Waschbär
/ˈvaʃˌbɛːɐ̯/
Racoon in German is Waschbär, the masked, ring tailed mammal from North America.
Waschbär is the standard word for the animal in all situations.
What does it mean word for word?
Waschbär is a compound of the verb for to wash and Bär, bear, so it literally means wash bear.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural is Waschbären. The word follows the weak declension, so it takes an en ending in the accusative, dative and genitive singular, as in den Waschbären.
How do you pronounce it?
Waschbär is pronounced /ˈvaʃˌbɛːɐ̯/, with the w sounding like English v and the stress on the first part.
Did you know?
- The German name Waschbär is actually a literal translation of the Latin scientific name 'Ursus lotor', which translates to 'washer bear'.
- Because they are an invasive species in Germany, Waschbären are sometimes legally categorized as 'Schädlinge' or pests, meaning they are subject to different hunting laws than native wildlife.
- The 'washing' behavior described by the word Waschbär is not actually about cleaning the food, but is a way the animal explores its environment through touch.
Examples in context
- Schau mal, wie süß das kleine Waschbärchen ist!Look at how cute that little raccoon is!
- Der Waschbär hat eine Maske im Gesicht.The raccoon has a mask on its face.
- Ein Waschbär ist mitten in der Nacht aktiv.A raccoon is active in the middle of the night.
- Ich habe gestern einen Waschbär im Garten gesehen.I saw a raccoon in the garden yesterday.
Example conversation
A couple is talking in their kitchen during breakfast.
- MaximilianHast du den Waschbär im Garten gesehen, Laura?Did you see the raccoon in the garden, Laura?
- LauraJa, er war sehr laut vor dem Fenster.Yes, it was very loud in front of the window.
- MaximilianEin Waschbär kann nachts sehr frech sein.A raccoon can be very cheeky at night.
- LauraDas stimmt, er hat alles Essen aufgefressen.That's true, it ate all the food.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Waschbär, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Waschbär, CC BY-SA 4.0.
