Bär
/bɛːr/masculine
The German word for bear is Bär. Wiktionary also lists Bärin.
Meaning: large mammal of family Ursidae (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bär | /bɛːr/ | masculine |
| Bärin | /ˈbɛːʁɪn/ /ˈbeːʁɪn/ |
feminine |
Bär refers to the large mammal of the family Ursidae.
Which one should you use?
Bär is used for a male bear or when the gender of the bear is unknown. Use Bärin specifically to refer to a female bear.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form is Bären. In the genitive singular, the word becomes des Bären and in the dative singular, it becomes dem Bären.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɛːr/
Did you know?
- The word Bär may have originated as a 'taboo' word, used by ancient Germanic speakers to avoid saying the actual name of the animal for fear of summoning it.
- In Berlin, the Bär is the official symbol of the city. You will find bear statues and imagery across the capital as a nod to the city's name and heritage.
- In German folklore, the Bär was often seen as a symbol of strength and clumsiness. This duality is still reflected in modern idioms describing people who are physically large but gentle.
Examples in context
- Das ist ein Bär.It's a bear.This sentence is useful for identifying a bear using Bär.Tatoeba #12126078 by Lundian, translation #12145084 by CK
- Der Bär ist groß.The bear is big.This sentence is useful for describing the size of a bear using Bär.Tatoeba #3800787 by Esperantostern, translation #3487903 by Ricardo14
- Sahst du den Bär?Did you see the bear?This sentence is useful for asking if someone saw the bear using Bär.Tatoeba #12662022 by Augustus, translation #8962489 by CK
- Der Bär ist ein faszinierendes Tier.The bear is a fascinating creature.
- 116 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A museum about nature and animals.
- JulianSiehst du den Bären dort?Do you see the bear over there?
- HannahJa, der Bär ist sehr beeindruckend.Yes, the bear is very impressive.
- JulianIch möchte ein Foto von dem Bären machen.I want to take a photo of the bear.
- HannahJulian, pass auf, er bewegt sich!Julian, watch out, he is moving!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bear” translations and entries Bär, Bärin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Bär, Bärin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
