der Tölpel
oaf
A clumsy, awkward, or simple-minded person.
EXAMPLE
Der Tölpel stieß beim Tragen des Geschirrs gegen den Tisch.
The oaf bumped into the table while carrying the dishes.
der Tölpel
oaf / gannet
der Tölpel, die Tölpel
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Meanings
der Tölpel
gannet
A large seabird of the gannet and booby family that lives mainly along coasts and on ocean islands.
EXAMPLE
Der Tölpel brütet in großen Kolonien auf abgelegenen Inseln.
The gannet breeds in large colonies on remote islands.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Tölpel, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Tölpel |
| genitive | des Tölpels |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Tölpel | die Tölpel |
| accusative | den Tölpel | die Tölpel |
| dative | dem Tölpel | den Tölpeln |
| genitive | des Tölpels | der Tölpel |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Context clues
Words such as 'Gefieder' (plumage), 'Brutkolonie' (breeding colony), or 'Sturzflug' (dive) point to the bird meaning. When someone is addressed directly or the word is used with a description such as 'ungeschickt' (clumsy), it refers to a person.
EXAMPLE
Der Tölpel stürzt sich mit angelegten Flügeln ins Meer.
The gannet plunges into the sea with its wings tucked in.
Pass doch auf, du ungeschickter Tölpel!
Watch out, you clumsy oaf!
Typical collocations
A typical expression is 'sich wie ein Tölpel anstellen' (to act like an oaf). It is used to judge how someone handles a particular task.
EXAMPLE
Beim Aufbau des Zeltes habe ich mich wie ein Tölpel angestellt.
I acted like an oaf while putting up the tent.
Derogatory use
When used to describe a person, 'Tölpel' (oaf) is derogatory and can be insulting. Among people who know each other well, it can also be meant jokingly; the tone and situation are key.
EXAMPLE
„Du Tölpel!“, sagte sie lachend, als ihr Bruder über seine eigenen Schuhe stolperte.
'You oaf!' she said with a laugh when her brother tripped over his own shoes.
In real life
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