Schwertwal
/ˈʃveːɐ̯tˌvaːl/masculine
The English word orca can be translated into German as Schwertwal, Mörderwal or Killerwal.
Meaning: ''Orcinus orca'' (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Schwertwal | /ˈʃveːɐ̯tˌvaːl/ | masculine |
| Mörderwal | masculine | |
| Killerwal | masculine |
All three terms refer to the marine mammal Orcinus orca.
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms are masculine nouns. The plural form of Schwertwal is Schwertwale. Because it is a masculine noun, it changes to den Schwertwal when used in the accusative case.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʃveːɐ̯tˌvaːl/
Did you know?
- In German, the distinction between the three terms often depends on whether one is being poetic, literal, or following English influence.
- The word Wal in Schwertwal refers to the broad category of whales, but it is used in German for many large marine mammals that are not technically whales.
- Using the term Mörderwal in a professional or scientific setting might strike a German speaker as unnecessarily dramatic or anthropomorphic.
Examples in context
- Ich habe einen Orca im Aquarium gesehen.I saw an orca at the aquarium.
- Der Schwertwal ist ein großes Meeressäugetier.The orca is a large marine mammal.
- Hast du schon einmal einen Schwertwal gesehen?Have you ever seen an orca?
- Ein Schwertwal jagt oft Robben.An orca often hunts seals.
Example conversation
Two friends are watching a nature documentary on television.
- LauraSchau mal, dort schwimmt ein Schwertwal!Look, an orca is swimming there!
- JulianDer Schwertwal sieht beeindruckend aus.The orca looks impressive.
- LauraJa, er ist sehr mächtig.Yes, he is very powerful.
- JulianIch möchte ihn unbedingt einmal live sehen.I really want to see him live one day.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “orca” translations and entries Schwertwal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
