Schildkröte
/ˈʃɪltˌkʁøːtə/feminine
The English word 'tortoise' is translated into German as Schildkröte. Wiktionary also lists Landschildkröte.
Meaning: land-dwelling reptile (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Schildkröte | /ˈʃɪltˌkʁøːtə/ | feminine |
| Landschildkröte | feminine |
Schildkröte is a feminine noun used to refer to a land-dwelling reptile.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Schildkröte is a compound of Schild, meaning 'shield' and Kröte, meaning 'toad'.
Which one should you use?
While English distinguishes between 'tortoise' (land) and 'turtle' (water), the German term Schildkröte is used for both, requiring modifiers like Landschildkröte (land) or Seeschildkröte (sea) for precision.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Schildkröte is Schildkröten.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʃɪltˌkʁøːtə/
Did you know?
- A German speaker might use the phrase eine Kröte schlucken which means 'to swallow a toad', an idiom used to describe accepting something unpleasant.
- The word Schild in the name refers to the animal's shell, but it specifically evokes the image of a knight's protective shield.
- In German, the word Kröte in Schildkröte means 'toad', suggesting that early German speakers viewed the tortoise as a kind of armored toad rather than a lizard.
Examples in context
- Ist das deine Schildkröte?Is that your tortoise?This sentence is useful for asking about the ownership of a Schildkröte.Tatoeba #10522858 by dennylator, translation #13423878 by araneo
- Die Schildkröte hat keine Zähne.The tortoise has no teeth.This sentence is useful for stating a physical characteristic of a Schildkröte.Tatoeba #7872436 by driini, translation #13001383 by araneo
- Worin unterscheiden sich eine Seeschildkröte und eine Landschildkröte?What's the difference between a turtle and a tortoise?This sentence is useful for highlighting the difference between a Landschildkröte and a sea turtle.Tatoeba #8191851 by Tamy, translation #8191757 by soliloquist
- In diesem Zoo können Sie viele Schildkrötenarten sehen.In this zoo, you can see many species of tortoises.
- Die Landschildkröte ist ein Symbol für Langlebigkeit.The tortoise is a symbol of longevity.
- Komm mal her, du süße Schildi!Come here, you cute tortoise!
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Lukas are looking at a pet shop window.
- SarahSiehst du die kleine Schildkröte dort?Do you see the little tortoise there?
- LukasJa, die Schildkröte sieht sehr süß aus.Yes, the tortoise looks very cute.
- SarahMöchtest du eine Schildkröte als Haustier?Would you like a tortoise as a pet?
- LukasNein, ich möchte lieber einen Hund.No, I would prefer a dog.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tortoise” translations and entries Schildkröte, Landschildkröte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
