schlafender Hund
The German phrase for "sleeping dog" is schlafender Hund.
A dog that is currently asleep.
Which one should you use?
If you use the definite article der, the adjective ending changes from schlafender Hund to der schlafende Hund.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form schlafender Hund is the nominative singular masculine form, used when the sleeping dog is the subject of a sentence. If the sleeping dog is the direct object of a sentence, the form changes to schlafenden Hund.
Did you know?
- In German, the word Hund can be used in the expression auf den Hund kommen, which describes someone who has fallen into poverty or poor health.
- In German, the word Hund is used in the phrase Hundeweile, which describes a period of terrible, rainy weather.
- The German expression schlafender Hund can be used metaphorically in the idiom einen schlafenden Hund wecken, which means to stir up trouble or provoke a situation that was previously calm and harmless.
Examples in context
- Schauen Sie, da ist ein schlafender Hund.Look, there is a sleeping dog.
- Schau mal, der Hund, der schläft, ist so süß!Look, that sleeping dog is so cute!
- Dort liegt ein schlafender Hund.A sleeping dog is lying there.
- Ein schlafender Hund macht keinen Lärm.A sleeping dog makes no noise.
Example conversation
Lukas and Laura are walking through a living room.
- LukasSchau mal, da ist ein schlafender Hund.Look, there is a sleeping dog.
- LauraOh, er ist wirklich sehr süß!Oh, he is really very cute!
- LukasWir sollten ihn nicht stören.We should not disturb him.
- LauraJa, lassen wir ihn ruhig schlafen.Yes, let's let him sleep peacefully.
