Eule
/ˈʔɔɪ̯lə/feminine
The English word owl is translated into German as Eule. Wiktionary also lists Uhu and Eulenvogel.
Meaning: bird (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Eule | /ˈʔɔɪ̯lə/ | feminine |
| Uhu | /ˈuːhu/ | masculine |
| Eulenvogel | masculine |
The term Eule refers to the bird and is also used metaphorically to describe a person who stays up late at night, much like the English term 'night owl'.
Which one should you use?
While Eule is the general term for any owl, Uhu specifically refers to the eagle owl.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Eule is Eulen, and the plural form of Uhu is Uhus.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʔɔɪ̯lə/
Did you know?
- In German folklore, the Eule is often viewed as a bird of bad luck or a herald of death, contrasting with its image as a symbol of wisdom in English.
- The German language uses the word Eulenspiegel to describe a prankster or a trickster, based on a famous legendary character.
- The word Uhu is not just a name for the eagle owl, but is also the name of a famous German brand of glue. The brand name itself is derived from the bird.
Examples in context
- Tom ist ein Eulerich.Tom is an owl.This sentence shows how Eule can be used in a character description.Tatoeba #10145052 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10143629 by ddnktr
- Eine Eule ist ein Vogel.An owl is a bird.This sentence identifies Eule as a type of bird.Tatoeba #12511998 by Naina, translation #10457453 by shekitten
- Die Eule ist ein Nachttier.The owl is a nocturnal animal.This sentence describes the nocturnal nature of the Eule.Tatoeba #7246162 by dost, translation #7245960 by Sifaks
- Ich habe letzte Nacht eine Eule im Wald gesehenI saw an owl in the forest last night
- Der Kauz hat mich mit seinen großen Augen angesehenThe owl stared at me with its large eyes
- Nachtvögel wie die Eule haben perfekte NachtsichtNight birds like the owl have perfect night vision
- 39 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Sarah are walking in a forest at dusk.
- LukasSchau mal, da ist eine Eule!Look, there is an owl!
- SarahOh, die Eule ist wirklich schön.Oh, the owl is really beautiful.
- LukasSie schaut uns direkt an.She is looking directly at us.
- SarahJa, sie ist sehr beeindruckend.Yes, she is very impressive.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “owl” translations and entries Eule, Uhu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Eule, Uhu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
