Lamm
/lam/neuter
The German word for "lamb" is Lamm.
Lamm refers to a young sheep.
Meaning: young sheep (noun)
Which one should you use?
While Lamm is the standard term, you may encounter Lämmchen or Das Lämmle depending on the context and region. Lämmer is the plural form used when referring to more than one lamb.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Das Lämmle is an informal term used in parts of Southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of Lamm is Lämmer. In the accusative and dative cases, Lamm does not take an ending.
How do you pronounce it?
/lam/
Did you know?
- The silent 'b' in the English word 'lamb' is actually a ghost of a sound that once existed in the ancestor of the German word Lamm.
- German uses the diminutive suffix -chen to create Lämmchen, which can describe a physical lamb or be used sarcastically to describe someone who is overly timid.
- The phrase wie ein Lamm (like a lamb) is used in German to describe someone who is behaving perfectly or is unusually quiet and docile.
Examples in context
- Der Wolf tötete das Lamm.The wolf killed the lamb.This sentence is useful for seeing Lamm used in a sentence about a wolf and a lamb.Tatoeba #8718106 by foamy, translation #3598959 by dibdin
- Der Wolf griff das Lamm an.The wolf attacked the lamb.This sentence shows Lamm being used in the context of an attack.Tatoeba #8718110 by foamy, translation #5972148 by CarpeLanam
- Ich mag Rind lieber als Lamm.I like beef more than lamb.This sentence demonstrates using Lamm when discussing food preferences.Tatoeba #9040744 by Yorwba, translation #9009377 by pandaaa217
- Das Lammgericht war vorzüglich!The lamb dish was excellent!
- Das Lämmchen hat so süße Augen!The little lamb has such adorable eyes!
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Lukas are looking at a menu in a restaurant.
- SarahIst das Lamm hier gut?Is the lamb good here?
- LukasJa, das Lamm schmeckt sehr lecker.Yes, the lamb tastes very delicious.
- SarahDann nehme ich das Lamm.Then I will take the lamb.
- LukasGute Wahl, Sarah.Good choice, Sarah.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lamb” translations and entries Lamm, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Lamm, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
