weed
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weed
A wild-growing plant that is unwanted in a place because it competes with cultivated plants for nutrients, water, and light.
Ich muss am Wochenende unbedingt das Unkraut im Garten jäten.
I absolutely have to weed the garden this weekend.
The prefix 'Un-' has a negative meaning here, similar to in 'Unwetter' (severe weather). So 'Unkraut' (weed) is literally a 'bad herb'—a plant that is unwanted in a particular place.
Überall zwischen den Rosen wächst Unkraut.
Weeds are growing everywhere between the roses.
'Unkraut' (weed) is almost always used in the singular as a collective term for all unwanted plants, even when it refers to many individual plants. A plural form is very rare.
Der ganze Garten ist voller Unkraut.
The whole garden is full of weeds.
The proverb 'Unkraut vergeht nicht' (weeds never die) is often said jokingly about people or things that are very resilient and tough, or that you cannot get rid of.
Er ist schon wieder auf den Beinen? Tja, Unkraut vergeht nicht!
He's already back on his feet? Well, weeds never die!
In connection with gardening, the verbs 'jäten' (to weed), 'zupfen' (to pull), or 'entfernen' (to remove) are often used together with 'Unkraut' (weed).
Wir müssen dringend das Unkraut im Gemüsebeet zupfen.
We urgently need to pull the weeds in the vegetable bed.
