Waschbär
/ˈvaʃˌbɛːɐ̯/masculine
The German word for raccoon is Waschbär.
Waschbär is a masculine noun used to refer to the nocturnal North American omnivore, Procyon lotor.
Meaning: nocturnal omnivore living in North America, Procyon lotor (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of waschen (to wash) and Bär (bear), literally translating to "wash bear".
How does it change in a sentence?
When used in the accusative case, the masculine noun Waschbär takes the ending -en, becoming Waschbären.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈvaʃˌbɛːɐ̯/
Did you know?
- The name Waschbär is a direct translation of the Latin name 'Ursus lotor', which reflects an early scientific belief that raccoons were a species of bear.
- While native to North America, Waschbären have become an invasive species in Germany and are often found raiding gardens in suburban areas.
- The component waschen refers to the raccoon's behavior of 'washing' food in water, a behavior which is actually a sensory technique rather than an attempt at cleanliness.
Examples in context
- Siehst du den Waschbären?Do you see the raccoon?This sentence shows how to ask if someone sees the Waschbär.Tatoeba #693562 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #693563 by CK
- Der Film handelte von einem sprechenden Waschbären.It was a movie about a talking raccoon.This sentence describes a movie about a talking Waschbär.Tatoeba #5798460 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #5788543 by Eccles17
- Es ist das erste Mal, daß ich einen Waschbären sehe.This is the first time I've ever seen a raccoon.This sentence expresses that it is the first time seeing a Waschbär.Tatoeba #12905930 by Waldelfe, translation #9143942 by CK
- Der Waschbär ist ein geschickter Kletterer und lebt oft in Hohlräumen von Bäumen.The raccoon is a skillful climber and often lives in tree hollows.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In a park at night, they see an animal near the trash.
- SarahSchau mal, da ist ein Waschbär!Look, there is a raccoon!
- MaximilianOh, der Waschbär ist sehr süß.Oh, the raccoon is very cute.
- SarahEr frisst gerade den Müll.He is eating the trash right now.
- MaximilianJa, er ist ein sehr frecher Waschbär.Yes, he is a very cheeky raccoon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “raccoon” translations and entries Waschbär, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Waschbär, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
