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.
pest
'das Unkraut' and 'der Schädling' can both be a nuisance in the garden or in agriculture, but they do not mean the same thing. 'Unkraut' is an unwanted wild-growing plant, for example among vegetables or on a path. A 'Schädling' is a living organism that causes damage, often an insect, another animal, or even a microorganism. The words can be confused because both can harm plants. Remember: 'Unkraut' is itself a plant in the wrong place; a 'Schädling' attacks or damages plants, animals, or materials.
Nach dem Regen wächst das Unkraut im Garten besonders schnell.
After the rain, the weeds in the garden grow especially quickly.
Der Schädling hat viele Blätter der Tomatenpflanze angefressen.
The pest has eaten many of the tomato plant's leaves.