Erdferkel
/ˈeːrtˌfɛrkəl/neuter
The English word aardvark is translated into German as Erdferkel.
Erdferkel is a neuter noun used to refer to the aardvark mammal.
Meaning: mammal (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of Erde (earth/ground) and Ferkel (piglet).
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is neuter, meaning it uses the definite article das to say 'the aardvark'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈeːrtˌfɛrkəl/
Did you know?
- Unlike the English word 'aardvark', which was borrowed directly from Afrikaans, German translated the meaning of the words into its own language.
- In German, Ferkel can be used as a mild insult to call someone a 'little pig' or 'naughty child', though Erdferkel remains a strictly zoological term.
- The German Erdferkel is a direct translation of the South African Dutch word aardvarken.
Examples in context
- Ein ausgewachsenes Erdferkel kann bis zu hundert Kilogramm wiegen.An adult aardvark can weigh up to 100 kilograms.Tatoeba #2590425 by al_ex_an_der, translation #3025813 by patgfisher
- Das Erdferkel ist ein nachtaktives Säugetier.The aardvark is a nocturnal mammal.
- Ich habe ein Erdferkel im Zoo gesehen.I saw an aardvark at the zoo.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a nature documentary at home.
- LukasHast du das Erdferkel in der Doku gesehen?Did you see the aardvark in the documentary?
- JuliaJa, Lukas, das war sehr faszinierend.Yes, Lukas, that was very fascinating.
- LukasEs sieht wirklich sehr seltsam aus.It looks really very strange.
- JuliaDas stimmt, aber es ist ein tolles Tier.That's true, but it is a great animal.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “aardvark” translations and entries Erdferkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Erdferkel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
