Dschungel
/ˈ(d)ʒʊŋəl/feminine, masculine, neuter
The English word jungle can be translated into German as Dschungel or Urwald.
Meaning: large, undeveloped, humid forest (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dschungel | /ˈ(d)ʒʊŋəl/ /ˈtʃʊŋəl/ |
feminine, masculine, neuter |
| Urwald | /ˈuːrˌvalt/ | masculine |
Both terms refer to a large, undeveloped and humid forest environment.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Urwald is a compound of the prefix Ur-, meaning primeval or original and Wald, meaning forest.
Which one should you use?
While both mean jungle, Urwald specifically carries the sense of a primeval forest. The word Dschungel is marked as archaic or rare in certain contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing being located in the jungle, you might see the contraction im Dschungel. This is a combination of in dem, which uses the dative case to indicate location.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈ(d)ʒʊŋəl/
Did you know?
- The German word Dschungel is actually a loanword from English, which in turn took it from the Sanskrit word jaṅgala.
- In German, the word Ur- can also describe ancestors, such as Urgroßvater for 'great-grandfather', linking the 'primeval forest' to the earliest family roots.
- In a figurative sense, Germans use the term Dschungel to describe overwhelming bureaucracy or confusing social systems, such as Paragraphendschungel for a 'jungle of paragraphs'.
Examples in context
- Wilde Tiere leben im Dschungel.Wild animals live in the jungle.This sentence shows how to describe where wild animals live using Dschungel.Tatoeba #661798 by Zaghawa, translation #324130 by CK
- Sie gingen in den Urwald hinein.They entered the jungle.This sentence demonstrates the movement of entering the jungle using Urwald.Tatoeba #2558719 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2518535 by Hybrid
- Tom wohnte einmal tief im Urwald.Tom used to live deep in the jungle.This sentence describes living deep within the jungle using Urwald.Tatoeba #1931849 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1024056 by CK
- Der Amazonas ist für seine atemberaubenden Dschungel bekannt.The Amazon is famous for its breathtaking jungles.
- Bitte beachten Sie, dass der Dschungel gefährliche Tierarten beherbergen kann.Please note that the jungle can harbor dangerous animal species.
- Die Expedition erforschte den Dschungel auf der Suche nach seltenen Pflanzen.The expedition explored the jungle in search of rare plants.
- Der Regenwald beherbergt eine Fülle an Tierarten. Es ist ein wunderschöner Urwald!The rainforest harbors a multitude of animal species. It's a beautiful jungle!
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Julian are looking at a nature documentary on TV.
- SarahDer Dschungel sieht sehr gefährlich aus.The jungle looks very dangerous.
- JulianJa, es ist dort sehr feucht und heiß.Yes, it is very humid and hot there.
- SarahMöchtest du dort einmal Urlaub machen?Would you like to go on vacation there sometime?
- JulianNein, das ist mir zu wild.No, that is too wild for me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “jungle” translations and entries Dschungel, Urwald, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dschungel, Urwald, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
