Pelikan
/ˈpeːliˌkaːn/masculine
The English word pelican is Pelikan in German.
The term refers to any of various seabirds belonging to the family Pelecanidae.
Meaning: any of various seabirds of the family Pelecanidae (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
Pelikan is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpeːliˌkaːn/
Did you know?
- In German heraldry, the image of a 'Pelikan' is often depicted with a wound in its chest. This refers to an ancient myth that the bird would pierce its own breast to feed its young with its own blood.
- The word Pelikan is also the name of one of the most famous luxury fountain pen brands in Germany, often associated with high-end stationery.
- In German alchemy and early medicine, the Pelikan was a symbol of sacrifice and renewal because of the mistaken belief that the bird fed its young with its own blood.
Examples in context
- Der Pelikan ist ein großer Wasservogel mit einem auffälligen Schnabel.The pelican is a large water bird with a distinctive beak.
- Der Pelikan ist ein großer Vogel.The pelican is a large bird.
- Ich habe einen Pelikan im Zoo gesehen.I saw a pelican at the zoo.
- Ein Pelikan hat einen sehr großen Schnabel.A pelican has a very large beak.
Example conversation
A couple is walking through a zoo.
- SarahSchau mal, dort ist ein Pelikan!Look, there is a pelican!
- MaximilianJa, der Pelikan sieht sehr beeindruckend aus.Yes, the pelican looks very impressive.
- SarahEr füttert seine Jungen gerade.He is feeding his young right now.
- MaximilianDas ist ein schöner Anblick.That is a beautiful sight.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pelican” translations and entries Pelikan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
