Zobel
/ˈt͡soːbəl/masculine
The German word for the animal sable is Zobel.
In the context of heraldry, when describing a coat of arms that features a black color, the related term schwarz is used.
Meaning: animal (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Zobel is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtsoːbəl/
Did you know?
- While Zobel refers to the animal, the phrase zobelfell describes the luxury fur, which historically served as a form of currency and tribute in Northern Europe.
- The German word Zobel is a loanword from Old East Slavic, meaning the language adopted the term from the people living in the regions where these animals are native.
- The word Zobel is used in the German name for the 'sable brush' in painting, though artists often use the English term or Marder for similar high-quality brushes.
Examples in context
- Ich würde gerne einen echten Zobelmantel besitzen.I would love to own a genuine sable coat.
- Der Zobel lebt in Sibirien.The sable lives in Siberia.
- Ein Zobel ist ein kleines Tier.A sable is a small animal.
- Ich habe ein Buch über den Zobel gelesen.I read a book about the sable.
Example conversation
Lukas and Laura are looking at a nature documentary.
- LukasSiehst du den Zobel dort?Do you see the sable there?
- LauraJa, er ist sehr flink.Yes, it is very quick.
- LukasDer Zobel hat ein schönes Fell.The sable has beautiful fur.
- LauraDas stimmt, er sieht toll aus.That's true, it looks great.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sable” translations and entries Zobel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Zobel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
