vermin
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vermin
A collective term for small animals perceived as harmful, annoying, or disgusting, especially insects or rodents. The word often has a derogatory connotation.
Im Keller hatten wir ein Problem mit Mäusen und anderem Ungeziefer.
In the basement, we had a problem with mice and other vermin.
The word has an interesting origin. 'Geziefer' used to refer to animals that were suitable as offerings to gods. The prefix 'Un-' reverses the meaning, so 'Ungeziefer' (vermin) originally meant 'unclean' animals that were not allowed to be sacrificed.
In der alten Speisekammer gab es viel Ungeziefer.
There was a lot of vermin in the old pantry.
'Ungeziefer' (vermin) is a collective noun and is used almost exclusively in the singular, even when talking about many animals. A plural form 'die Ungeziefer' practically does not exist.
Wir müssen etwas gegen das Ungeziefer im Garten tun.
We have to do something about the vermin in the garden.
The word is often used with verbs like 'bekämpfen' (to fight/control) or 'entfernen' (to remove). Typical animals referred to as Ungeziefer (vermin) are cockroaches, moths, ants, or mice.
Ein Kammerjäger wurde gerufen, um das Ungeziefer zu bekämpfen.
An exterminator was called to control the vermin.
insect
Insekt is a neutral term for a particular group of animals. Ungeziefer, by contrast, is a derogatory collective term for small animals that are considered annoying, harmful, or disgusting; it does not refer to a zoological class. Choose Insekt as a neutral term and Ungeziefer when expressing this negative evaluation.
Die Ameisen im Vorratsschrank empfand die Familie als Ungeziefer.
The family considered the ants in the pantry vermin.
Die Ameise ist ein Insekt, das in vielen Gärten lebt.
The ant is an insect that lives in many gardens.
