Igel
/ˈiːɡəl/masculine
The German word for hedgehog is Igel.
Igel is the most commonly used term for hedgehog in German and is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts.
Meaning: animal (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of southern Germany, particularly Bavaria, people use Erdferkel, which literally translates to "earth pig," to refer to hedgehogs.
How does it change in a sentence?
Igel is a masculine noun, used with the definite article der. The plural form of 'Igel' is 'Igel', meaning the word does not change in the plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈiːɡəl/
Did you know?
- In Germany, the Igel is a beloved symbol of the garden, and many homeowners build Igelhäuser or hedgehog houses to provide them with winter shelter.
- The word Igel shares an ancient root with the Lithuanian word ežỹs, showing a linguistic connection that spans thousands of years.
- In some German folklore, the Igel is portrayed as a clever underdog who outsmarts larger and more powerful animals through wit.
Examples in context
- Wo ist mein Igel?Where is my hedgehog?This sentence is useful for asking about the location of your Igel.Tatoeba #5215252 by jaz1313, translation #5192061 by danepo
- Das hier ist ein Igel.This is a hedgehog.This sentence is useful for identifying an object as an Igel.Tatoeba #6698215 by Esperantostern, translation #9464637 by sundown
- Der Igel ist ein Tier.The hedgehog is an animal.This sentence is useful for describing the Igel as an animal.Tatoeba #12538015 by mhr, translation #12764058 by rul
- Igel sind nachtaktive Tiere und schlafen tagsüber in Verstecken.Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals and sleep during the day in hiding places.
- Das Stachelschwein und der Igel sehen ähnlich aus, aber es gibt Unterschiede.The porcupine and the hedgehog look similar, but there are differences.
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Julia are looking at a garden.
- LukasSchau mal, da läuft ein Igel!Look, there is a hedgehog walking!
- JuliaOh, der kleine Igel ist ja süß.Oh, the little hedgehog is so cute.
- LukasSollten wir ihm etwas Futter geben?Should we give him some food?
- JuliaNein, lass den Igel lieber in Ruhe.No, it's better to leave the hedgehog alone.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hedgehog” translations and entries Igel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Igel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
