Ente
/ˈɛntə/feminine
The German word for the aquatic bird duck is Ente. Wiktionary also lists Ant and Ante.
Meaning: aquatic bird of the family Anatidae (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ente | /ˈɛntə/ | feminine |
| Ant | feminine | |
| Ante | feminine | |
| Antn | feminine |
The word refers to the aquatic bird of the family Anatidae.
Which one should you use?
While the bird is called an Ente, the German verb ducken refers to the physical action of quickly lowering the head or crouching down.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Ente is Enten. All forms of this word, including Ente, Ant, Ante and Antn, are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɛntə/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers may mistakenly use the German verb ducken to refer to the bird, but ducken actually means to crouch or duck down.
Did you know?
- The iconic 'Citroën 2CV' car is affectionately referred to as an Ente in German and Dutch contexts.
- The phrase blaue Enten literally means 'blue ducks', yet it is a common way to refer to 'humbug' or nonsense.
- The use of Ente to mean a fabrication in the mid-19th century was a 'calque', meaning German speakers directly translated the French word 'canard'.
Examples in context
- Paß auf! Eine Ente!Watch out! A duck!This sentence shows how to warn someone about a duck using Ente.Tatoeba #13272717 by Waldelfe, translation #6800627 by Ergulis
- Ich nehme heute Ente.I'll choose duck today.This sentence demonstrates using Ente when referring to duck as food.Tatoeba #8818817 by 196510089036, translation #2192213 by acbarbosa
- Die Ente fraß Ananas.The duck ate pineapple.This sentence shows the use of Ente when describing the animal's actions.Tatoeba #12304847 by Yorwba, translation #6440642 by erikinkinen
- Herr Müller, haben Sie die Enten im Park bemerkt?Mr. Müller, did you notice the ducks in the park?
- Schau mal, wie niedlich die Entchen sind!Look, how cute the little ducks are!
- 53 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Sarah are walking in a park near a lake.
- FelixSchau mal, da schwimmt eine Ente im See.Look, there is a duck swimming in the lake.
- SarahOh, die Ente sieht sehr süß aus.Oh, the duck looks very cute.
- FelixSoll ich ihr etwas Brot geben?Should I give her some bread?
- SarahNein, das ist nicht gut für sie.No, that is not good for her.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “duck” translations and entries Ente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Ente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
