal, 'Löwe' makes you think more of a mane and a pride, while 'Tiger' makes you think more of stripes and a solitary animal.
Tiger
Der Tiger schlich langsam durch das hohe Gras, und seine Streifen waren kaum zu sehen.
The tiger crept slowly through the tall grass, and its stripes were barely visible.
Löwe
Im Zoo lag der Löwe ruhig im Schatten und beobachtete die Besucher.
At the zoo, the lion lay quietly in the shade and watched the visitors.
In real life
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