Rabe
/ˈʁaːbə/masculine
The German word for raven is Rabe. Wiktionary also lists Kolkrabe.
Meaning: any of several, generally large, species of birds in the genus Corvus with lustrous black plumage (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rabe | /ˈʁaːbə/ | masculine |
| Kolkrabe | /ˈkɔlkˌʁaːbə/ | masculine |
The term refers to any of several species of large birds in the genus Corvus characterized by lustrous black plumage. You can also use the related adjective rabenschwarz to describe a color that is extremely black, similar to the English 'raven-black'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Rabe is Raben.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʁaːbə/
Did you know?
- In the Middle Ages, the Rabe was often associated with the god Odin in Germanic mythology, symbolizing wisdom and thought.
- In German folklore, the Rabe is often viewed as a messenger between the worlds of the living and the dead.
- The word Kolkrabe likely mimics the actual sound of the bird, being an onomatopoeic construction combined with the word for raven.
Examples in context
- Der Rabe ist kohlschwarz.The raven is as black as coal.This sentence is useful for describing the color of a Rabe using the phrase 'kohlschwarz'.Tatoeba #2262334 by Zaghawa, translation #1332897 by txoriburu
- Du hast einen Raben gesehen.You saw a raven.This sentence is useful for stating that someone has seen a Rabe.Tatoeba #12547593 by Waldelfe, translation #12328203 by Miktsoanit
- Ein Rabe ist eine große Krähe.A raven is a big crow.This sentence is useful for explaining that a Rabe is a large crow.Tatoeba #13406995 by mhr, translation #12742977 by rul
- Gestern habe ich einen großen Raben auf dem Dach gesehen.Yesterday, I saw a big raven on the roof.
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Laura are walking through a forest.
- LukasSiehst du dort den Raben?Do you see that raven over there?
- LauraJa, der Rabe sitzt auf dem Ast.Yes, the raven is sitting on the branch.
- LukasEr ist wirklich beeindruckend.He is truly impressive.
- LauraDas stimmt, er ist sehr groß.That's true, he is very large.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “raven” translations and entries Rabe, Kolkrabe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Kolkrabe, Rabe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
