Ziege
/ˈt͡siːɡə/feminine
The English word goat is translated into German as Ziege. Wiktionary also lists Geiß and Bock.
Meaning: animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ziege | /ˈt͡siːɡə/ | feminine |
| Geiß | /ɡaɪ̯s/ | feminine |
| Bock | /bɔk/ | masculine |
| Goaß | feminine |
The term refers to the animal.
Which one should you use?
While Ziege is the general term for a goat, Bock specifically refers to a male goat. In common usage, Ziege is the standard term for a female goat, whereas Geiß is more archaic or specific.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In southern Germany and Austria, Geiß is a common term for a goat. In Bavaria, the term Goaß is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 'goat' as an attributive noun to describe food like cheese, the form Ziege changes to the stem Ziegen-.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtsiːɡə/
Did you know?
- The name of the beer type Bock actually comes from a misunderstanding of a town name, Einbeck, where the suffix '-beck' was mistaken for the word 'Bock'.
Examples in context
- Wir haben eine Geiß.We have a goat.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of Geiß.Tatoeba #12455050 by Augustus, translation #8609402 by shekitten
- Ich melke meine Ziege.I am milking my goat.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of Ziege.Tatoeba #1714656 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1665631 by Amastan
- Ich mag keinen Ziegenkäse.I don't like goat cheese.Tatoeba #6699231 by raulo_fulmotondro, translation #6694911 by CK
- Eine Ziege grast auf der Wiese.A goat is grazing in the meadow.
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Sarah are visiting a small farm.
- LukasSchau mal, Sarah, da ist eine Ziege!Look, Sarah, there is a goat!
- SarahOh, die Ziege ist wirklich süß.Oh, the goat is really cute.
- LukasSie ist sehr klein.She is very small.
- SarahJa, Lukas, sie ist niedlich.Yes, Lukas, she is adorable.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goat” translations and entries Ziege, Geiß, Bock, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Bock, Geiß, Ziege, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
