bellen
/ˈbɛlən/
The English verb "bark" (as in the sound a dog makes) is translated into German as bellen.
The verb bellen is used specifically to describe the loud noise made by dogs. In a figurative sense, the related nouns Bellen and Gebell can refer to an abrupt or harsh utterance.
Meaning: to make a loud noise (dogs) (verb)
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between different meanings of the English word "bark". While bellen refers to the sound a dog makes, the words Rinde or Borke are used to refer to the exterior covering of a tree.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The simple past tense of bellen is bellte, and the past participle is gebellt. If you wish to use the act of barking as a noun, you can use the gerund form das Bellen.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbɛlən/
Did you know?
- The German bellen is a distant relative of the Russian verb блеять, which describes the sound of sheep 'bleating' rather than dogs 'barking'.
- The sound of a dog's bark in German stories is often rendered as Wau, which sounds quite different from the English 'woof'.
- A person who gives harsh, abrupt orders in a German workplace might be described as using Gebell, treating their speech as if it were a series of barks.
Examples in context
- Der Lärm ließ den Hund bellen.The noise made the dog bark.This sentence shows how a noise can cause a dog to use the form bellen.Tatoeba #2107688 by Vortarulo, translation #8859117 by sundown
- Gibt es Hunde, die nicht bellen?Are there dogs that don't bark?This sentence uses the form bellen to ask a question about dogs.Tatoeba #12206884 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #12206985 by Miktsoanit
- Ein Hund fing plötzlich an zu bellen.Suddenly, a dog began to bark.This sentence describes the moment a dog started to use the form bellen.Tatoeba #4968460 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #4967945 by AlanF_US
- Der Hund belltThe dog barks
- Der Hund bellt wie verrücktThe dog barks like crazy
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Julian are walking in a park.
- JuliaWarum fangen die Hunde plötzlich an zu bellen?Why are the dogs suddenly starting to bark?
- JulianVielleicht sehen sie eine Katze dort drüben.Maybe they see a cat over there.
- JuliaJa, sie bellen wirklich sehr laut.Yes, they are really barking very loudly.
- JulianWir sollten einfach weitergehen, Julia.We should just keep walking, Julia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bark” translations and entries bellen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bellen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
