Gürteltier
/ˈɡʏʁtl̩ˌtiːɐ̯/neuter
The English word armadillo is translated into German as Gürteltier. Wiktionary also lists Armadill.
Meaning: burrowing mammal covered with bony, jointed protective plates (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gürteltier | /ˈɡʏʁtl̩ˌtiːɐ̯/ | neuter |
| Armadill | masculine, rare |
The term refers to a burrowing mammal covered with bony, jointed protective plates.
What does it mean word for word?
Gürteltier is a compound of Gürtel (belt) and Tier (animal), literally meaning "belted animal."
Which one should you use?
Gürteltier is the standard, common term for the animal. Armadill is a rare, archaic or highly specialized variant.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Gürteltier is Gürteltiere.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɡʏʁtl̩ˌtiːɐ̯/
Did you know?
- Before Gürteltier became the standard term, Germans used the word Tatu, which originates from the Old Tupi language of South America.
- The German word Gürteltier describes the animal by its appearance, using the word Gürtel, which is the same word Germans use for a fashion belt worn around the waist.
Examples in context
- Das Gürteltier ist in Lateinamerika beheimatet.The armadillo is native to Latin America.
- Ich habe gestern ein Gürteltier im Zoo gesehen.I saw an armadillo at the zoo yesterday.
- Das Gürteltier lebt in Amerika.The armadillo lives in America.
- Ich sehe ein kleines Gürteltier.I see a small armadillo.
- Ist das ein Gürteltier?Is that an armadillo?
Example conversation
Maximilian and Laura are watching a nature documentary together.
- MaximilianSchau mal, ein Gürteltier!Look, an armadillo!
- LauraOh, wie süß ist das denn?Oh, how cute is that?
- MaximilianEs hat eine sehr harte Schale.It has a very hard shell.
- LauraJa, es sieht sehr stark aus.Yes, it looks very strong.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “armadillo” translations and entries Gürteltier, Armadill, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Armadill, Gürteltier, CC BY-SA 4.0.
