der Schwanz, ¨-e
tail
Der hintere Teil vom Körper bei vielen Tieren. Er hängt oder bewegt sich hinten.
Definition & meaning
The word has two primary meanings in German:
- Animal Tail: It refers to the flexible appendage at the rear of an animal's body. Depending on the species, it is used for balance, communication, or steering.
- Vulgar term for Penis: In a colloquial and vulgar context, it is a common slang term for the male sexual organ.
In some contexts, it can also refer to the rear end or the "tail end" of an object or a group of people, such as the end of a queue, though terms like Ende or Schlange are more frequent for that purpose.
Grammar & Word origin
The word is a masculine noun: der Schwanz. Its plural form is die Schwänze, which involves an umlaut change.
Etymologically, it originates from the Middle High German word "swanz" and is closely related to the verb schwenken, which means to wave or to swing. This connection highlights the physical movement associated with a tail.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms For the animal tail, several specific terms exist depending on the species:
- Schweif (used for horses or long, bushy tails)
- Rute (specifically used for the tail of a dog or a fox)
- Bürzel (the tail of a bird)
- Blume (the tail of a rabbit or deer)
For the anatomical/vulgar meaning:
Antonyms
Make “Schwanz” part of your vocabulary.
Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
Der Hund wedelt mit dem Schwanz.noun
The dog wags its tail.
Die Katze versteckte ihren Schwanz unter dem Sofa.noun
The cat hid its tail under the sofa.
Keep exploring German
Learn words from the content you love.
Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).
Scan for iPhone & iPad