Dinosaurier
/di.noˈzaʊ̯.ʁi.ɐ/masculine
The German word for dinosaur is Dinosaurier. Wiktionary also lists Dinosaurus and Dino.
Meaning: prehistoric reptile (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dinosaurier | /di.noˈzaʊ̯.ʁi.ɐ/ | masculine |
| Dinosaurus | masculine | |
| Dino | /ˈdiːno/ | masculine |
| Saurier | /ˈzaʊ̯ʁi̯ɐ/ | masculine |
The term refers to prehistoric reptiles.
Which one should you use?
Dinosaurier is the standard term, while Dino is a shortened colloquial version. The form Dinosaurus is another way to refer to the animal, and Saurier is another form.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Dino is an informal, common colloquial shortening of Dinosaurier.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form Dinosaurier is used for both the singular and the plural.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 5 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable: /di.noˈzaʊ̯.ʁi.ɐ/.
Did you know?
- Even though the word ends in '-er', which often indicates a person performing an action, it describes a prehistoric animal.
- The word Dinosaurier is actually a combination of two Greek words meaning 'fearful lizard'.
- While Dinosaurier refers specifically to dinosaurs, the term Saurier is a broader category in German that can include other prehistoric reptiles.
Examples in context
- Tom hat ein Dinosaurierei gefunden.Tom found a dinosaur egg.This sentence shows how to use the form Dinosaurier when talking about an egg.Tatoeba #9689766 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #5008865 by Hybrid
- Dieser dinoförmige Radierer ist echt süß.This dinosaur-shaped rubber is really cute.This sentence shows how the form Dino can be used as a prefix in an adjective.Tatoeba #9056827 by Yorwba, translation #9128497 by sundown
- Der letzte Dinosaurier starb vor 65 Millionen Jahren.The last dinosaur died 65 million years ago.This sentence shows the use of the form Dinosaurier in a historical context.Tatoeba #8808090 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #13600061 by araneo
- Einige der bekanntesten Dinosaurier sind der Tyrannosaurus Rex und der Brachiosaurus.Some of the most famous dinosaurs are the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Brachiosaurus.
- Die Urzeitechsen beherrschten die Erde vor Millionen von Jahren.The dinosaurs ruled the Earth millions of years ago.
- Bist du ein Fan von Dinos?Are you a fan of dinos?
- Schau mal, ein großer Saurier!Look, a big dinosaur!
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Julia are at a science museum.
- JuliaSchau mal, dieser Dinosaurier ist sehr groß!Look, this dinosaur is very large!
- LukasJa, er sieht wirklich beeindruckend aus.Yes, he looks really impressive.
- JuliaGlaubst du, er war schnell?Do you think he was fast?
- LukasWahrscheinlich war er eher langsam.Probably he was rather slow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dinosaur” translations and entries Dinosaurier, Dino, Saurier, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dino, Dinosaurier, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
